I agree with you on the suggestion of reading Wind-Up Bird Chronicle first - that is what I did and I've been completely hooked since than. I've read it several times now. I also love 1Q84, Ive also read it a few times. I also loved Killing Commendatore . I think that although I love all of his fiction, I find his work so immersive and really prefer a longer book. So looking forward to the new one coming out next week.
Hi...great video. I discovered Murakami in 2010. I started with Norwegian Wood. I've read about 7 of his novels so far and am close to finishing 1Q84. Your comments are spot on. As much as. like /Murakami and want to read his ouvre, I found that Hard Boiled to Kafka, mid 1980's early 2000's was at his peak. I find 1Q84 a fine book but he was repeating himself. The tropes, the style, etc are not boundary pushing. He did that 30-40 years ago. My one criticism of him is that he comes off as formulaic nowadays. Still, a voice that I find comforting and warm. But he is repeating himself although at his age and point in his career, no problem.
Wow, I'm so happy to have stumble across your channel! Not that many people explore Murakami's novels here (at least from my perspective). I'm going to watch other videos where you talk about Murakami (as you've mentioned that you talk a lot :-))) Anyway, an interesting choice of entry points! As a Murakami fan myself I absolutely understand your choice. However I usually recommend A Wild Sheep Chase as a starting point (or Norwegian Wood with the same reasoning as you do). And I couldn't actually explain why. I started from it. It was ‘mainstream’ enough for me to get into (because the detective story as you mentioned, probably), but with that ‘magical’ gist that hooks you immediately. Great video! Thank you, and I hope more people would find your channel!
Thanks for watching! A Wild Sheep Chase is a good choice, too. I think the first couple of pages come off a little confusing because of its continuity with Wind/Pinball but past that it’s a pretty straightforward read. Would be cool to see an adaptation someday.
Really enjoyed your takes on Murakami, I’ve read a couple of his works myself and am currently on 1Q84, so far I’m liking it a lot but looking forward to reading Kafka as well as Wind-up, keep up the great work. Looking forward to more or your content
the wind up bird chronicle was also my first murakami. i picked it up when i was 14. now it's 10 years later and the wind up bird chronicle is still my favorite murakami. you said you knew it was special 50-60 pages in, i knew it was special from the first 2 sentences! kafka on the shore, a wild sheep chase, colorless tuskuru tazaki, sputnik sweetheart, and hard-boiled wonderland i also hold dear. however, norwegian wood is probably my least favorite murakami i've ever read, strangely enough. i think it's because it's the only one where i felt triggered by the way he wrote women.
I read most of his books when I was a lot younger and the way he wrote women didn’t stuck out to me very much. I’d like to revisit more of his books to see how I feel about it now.
@@vellichor_ventures same here, i take the way he writes women with a grain of salt, actually i think his women-portrayals are even funny and charming in all his books [except norwegian wood].
Love your channel and videos. The first Murakami book I read was "After Dark." It was intriguing in that there were so many unanswered questions and hanging threads. It seems to me that Murakami's writings appeal to readers who will use their imaginations to fill in the blanks and conclude the stories in their own way.
Overall, the list is consistent with my own, although I haven't read any of his books yet. Why do you think "South of the border..." shouldn't be included at the beginning? However, my curiosity about Murakami is currently so huge that I'm almost afraid I might be disappointed, so I'm adding a few other books before it. Thanks for the informative video.
I agree with you on the suggestion of reading Wind-Up Bird Chronicle first - that is what I did and I've been completely hooked since than. I've read it several times now. I also love 1Q84, Ive also read it a few times. I also loved Killing Commendatore . I think that although I love all of his fiction, I find his work so immersive and really prefer a longer book. So looking forward to the new one coming out next week.
Hi...great video. I discovered Murakami in 2010. I started with Norwegian Wood. I've read about 7 of his novels so far and am close to finishing 1Q84. Your comments are spot on. As much as. like /Murakami and want to read his ouvre, I found that Hard Boiled to Kafka, mid 1980's early 2000's was at his peak. I find 1Q84 a fine book but he was repeating himself. The tropes, the style, etc are not boundary pushing. He did that 30-40 years ago. My one criticism of him is that he comes off as formulaic nowadays. Still, a voice that I find comforting and warm. But he is repeating himself although at his age and point in his career, no problem.
Comforting and warm is the best way to put it. Like a nice blanket to wrap up in every now and then.
Wow, I'm so happy to have stumble across your channel! Not that many people explore Murakami's novels here (at least from my perspective). I'm going to watch other videos where you talk about Murakami (as you've mentioned that you talk a lot :-)))
Anyway, an interesting choice of entry points! As a Murakami fan myself I absolutely understand your choice. However I usually recommend A Wild Sheep Chase as a starting point (or Norwegian Wood with the same reasoning as you do). And I couldn't actually explain why. I started from it. It was ‘mainstream’ enough for me to get into (because the detective story as you mentioned, probably), but with that ‘magical’ gist that hooks you immediately.
Great video! Thank you, and I hope more people would find your channel!
Thanks for watching! A Wild Sheep Chase is a good choice, too. I think the first couple of pages come off a little confusing because of its continuity with Wind/Pinball but past that it’s a pretty straightforward read. Would be cool to see an adaptation someday.
Really enjoyed your takes on Murakami, I’ve read a couple of his works myself and am currently on 1Q84, so far I’m liking it a lot but looking forward to reading Kafka as well as Wind-up, keep up the great work. Looking forward to more or your content
Thanks for watching!
the wind up bird chronicle was also my first murakami. i picked it up when i was 14. now it's 10 years later and the wind up bird chronicle is still my favorite murakami. you said you knew it was special 50-60 pages in, i knew it was special from the first 2 sentences! kafka on the shore, a wild sheep chase, colorless tuskuru tazaki, sputnik sweetheart, and hard-boiled wonderland i also hold dear. however, norwegian wood is probably my least favorite murakami i've ever read, strangely enough. i think it's because it's the only one where i felt triggered by the way he wrote women.
I read most of his books when I was a lot younger and the way he wrote women didn’t stuck out to me very much. I’d like to revisit more of his books to see how I feel about it now.
@@vellichor_ventures same here, i take the way he writes women with a grain of salt, actually i think his women-portrayals are even funny and charming in all his books [except norwegian wood].
Love the T-shirt
Love his Short Stories.
I need to get back into them! It’s been a while.
Love your channel and videos. The first Murakami book I read was "After Dark." It was intriguing in that there were so many unanswered questions and hanging threads. It seems to me that Murakami's writings appeal to readers who will use their imaginations to fill in the blanks and conclude the stories in their own way.
I agree 100%! I like that his endings aren’t a definitive statement. I like the mystery.
Excellent , the first book I started with is the wind up bird chronicle
A great choice!
You’re amazing for recommending these I wanted to recommend for a friend that never read murakami , thanks a lot❤️
Thanks for watching!
Overall, the list is consistent with my own, although I haven't read any of his books yet. Why do you think "South of the border..." shouldn't be included at the beginning?
However, my curiosity about Murakami is currently so huge that I'm almost afraid I might be disappointed, so I'm adding a few other books before it.
Thanks for the informative video.
I think SOTB is just one of his weaker books and if you’re looking to be impressed and hooked to keep going, I wouldn’t start with that one.
@@vellichor_ventures
In fact, I'll start with Wind-Up Bird. It's already ordered, no way back. 🙃
Thanks once again.