Although this is just my second experience with a Haruki Murakami novel, I’ve learned that he is immensely popular in his home country of Japan. In its first week alone, one million copies of Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage were printed - and by the end of its first month in publication, all but 15,000 of those books had been sold. And from what I’ve read, this is not uncommon in Japan for a new Haruki Murakami novel.
“A unique sense of harmony developed between them - each one needed the other four and, in turn, shared the sense that they too were needed."
Tsukuru Tazaki is a thirty-six-year-old designer of Tokyo train stations who has been in a relatively deep depression for the last sixteen years - ever since the day he was mercilessly kicked out of the close-knit group of five high school friends that had sustained him through the ups and downs of his high school years. Tsukuru was the only one of the five to leave home to attend college in Tokyo, but he managed to stay part of the group by returning on weekends and holidays to spend almost the entire visits home with his friends. His family barely saw him.
But suddenly, and totally without warning or any kind of explanation from any of his friends, Tsukuru was cast out of the group. Today it’s as if Tsukuru is stuck in some kind of emotional loop because he still feels such a deep pain from being cast out of the group that he sometimes considers suicide to be his best option. But now, Tsukuru has a new woman in his life who will not commit to a deeper relationship unless he finally confronts what happened to him all those years ago. She wants to start with a clean slate.
So Tsukuru is off on a quest, one that could finally give him the peace he needs to get on with the rest of his life - or not.
I didn’t know what to expect from Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage when I began it, and that’s probably a good thing because I likely would not have picked it up if I had. This is a novel about loneliness, rejection, and self-identity. It tells a rather dark story, and maintains a hint of sadness even as Tsukuru edges closer and closer to learning the truth about why he was so suddenly ostracized by four people he once considered family. It is beautifully written and translated, and if you are in the mood for something like this, it will leave you with a lot to think about.
This sounds intriguing to read when the moment is right. I have been reading some Japanese healing fiction and they are quite light. They often feature cats, the ones I have read.
ReplyDeleteI’ve seen some of those but not read any of them. This one is very literary in tone and theme, I think, not a whole lot of “action,” a nice change of pace from what I’ve been reading lately.
DeleteI still haven't read Murakami but I like other Japanese authors (like Yoko Ogawa), so I should try him. It does sound sort of dark & sad. Does it make you want to read more of his books?
ReplyDeleteIt’s very unlike the other one of his that I’ve read, but it will not scare me off of reading more of him. This one never got me very excited about reading it, but it is so solidly written that I enjoyed it for reasons that I don’t always appreciate about literary fiction.
DeleteI've never been much interested in Japan, but I've been watching Michael Portillo (ex-politician who's now well known in the UK for his railway journey programmes) travel by rail around Japan and have found it fascinating. He's doing things not normally seen, quite an in-depth look at the country. It's made me realise that I've read none of the current very popular Japanese fiction and I really ought to try something.
ReplyDeleteI find Japan fascinating, Cath, because it is so different from places like the US and the UK. I read Japanese fiction when I can find it because I think that’s the way that you really learn about what it is like to be a part of that culture. The “real Japan” is in the stories told by its writers, not in the stereotypes we all hear all the time. I haven’t seen any of Portillo’s series, but I do enjoy travelogues, so I hope it becomes available here at some point.
DeleteSam, it might be worth checking BBC iPlayer to see if you can watch Portillo's series on Japan. I don't know whether you will be able to, but I have heard other Americans say they can. It's very good indeed, only half an hour an episode, but he packs a lot into those half hours. I have found myself fascinated at how ordered Japanese society is and how everyone seems to follow the rules out of respect for other people. And the country is so clean. Any Japanese lit suggestions?
DeleteI’ve tried getting to the BBC iPlayer before with no luck because they require a UK home address as part of the sign up for the service - which makes sense because I’m not paying for a TV license. Not sure how anyone is getting in from here.
DeleteAs for book suggestions, I know you like crime fiction so I would recommend these as good starting points: “Out” by Natsuo Kirino, “The Thief” by Fuminori Nakamura, and “Taroko Gorge” by Jacob Ritari. They are all excellent and each of them provides surprising insights into japanes culture.
Thanks for the suggestions, Sam. Now the visitors have gone home I have the time to investigate. As they say about visitors, 'Nice to see them, nice to see them go.'
DeleteI hope you can find one or two of those, Cath, because I really enjoyed them. They were well translated, told intriguing stories, and were quite eye-opening about Japanese culture, I thought.
DeleteI've got this one on my list and definitely want to read it. Someday. I do find his novels uniquely interesting.
ReplyDeleteDo you have one in particular of his that you would recommend? I’ve only read this one and “1Q84."
DeleteI really liked both Kafka on the Shore and Wild Sheep Chase. I found Norwegian Wood a little depressing, but I think it is his most famous book. It's not as odd as those other two, more straightforward, if that helps at all.
DeleteThanks. I’ll see if my library has any of those.
DeleteIt is not uncommon for friends to be ghosted in this way but more often it is women who do it. I don't read self help books but happened to hear an interview from an expert and I found what she said so interesting that I bought the book and sent it to the woman who cast me out (after I helped her get a job and after bridal shower and wedding gifts). I haven't heard from her since! I hope Tsukuru has a healthier resolution!
ReplyDeleteThe group that ghosted Tsukuru was made up of two boys and two girls, all of them around 20 years old. He was formally kicked out by a phone call from one of the guys that lasted all of 30 seconds and gave him no reason for the decision, just instructions to stay away. The woman who ghosted you sounds like a coldhearted so an so. I had that happen one time in my life, and ended up better for it, but I remember how shocked and confused I was when it first happened.
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