https://www.reddit.com/r/redscarepod/comments/k5ndrp/murakami/
created by fibreel-garishta on 03/12/2020 at 01:31 UTC
22 upvotes, 18 top-level comments (showing 18)
I've hesitated -- fears of a sorta lightweight distillation of a certain faction's quite specific idea of Japan (splendidly captured, I might add, on *Girls*): rainy days, tucked away whiskey bars, cute cats, pixiegirls, metanarratives, picturesque depression, food, quirky kinks, kinky quirks, etc.
Or?
Is there a good one to start with?
Comment by syzygys_ at 03/12/2020 at 01:44 UTC
25 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Norwegian Wood was my first and it's good, BPD romance story. I really liked Wind Up Bird Chronicle, I'd recommend it.
Comment by [deleted] at 03/12/2020 at 02:43 UTC
21 upvotes, 1 direct replies
The Wind-up Bird Chronicle is legitimately my favorite book and totally unlike what you fear
Comment by barbaric_sun at 03/12/2020 at 01:40 UTC
15 upvotes, 1 direct replies
underground because its not about softboys being stupid creeps
well i guess it kind of is actually!
Comment by Notleavingthischair at 03/12/2020 at 02:47 UTC
11 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Wind-Up Bird Chronicle is essential neetcore
Comment by [deleted] at 03/12/2020 at 03:10 UTC
10 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Murakami, IMHO, is one of the most overrated writers ever. But of all the ones I've read, *Wind up Bird* will probably give you the gist. If you read beyond that I think you'll find his themes are pretty repetitive.
If you're looking for eerie contemporary Japanese writing, check out Taeko Kono's short story collection, *Toddler Hunting*!
Comment by bunglebongle at 03/12/2020 at 03:51 UTC
9 upvotes, 2 direct replies
i have a hard time willing myself to read murakami. like anything in translation is always more stilted sounding than stuff written natively in english. it's bad with SVO languages and i'm sure it's even worse with japanese, which is SOV and highly context-based. I've read some mishima before and even no longer human but all i think about after finishing them is how much im missing out on because im english-only.
Comment by ourstemangeront at 03/12/2020 at 02:48 UTC
8 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Read Kafka on the Shore, it's the best of his stuff and you don't wanna bother. Read one and you have read them all.
Comment by LeseanLaCroix at 03/12/2020 at 03:06 UTC
8 upvotes, 1 direct replies
hard boiled wonderland is my fav book of all time
Comment by [deleted] at 03/12/2020 at 02:01 UTC
6 upvotes, 0 direct replies
i like “after dark,” and it is probably his most linear. “colorless life” is the second most linear. if you want one that is a gold standard of his style go for “dance dance dance”
Comment by [deleted] at 03/12/2020 at 04:25 UTC
3 upvotes, 1 direct replies
[deleted]
Comment by princessofwherever at 03/12/2020 at 20:46 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I hate Murakami. I find him embarassing and try-hard. That one fing book, Hard Boiled Wonderland or whatever the fuck made me want to rip my eyes out. So there.
Comment by [deleted] at 03/12/2020 at 01:57 UTC
5 upvotes, 1 direct replies
[deleted]
Comment by [deleted] at 03/12/2020 at 01:38 UTC
2 upvotes, 1 direct replies
i just ordered a wind up bird chronicle which i’ve read is a good one of his works to start with. i’ve also heard Norwegian wood is also a good one to start with as it is one of this famous works but it’s also a love story which can get cliche. Judging by your description I’m sure you’d probably be into his kafkaesque stuff, so maybe start with wind up bird chronicle
Comment by [deleted] at 03/12/2020 at 03:56 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
norwegian wood and kafka on the shore! 1Q84 if you got the patience
Comment by Hate-Basket at 03/12/2020 at 23:22 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Reject Haruki, embrace Ryu
Comment by kisa_vorobyaninov at 03/12/2020 at 04:51 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Wind/Pinball or Norwegian Wood for a more linear storyline or Windup Bird for more trippy.
He based his writing style on American writers, so his novels translate really smoothly, which is also what made him unique in Japan.
Comment by [deleted] at 03/12/2020 at 18:43 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Reject Murakami, Embrace Mishima
Comment by Ghostory_ at 29/05/2022 at 11:20 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Dance dance dance. You’ll have to read a wild sheep chase first though, maybe even wind/pinball but I like them all. Better than windup bird