The title speaks for itself about who I am. I am an aspiring novelist with a torrent of ideas but with that great number of ideas, I can't seem to write a story that exceeds 10 chapters. I'm always caught up with new things and, well, my grammar is off sometimes.
I am not a very bookish person. To be honest The Wind-up Bird Chronicle, with 600 or so pages, is the longest book that I've read so far. Aside from children's book and Tolkien's work, The Wind-up Bird is the first adult fiction that I've read.
I first came across the name Haruki Murakami after seeing several articles of praise about his book 1Q84. I was a novice in the world of novels so I was curious and wanted to try different things, and as a fan of almost anything Japanese, I was attracted by Murakami's work. I wanted to try 1Q84 immediately but I was advised to start with his previous works, so I picked out The Wind-up Bird Chronicle.
But this post is not about me, it's about Haruki Murakami's compelling novel, The Wind-up Bird Chronicle.
The Wind-up Bird Chronicle is narrated by the story's protagonist, Toru Okada. This man, in his 30's, is married, currently unemployed and has a very neutral view of life (at least that's what I see him as). Toru Okada is not someone who's extremely cheerful nor someone who laments over something too much. He, as most people put it, is the very definition of "passive".
The story follows the life of Toru Okada starting from the June of 1984 to December of 1985. His life, though a very passive person, around that period was filled with hellos and goodbyes, meditating, and reminiscing that brings him across worlds of wonder and horror.
I didn't know what to expect with the book other than it is "compelling" and a "work of a true genius" based on the comments of critics.
When I started reading the novel, I was immediately drawn to the daily life of the main character. A simple yet interesting life. When the story begins to advance, the number of pages turned doesn't actually matter because the story draws you in. It tries to connect with the reader in a manner that seems all natural to the reality of life but in all actuality, with all the metaphors and implications, it requires great use of imagination for a full comprehension of Murakami's novel. It draws you in, connects with you and challenges you all at the same time.
There's also a unique set of characters introduced creatively. Though, with this few numbers of characters, our main protagonist definitely spends the majority of the book with a woman. These women, all in different age ranges, contribute greatly to Toru in his year and a half journey but the novel didn't quite capture the clarity that the readers needed in their exit in the story, unlike their introduction which was heartrending, moving, euphoric and all other kinds of emotions mingled with other mind boggling feeling.
Of course every story needs an antagonist and in this story we find it in an antagonist that isn't very much involved in the sense of being present all the time. This antagonist only ever made a physical presence once and never again. But his power as an antagonist is felt all throughout the latter part of the series. This antagonist, though not physically involved, is very enraging. His dominance over almost everything, the manner of making those around him inferior and the "chains and shackles" that he binds you with just pure influence definitely made this antagonist a strong and firm one, an adversary that even our passive protagonist shows genuine anger to yet compared to him, our protagonist is on the lowest point of a well while he is a high position that overlooks all.
Several supporting characters also shined in their own way. Whether these characters are with the protagonist or the antagonist, they are introduced and presented in a way which the audience can vividly portray in their minds.
Of course, the metaphors which hide the underlying truth are also there. It is not something that can be seen easily as being spoon-fed with the answers. It is there but it doesn't give its readers a hard time searching for the answers. Some answers are given along the way while also creating new questions of wonder that keeps the reader mesmerized and willing to continue flipping the page.
Finally in the conclusion of the book I, honestly, expected some sort of a great victory over a strong adversary and while we are given victory in the end, it doesn't send the reader off with a great joy. It feels, rather, normal and "quiet". By "quiet" I mean something like not having the slightest emotions in the end but still feel like there's a little glimmer deep inside. It's pretty hard to explain but a great number of wide readers might already know what I mean.
In conclusion, I really enjoyed reading the Wind-up Bird Chronicle even if it took me a whole month to finish. For me, it's not something that should be read all at once. It's important to let every word seep in to you and feel the emotions that the story amplifies.
I won't be giving any personal rating or anything because I feel like I don't have the rights yet. Unlike watching anime, I only started reading novels just over a year ago. I'd have to read a whole lot more to know the standards.
But in compensation to the lack of rating, I'll name my favorite character:
Favorite Character: May Kasahara
I am not a very bookish person. To be honest The Wind-up Bird Chronicle, with 600 or so pages, is the longest book that I've read so far. Aside from children's book and Tolkien's work, The Wind-up Bird is the first adult fiction that I've read.
I first came across the name Haruki Murakami after seeing several articles of praise about his book 1Q84. I was a novice in the world of novels so I was curious and wanted to try different things, and as a fan of almost anything Japanese, I was attracted by Murakami's work. I wanted to try 1Q84 immediately but I was advised to start with his previous works, so I picked out The Wind-up Bird Chronicle.
But this post is not about me, it's about Haruki Murakami's compelling novel, The Wind-up Bird Chronicle.
The Wind-up Bird Chronicle is narrated by the story's protagonist, Toru Okada. This man, in his 30's, is married, currently unemployed and has a very neutral view of life (at least that's what I see him as). Toru Okada is not someone who's extremely cheerful nor someone who laments over something too much. He, as most people put it, is the very definition of "passive".
The story follows the life of Toru Okada starting from the June of 1984 to December of 1985. His life, though a very passive person, around that period was filled with hellos and goodbyes, meditating, and reminiscing that brings him across worlds of wonder and horror.
I didn't know what to expect with the book other than it is "compelling" and a "work of a true genius" based on the comments of critics.
When I started reading the novel, I was immediately drawn to the daily life of the main character. A simple yet interesting life. When the story begins to advance, the number of pages turned doesn't actually matter because the story draws you in. It tries to connect with the reader in a manner that seems all natural to the reality of life but in all actuality, with all the metaphors and implications, it requires great use of imagination for a full comprehension of Murakami's novel. It draws you in, connects with you and challenges you all at the same time.
There's also a unique set of characters introduced creatively. Though, with this few numbers of characters, our main protagonist definitely spends the majority of the book with a woman. These women, all in different age ranges, contribute greatly to Toru in his year and a half journey but the novel didn't quite capture the clarity that the readers needed in their exit in the story, unlike their introduction which was heartrending, moving, euphoric and all other kinds of emotions mingled with other mind boggling feeling.
Of course every story needs an antagonist and in this story we find it in an antagonist that isn't very much involved in the sense of being present all the time. This antagonist only ever made a physical presence once and never again. But his power as an antagonist is felt all throughout the latter part of the series. This antagonist, though not physically involved, is very enraging. His dominance over almost everything, the manner of making those around him inferior and the "chains and shackles" that he binds you with just pure influence definitely made this antagonist a strong and firm one, an adversary that even our passive protagonist shows genuine anger to yet compared to him, our protagonist is on the lowest point of a well while he is a high position that overlooks all.
Several supporting characters also shined in their own way. Whether these characters are with the protagonist or the antagonist, they are introduced and presented in a way which the audience can vividly portray in their minds.
Of course, the metaphors which hide the underlying truth are also there. It is not something that can be seen easily as being spoon-fed with the answers. It is there but it doesn't give its readers a hard time searching for the answers. Some answers are given along the way while also creating new questions of wonder that keeps the reader mesmerized and willing to continue flipping the page.
Finally in the conclusion of the book I, honestly, expected some sort of a great victory over a strong adversary and while we are given victory in the end, it doesn't send the reader off with a great joy. It feels, rather, normal and "quiet". By "quiet" I mean something like not having the slightest emotions in the end but still feel like there's a little glimmer deep inside. It's pretty hard to explain but a great number of wide readers might already know what I mean.
In conclusion, I really enjoyed reading the Wind-up Bird Chronicle even if it took me a whole month to finish. For me, it's not something that should be read all at once. It's important to let every word seep in to you and feel the emotions that the story amplifies.
I won't be giving any personal rating or anything because I feel like I don't have the rights yet. Unlike watching anime, I only started reading novels just over a year ago. I'd have to read a whole lot more to know the standards.
But in compensation to the lack of rating, I'll name my favorite character:
Favorite Character: May Kasahara
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