Murakami saves my life?

Murakami Haruki fans might get a kick out of my story for today. I don't know, was is coincidence? Was is pure luck? Fate? Timing? Or some kind of supernatural thing?

Yesterday, I spend the whole morning mulling about wanting to read Haruki Murakami's book 1Q84. I've read in mila_gogo and ninchu 's blogs that this book is great and very engaging and whatnot. So I got curious. I found out the English version is going to be on sale in 25 October this year (so how is it that you both got the book already? Or are you reading the Japanese version?) and so opted for trying out his current works available in my vinicity instead.

Seeing that the library has some of his other works, I decided to head off to the library after work and get a book or two to sample it for the night, as I had no plans for anything last night. I was even thinking about loaning the Chinese cersion of 1Q84 to read, but seeing that Murakami's books are more to the intellectual side of the spectrum, my shoddy Chinese is not going to help me much in reading the book anyway, so I gave up the idea. Besides, I don't even understand how Chinese books are categorized so I probably wouldn't even be able to find it anyway.

 

I loaned Norwegian Wood, said to be one of his more famous works, and After Dark, which I hadn't heard or learnt of in my mini research on Murakami during the morning. I'm half way into After Dark, and I must say it's not bad! Pretty good too! I am very much looking forward to reading Norwegian Wood as soon as possible. Perhaps by tomorrow evening I could finish After Dark.

Now, the interesting part of the story comes now. This morning, I was reading the newspaper, and saw an article about a Portuguese Lawyer being splashed with corrosive water, and was quite badly burnt, one-tenth of his body burnt, along a certain road at a certain time last night. My usual route home after work, is right on that road, right at that time too. It was because of my curiosity for Haruki Murakami that I took another road to go to the library instead.

The newspaper report says that other by-passers were injured from the attack as well. I don't personally know the lawyer, but Macau being such a small place, almost everyone of "the genuine long-time locals" would know everyone, so, I do know of the lawyer. He's a pretty nice guy, per the rumour mill so nobody really knows the intent behind the attack.

In a way, I could say that Haruki Murakami saved my life. But, it won't influence my decision on deciding if his works are my cup of tea or not. I will still have to read them and decide for myself :3

Book - After Dark

After Dark
Haruki Murakami
Amazon Product Link



Product Description
A sleek, gripping novel of encounters set in Tokyo during the spooky hours between midnight and dawn, by an internationally renowned literary phenomenon.

Murakami's trademark humor, psychological insight, and grasp of spirit and morality are here distilled with an extraordinary, harmonious mastery. Combining the pyrotechnical genius that made Kafka on the Shore and The Wind-up Bird Chronicle international bestsellers, with a surprising infusion of heart, Murakami has produced one of his most enchanting fictions yet.
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This would be the first Haruki Murakami book I've read.
It was interesting, and I liked it well enough.  It's very engaging while you are reading it. The story view jumps between a few characters.

The strange phenomenon in Eri Asai's room was really peculiar, but no interpretation or explanation is offered. Kaoru brooding after passing the photo of the guy to the Chinese Mafia guy made me think there would be more of Kaoru and her decision to do that, but the story never went back to Kaoru any more. Takahashi was one hell of a character, I liked him A LOT. Wondering about stuff, jumping off tangent, digressing on unimportant things... things I'd do too, that's why I liked him so much.

The book ends with a very mysterious and intellectual air. The lack of a conclusion leaves me feeling really dissatisfied, but then again if you ask me, I don't know what I'm dissatisfied about because the book was a great read. I have no idea how to rate this book.

After reading this book, I guess I will use the word "intrigued" to describe my feeling towards Murakami. I think I sort of see why people like his works, but I need to seal my decision. And so, I will be reading Norwegian Wood next :D