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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
fast-paced
challenging
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Very good insight into Murakami‘s works if you don‘t wanna commit to one, I loved the Kafka inspired one.
medium-paced
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
As a reader, I'm more a dip-my-toes-in-the-water kind. I read a book or two by a writer & then move on to a new writer. Though my reading's quite broad & wide because of this, I have some gaps in my reading experience. One of the biggest of this is Haruki Murakami. I've only read 3 of his books & I have a whole row in my digital bookshelf filled with Murakami books, waiting to be read on a rainy day. When a dear friend gifted me Desire (all the way from Japan!), I decided that the waiting should be over. So I read "Desire" last month & finished it in one breath.
By the grace of Murakami's elegant prose & vivid story-telling, I enjoyed this collection of short stories. There are 5 strange & beautiful stories about yearning, craving, or longing in refreshing ways. Desire, indeed. The last short story, A Folklore for My Generation: A Prehistory of Late-Stage Capitalism, is my favorite one. It tells the story of a man & his girlfriend, both who the narrator knew from high school. Although set in the early 70s, there are aspects that still rings true today; lack of proper communication that breaks relationship, clashing desires, & shifting perspectives that gets you out of stagnant zone.
Murakami's writing (or, well, the style of the translations) is simple yet oddly charming, with food for thoughts sprinkled here & there, & the metaphors, symbolism, & imagery are as good as ever too. I guess it can be said that Desire would be a good introduction to Murakami for beginners.
i was surprised when i saw this in an italian bookstore since i’d never previously heard of this collection (even though i’ve written two research papers on this man). every story in here is wonderful. except for samsa in love. this story appeared also in men without women. i was hoping it would be better upon reread since it’s been a few years since i first encountered it (it’s cool in concept, where a beetle wakes up as gregor samsa) but it is still probably the worst short story i have ever read. just disgusting.
tell me how this short story collection almost put me back into a reading slump …
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No