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Why did Tsukuru Tazaki‘s close knit group of friends suddenly drop him? The answer, discovered years later, could be off putting to some readers. However, I love the dream like, metaphysical and introspective way that Murakami writes. I always come away feeling as though I have new insights into humanity. I really enjoyed this one.

This was my August #bookspin @TheAromaofBooks

Haven‘t we all experienced this?

The book that Richie in the Bear was referring to. Tsukuru is a member of five teenagers who are inseparable and who one day with no explanation finds himself excluded from the group. Many years later and on the edge of a new relationship he decides he needs to understand the cause of the break so many years before. Less magical realism than I associate with Murakami, and without a clear ending, more a decision to move on despite the outcome.

Ok

It was way too long since I read my last Murakami. I had forgotten how much I love his writing. How it feels to be drawn in from the first pages. To be transported to a world where a touch of magical realism comes naturally. To a story that raises many questions to which you know you won‘t get all answers. To Japan.
Years ago Tsukuru was cut off without an explanation by his childhood friends. ⬇️⬇️

Here we have Tuskuru, after being rejected by his four friends for unknown reasons. Sara comes into his life and asks him to confront his friends to understand why he has been thrown out for no reason at all. Tsukuru is a lonely character who struggles to connect with others. He feels isolated and disconnected from the world around him, which only deepens his sense of loneliness.
Recommended to all Murakami fans 🤗

#insomnia #conflictedworlds @Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

#FriendRecChallenge complete! 😄 Not bad this year. The Murakami was my favorite. I‘m looking forward to seeing what my friends pick for me next year.

Hard to know where to start with this one! Tsukuru Tazaki is scarred and baffled by a decision taken by his four best friends from high school while he was away at college. A new, rare connection with another person compels him to seek answers, but is there ever really such a thing in a Murakami novel? The loneliness and dream logic of this story are haunting, but don't expect a tidy resolution.

#BeautifulWords Day 7: Fats‘ review: “The book offers moments of epiphany about human interaction, about close friends who drift apart, and about the way man sees himself in relation to the world. Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage is not as strange as other Murakami novels I‘ve read. It is raw, profound, and hauntingly beautiful.” Full review: https://wp.me/pDlzr-cea

It was heavy on the middle aged man melodrama, but there were some good dialogues and inner monologues that speak across gender, nationality, etc. I enjoyed the narrator on this version of the audiobook.

“They use a training manual instead of sacred scriptures. With promotion and high salary as their equivalent of enlightenment and paradise. A new religion for a pragmatic age.”

“Never be constrained thinking about things freely ... but it seems to me that thinking about things freely can‘t be easy. It means leaving behind your physical body. Leaving the cage of your physical flesh ... and letting pure logic soar free.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
To get a bit personal, while I was reading this book, a friend of mine suffered a delusion, cut me off, and has ignored all my attempts to talk to her since then, ending our friendship over something that never actually happened. So this book hit closer to home after that, and I found myself oddly comforted by it while trying to navigate through that loss. Even without that experience I found the book pretty relatable and was enjoying ⬇️

#BiblioMAYnia Day 17: This one definitely fits the #StrangeTitle prompt. I have yet to read my Murakami novels.

This book was an enjoyable read. Even though Tsukuru Tazaki has led a pretty colorless life, he is still an enjoyable and relatable character. I also appreciate how some questions are left open. I do think some of the sexual scenes were unnecessary although the author ties them into the story well. Although still enjoyable, I'm also not sure if the first part of the book was entirely necessary.

#Fiction #Japan #AuthorAMonth

@Soubhiville

Luckily, I was able to grab this book from the library before they shutdown. There was no warning - I received an e-mail in the middle of the night that they would be closed effective immediately. I started the book last night with a drink and got about a third of the way through. Baby has started to sleep through the night so I can finally enjoy a drink with my reading once in a while. I'm enjoying the book so far.

#CurrentlyReading #LibraryBook

This book was a great reflection on friendship, with a journey to discover what is missing from Tsukuru‘s life. When his childhood friends cut him off, Tsukuru thinks it is just easier to let it happen since he lives far away anyway, but those friendships linger in his mind and heart.

By the way, I will always think this cover, designed by Chip Kidd, is brilliant.

#AuthoraMonth

A. So hard to write about this one because its mc is odd—wounded but lacking clarity and depth, and a sense of his own personality. B. The phrase “years of pilgrimage” seems overblown, over dramatic for what happened. C. I am repelled by the author‘s reliance on sexual themes, dreams, erotica a la Freud; as 1. a way to replace credible communication, and 2. explain life‘s every feeling or behavior. Does everything have to be sexual? ⬇️cont‘d

After he went to college Tsukuru was unceremoniously ostracized by a close group of friends. As an adult he sets out to find out why at the insistence of a girlfriend. Overall I enjoyed this book, but found the sex scenes weird and off putting. Maybe something was lost in translation? #AuthorAMonth2020

First #Authoramonth book for March. My first ever Murakami and I have to say this was an overall very enjoyable read, with a believable story of a man who was kicked out of a friendship group from school and goes on a personal journey to find out why many years later. You can feel the emotions coming off the page and it is very well written and very readable. Two minor points it didn‘t need the occasional references to sex and erotic dreams 👇

Starting my first book for #Authoramonth, which for March is Haruki Murakami. This will be the first book of his I have read. Was thinking of reading IQ84 but at 1328 pages seemed such a big undertaking when I didn‘t know if I liked his writing.

Also using this to continue the #MarchUnshelfingReadathon #MarchUnshelfing Need just over 300 pages more today to hit my target of 2100 pages during the week.

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Well written obviously but a little depressing at the same time.

I‘ve decided to do my #friendrecchallenge again this year! This challenge is designed to get me to actually read the books my friends recommend since normally I‘m not so great at that. 😅 I got the same 3 friends as last year to pick for me and these were their choices. I did make an exception for Saga. I requested only one book each for my challenge, but my boyfriend talked me into reading both book 1 and 2 because he thinks I‘ll get through ⬇️

#DearDecember Day 23: This translated title from the world-renowned Murakami has a #SilverCover. Hopefully I get to read it next year for our #ReadIntl2020 theme where we are featuring international and/or translated titles from all over the world.

Have u ever think of yourself as something? Like in this book Tazaki wanted to thought himself as a color but he weren‘t. So at first, i thought about his friends like “oh they are so cruel, how could they do this to him? “. But then again I understand it wasn‘t about them it was about Tazaki. I guess we realize ourself as something that we never thought of before in our lives after having a big hit just like Tazaki.

#covercrush #7days7covers...a bit late with #7

@stacybmartin Thank you so much!! I absolutely love 💕 everything!!! You are amazing!!! Thank you!!!
#SummerSantaGoesPostal

A combination of plot development, character development, thoughts in life and Japanese aesthetic writing style. The only book from Murakamj Haruki that I like so far.

I finished this earlier today, but I‘ve been struggling with how to review it. Maybe it is the translation, but the writing often felt stilted. Also, a lot of it just didn‘t make sense to me. There were parts of the story that just seemed to wander off to dead ends. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I am listening to this and hope to finish today.

This book is nice but not special.
The plot is simple. Tazaki Tsukuru is a normal guy who was expelled from his club of friends without a real motivation. For many long years (sixteen exactly) he missed his group but he couldn't write to them or know the truth.
Murakami's prose is particular and suggestive. The Japanese traditions are important in all of his books. Indeed there're so many images linked to Murakami's culture.

This was just okay for me. I found it to be a bit dull. It was a good character study and there were some interesting things, but I didn‘t think it was great.

In order to really appreciate this book I need to read it again. This is my intro to Murakami.

I was quite excited about reading this, I asked for it for Christmas and am usually a Murakami fan - but this didn‘t resonate with me and felt like he‘s rehashing old ideas. I guess I fell out of love with him after 1Q84 and don‘t really like any of the newer novels. Pre-1Q84 works are great though.

Has anyone else read this? What did you think?

Edit: I tried to rate it so-so but put pan by mistake and it won‘t change! Oops. 😬

Got to say after reading Men Without Women; I am utterly dissatisfied and disappointed with his perception towards women.

But still, I always find an excuse to not ditching Murakami, and surely this book is one of the reasons for me not to do so.

My 6th Murakami, and still counting in.

Too accurate...

Is anybody else doing the #20BooksofSummer challenge? I‘ve managed Eleanor Oliphant, Colorless Tsukuru, and Mister Pip so far - all great. What is on your list?

Pretty low key Saturday night around here. Might as well send it with Murakami.

I made pork stuffed cucumber stew today. Yes, it looks horrible but to be fair-it also tastes horrible 😵 Luckily, there‘s beer involved. And I‘m happily reading on of my favorite authors, Haruki Murakami. I love this book even though it does nothing to erase the horrible taste from my mouth 😒

This book felt dishonest and uncomfortable. I like an unreliable narrator, but Murakami feels like an unreliable author.
The writing is beautiful but disjointed, and seemingly significant plot points are then never touched on again. The whole thing feels dreamlike. The scant closure we're given left me feeling dissatisfied and uncertain.
That said, Tazaki is definitely a relatable character for me, and I don't regret having read this.

Ate this book up. Murakami‘s style of writing feels so familiar. Meaning to say that there is a sense of speaking with an old friend, which lends its self well to this book. Tsukuru Tazaki goes on a journey to uncover the truth of his banishment and deals with the idea of pure and painful loneliness. 4.5/5📖 #Murakami #colorlessTsukuruTazaki

I can always tell when my kitten has been climbing my bookshelves, because she pulls the same book out as a foothold every single time 😂 I guess she‘s a Murakami fan too!

#BookCoverLove

I love the US design of this hardback edition. Such as the chair headings that tie in with Tsukuru's love for train stations. Just these little things the British cover seems to lack.

Finally, reading a Murakami again. It's been too long.