2008's What I Talk About When I Talk About Running was actually a neat read. So I haven't felt the long wait as much.
Premise sounds interesting. I have all of his stuff but sometimes he can be pretty hit or miss for me. I love Wind up Bird.., South of the Border and his shorter stories a lot. Hopefully this won't take 3-4 years to be translated state side.
I've been nursing his running memoir for a little while. Since I can't run (busted ankle), it's been doing a nice job of keeping the flame alive...!--So I guess I don't want it to end. I hope it doesn't take 3-4 years. Now I kinda wish I didn't know about it yet. I would love to be good enough in Japanese to read one of his novels as it was originally written. ...well it's on my "to do" list anyway. Wind Up Bird Chronicle is probably my favorite of his novels. South of the Border is another favorite. I totally dig Hard Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World too. Kafka on the Shore was a lot of fun too, but I like the others a little more. I'm actually reading a collection of his short stories and Norwegian Wood right now. Funny enough NW was the first book I picked up by him maybe eight years ago, but I'm just getting to it now. I lost the first one--it was very weird how it happened--and I ended up starting with Dance Dance Dance. I liked it so much me and my old band named a song after it. Anyway, I havn't been able to get into NW. It's not that it's not good; I just haven't been able to afford a couple good hours to get into it like I want to. how'd you guys come to read Murakami? what was your first book.
My brother-in-law is a huge fan. He has them all...mostly 1st edition hardcovers which can be pricey. I started to read Wild Sheep Chase. Hated it. It was a little slow...etc Tried and started a few others but couldn't get into them. I didn't understand him as a writer. Surreal sometimes...and some of the sexual stuff threw me off. Then I read After the Quake....I was floored. These short stories were easily accessible. After reading the Super Frog story..I got it and began to understand the surrealism. After that..I read.. Norweigen Wood. Wind up Chronicle is a tough read. Long and small print. Worth it but a times a little dense.
I really got into WUBC. To me, it had everything I like about Murakami. I couldn't put it down. Wild Sheep Chase was a little hard to get into, but I liked it OK in the end. I wouldn't read it again. His short stories are pretty awesome though. sometimes I'm not sure how, but they just floor me.
