Things I'm Reading

This book deals with one of my greatest fears. 

The women in the novel are loved. They are taken care of. They have families. They have careers, the housewife included. 

Except none of them are happy. They try hard to be, but none of them are and they feel as though they should be.

And that’s my biggest fear - getting everything I desire and dream of and resenting and despising it. Ever single second of it. 

925 pages later, here I am. 

I’ve talked to so many people about this book. I’ve freaked out over it. I’ve had stomachaches from it. I’ve cried here and there. 

And now it’s over. 

Sometimes there is nothing more depressing than finishing a book. 

“It’s very difficult to logically explain the illogical.”  

There is no way to summarize this book. There are two main characters, Aomame and Tengo, but the journey they go on is indescribable. It breaks logic, truth, common sense, etc. Without some suspension of belief, this book is nothing. Yet with that suspension of belief, it’s magical. A story of questioning your surroundings, seeing more in the world, and most importantly love. This book is filled with love - complicated, entangled without realizing it, pure love between people and how it binds them.

Not to mention the way Murakami weaves the stories of the different characters together - tiny, carefully sewn threads that will excite any reader. The plot is difficult. It’s messy and confusing and may not even make sense for some people at the end, but it’s well-written and explained throughout the text. Instead of getting everything at once, the reader gets glimpses of what is going on here and there. It’s far less overwhelming that way. 

And yes, there were bad things about it. The sexual references were often long-winded and maybe unnecessary. It begins to feel monotonous later in the third section of the book. The ending feels abrupt, especially given the conversation between Tamaru and Buzzcut a few chapters prior, but the ending was Tengo and Aomame’s only way out. They had to save themselves, what Buzzcut needed be damned. A part of me will always wonder what would have happened at that meeting or what came of the Little People and Sakigake and Fuka-Eri, etc. 

It’s safe to say that my mind is blown. I will read this book again sometime. Perhaps over and over. 

This was my first Murakami novel. So does anyone who’s read him have recommendations for other books? I’m definitely anxious to read more. 

My BFF (while trying on a dress): I look like an 1800’s orphan. 
Me: OMG. YOU DO. YOU SHOULD BE HELEN BURNS FOR HALLOWEEN.  

Confession: I’ve seen the movie multiple times and never read the book.