Hello Japan! The Haruki Murakami Experience

Hello Japan! “is a monthly mini-challenge focusing on Japanese literature and culture. Each month there will be a new task which relates to some aspect of life in Japan. Anyone is welcome to join in any time” hosted by tanabata of In Spring it is the Dawn.

For March, tanabata asked us “to read, or otherwise experience Haruki Murakami's work.” I took her up on this challenge, and read 2 1/3 books. Where did the 1/3 come from? I am 1/3 the way through my third Murakami book.
To read other participants posts click on Hello Japan! March.

Let me say, I am glad that I spent March reading books by Haruki Murakami. His writing style is different from what I was use to reading, I liked it. Actually, I do believe that Mr. Murakami has become one of my favorite authors to read.

A bit about the man himself:

Haruki Murakami, born in 1949, is a well known Japanese contemporary fiction author, quite a few of his books have been translated from Japanese to many other languages. He has sold millions of books, and has received several literary awards. The few books that I have read have a familiar feeling in that Murakami utilizes a bit of western influence throughout, but still gives me, the reader, an idea of Japan. What do I mean about western influence? He places tid-bits about music and food (cooking) within his stories. These tid-bits gave me a feeling of familiarity. While reading about Murakami, I learned that he was influenced by western culture through reading literature by American authors, and living outside Japan – mostly in the U.S. and Europe. I also learned that several of his book titles are from songs, that intrigues me. I find Mr. Murakami interesting, I find his books are worthwhile reads.

The books that I have read for not only Hello Japan!, but also for the Japanese Literature group, and read-along were…..

I enjoyed A Wild Sheep Chase immensely. I was captivated, and entertained throughout the whole story.
You can read my review here.

I Loved Dance Dance Dance.
Seriously, this book was an excellent read for me. I completely, and thoroughly enjoyed the narrator’s wanderings, his life.
You can read my review here.

I found myself, throughout the day, thinking of this story even though it does not seem like much is going on, yet, at the same time, it does seem like there is a lot going on. That is an odd sensation for me, but it is working because I have been drawn into the story. I am enjoying the read.

The Wind-up Bird Chronicle is being read as part of tanabata’s Japanese Literature Read-Along. We have just finished reading book one with book two discussion set for April 15th. If you have not read this book, and would like to join in on the read-along, I encourage you to do so as this book is so far another wonderful read.

You can read the rest of my Book One thoughts for the read-along discussion here.

I look forward to reading more books by Haruki Murakami such as:
Norwegian Wood
Hard Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World
Sputnik Sweetheart
Kafka on the Shore
What I Talk About When I Talk About Running

I kid you not, I am truly liking Murakami’s writing style. I urge you to read at least one book by this author. Which book to start with? That is a question I cannot really answer at the moment. So far, I would suggest Dance Dance Dance as your first read, although, I am thinking The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle would be a good start as well.

I can confidently say, I experienced Haruki Murakami works, and I am glad for it.

Just Because Murakami mentions Spaghetti several times…

My Favorite Spaghetti Dish

Cooked spaghetti tossed with sautéed zucchini, tomatoes, onions, green peppers, and red peppers, mushroom. The vegetables are sautéed with our own concoction (Italian dressing, olive oil, and whatever else is found in the cabinet for seasonings – oregano, garlic, etc.). Yum!!!

To see how others experienced Murakami, you can visit Hello Japan! host by In Spring it is the Dawn.

Dance Dance Dance by Haruki Murakami

An interruption in my bloggy break so that I can post about a book that I have read for Japanese Literature Book Group. I wanted to participate in the discussion that is currently being held for this book.

Dance Dance Dance
by Haurki Murakami

Originally published in Japanese under the title Dansu Dansu Dansu , in 1988
First published in the United States in 1994

My copy: Vintage International Edition, 1995
Pages 393
Source: Library copy
Read for Japanese Literature Book Group

Back Cover:
In this propulsive novel, one of the most brilliant writers at work in any language fuses science fiction, the hard-boiled thriller, and white-hot satire into a new element of the literary periodic table. As he searches for a mysteriously vanished girlfriend, Murakami's protagonist plunges into a wind tunnel of sexual violence and metaphysical dread in which he collides with call girls; plays chaperone to a lovely teenaged psychic; and receives cryptic instructions from a shabby but oracular Sheep Man. Dance Dance Dance is a tense, poignant, and often hilarious ride through the cultural mosaic that is Japan, a place where everything that is not up for sale is up for grabs.

First Sentence:
I often dream about the Dolphin Hotel.

I had reservations about reading this book. Why? Mostly because I read A Wild Sheep Chase earlier in the month, and while I liked that book very much, I was not certain that I was interested enough in the narrator to read another story based around his life…his wanderings.
I decided to go ahead and read the book because I wanted to follow through on my monthly reading plan…wanted to follow through with the idea that I wanted to participate in the Japanese Literature Book Group. I have found, over this past month, that I really like the way Tanabata runs her blog, her book groups, and discussions. That liking is what drove me to pick up Dance Dance Dance.

Now that I gave you my reservations, let me tell you this…
I.Loved.Dance.Dance.Dance.

Seriously, this book was an excellent read for me. I completely and thoroughly enjoyed the narrator’s wanderings, his life. I completely and thoroughly enjoyed the story…the plot. Wait! The plot? hmmm…yet again, Mr. Murakami has me on that one. I am not certain about the plot…I know there must be a plot in there, but I really cannot clearly define it, let alone write about it. As with Mr. Murakami’s other stories that I have read, I felt like there was nothing really going on, yet there was so much. I will say, right from the first page, I was drawn into the story. The narrator captured me so completely with his story, with those he interacted with, with those he allowed into his life. Yes, this time around he captured me. I felt myself drawn back Dance Dance Dance each every time I put in down. Matter of fact, I did not put it down for long which means…I stayed up as long as my eyes would remain open reading the story. Once my eyes were ready to remain open in the morning, the book was back in hand….I was reading. I guess another good thing is that I am not feeling well, so I really did not want to do much of anything else but lay in bed…that helped to keep me reading, no other distractions to pull me from the reading. Ultimately, I cannot say enough as to how much I liked this story.

The problem is, what can I say, anyway, beyond how much I liked this story? Hmmm….the narrator. Do I know his name? Nope, I cannot recall being told his name once, not even in A Wild Sheep Chase. Unlike A Wild Sheep Chase, this fact of not knowing his name did not deter me at all from finding a great like for him. Actually, this time around, I think his no-name status actually brought me closer into his life. While I liked him in A Wild Sheep Chase, I did not feel he had much direction in life. This time in Dance Dance Dance, I was given a much better insight into his psyche, his way of thinking, he desires, his fears. This time, I understood him, and really found myself liking the way he thinks. He had some solid insight. He is not pretentious nor does he desire superfluous things. He is a solid character. The others that come across his path are much better as well. I felt the characters of Yumiyoshi, Yuki, Gotanda were well written, I felt depth within those characters plus their interactions with the narrator was wonderful.
While our narrator remained nameless, do note that the other characters had names. I noted this while reading, and pondered about it for just a bit. I am sure that naming the secondary characters was done on purpose, I think. Did it alter my reading experience? I am not completely certain that it did because this time I did feel a strong liking for the narrator, which I did not before, and he remained nameless. Still, on some level, I do think it gave me a sense of “knowing” the secondary characters a bit better by being able to put a name to them.

The Sheep Man made an appearance in Dance Dance Dance. I was glad for that because the Sheep Man intrigued me last time. This time, he did not seem so strange. He felt right to me, as if he really did belong in the narrator’s life. Maybe through reading other reader’s thoughts about the Sheep Man during the discussion of A Wild Sheep Chase gave me a better understanding of his purpose which then gave me a sense that he belonged…maybe. Regardless, he was not so strange, and I do think he played a different role in this story. I think his role was more purposeful in the narrator’s life. I think the Sheep Man was a guide to the narrator…a guide in helping him to get out of the doldrums of life, to stop being stuck, to stop the standstill of life. The Sheep Man, with his thoughts, helped the narrator to move forward, to connect with people, to Dance Dance Dance.

I will say, there was a moment of complete humor for me, and that has to do with Yuki’s father. I actually had to read his name two times…no wait…I had to read it three times before it sunk in that I was reading it incorrectly. I had to laugh at that. I was also greatly humored by the way Yuki describes her father. I am thinking Mr. Murakami has a sense of humor to plug Yuki’s father in that manner. Yeah, I liked that part. If you have not read Dance Dance Dance, well then, I am not going to spoil this part by telling you exactly what I am talking about. If you have read Dance Dance Dance, did you not also have a good chuckle at this aspect in the story?

I think by reading The Wild Sheep Chase before Dance Dance Dance gave me better understanding of the narrator, and his life. It gave Dance Dance Dance more depth. For that reason, I do recommend reading A Wild Sheep Chase first. Yet, if you were to read only one book of these two, then I say, read Dance Dance Dance. While I liked The Wild Sheep Chase, I loved Dance Dance Dance. For me, Dance Dance Dance reached me far greater than A Wild Sheep Chase.

Dance Dance Dance is an excellent story filled with intrigue, mystery, loss, abandonment, and relationships.
I will say this again, I loved this story.

To join in on the discussion of Dance Dance Dance, you can head on over to In Spring it is the Dawn.

Side Notes:

This is my third Murakami book, and I continue to be fascinated with his reference to western culture, it intrigues me each time the subtle, and casual way different food, and music is utilized in his stories.

My favorite parts of the book were the interactions between the narrator and Yuki. These are the parts that the narrator made his greatest impression upon me.

A couple of my favorite quotes to give you a flavor of Murakami’s writing:

“Dance,” said the Sheep Man. “Yougottadance. Aslongasthemusicplays. Yougotta dance. Don’teventhinkwhy. Starttothink, yourfeetstop. Yourfeetstop, wegetstuck. Wegetstuck, you’restuck. Sodon’tpayanymind, nomatterhowdumb. Yougottakeepthestep. Yougottalimberup. Yougottaloosenwhatyoubolteddown. Yougottauseallyougot. Weknowyou’retired, tiredandscared. Happenstoeveryone, okay? Justdon’tletyourfeetstop. “
p.86

“I don’t mind seeing Yuki that often,” I said, “but I can’t, I won’t, do it every day. I have my own life to look after, and I don’t like seeing people out of obligation. I’ll see her when I feel like it. I don’t need your money, I don’t want your money. I’m not hard up and the money I spend with Yuki won’t be any different than the money I spend with friends. I like Yuki a lot and I enjoy seeing her, but I don’t want the responsibility. Do you read me? Because whatever happens with Yuki, the responsibility ultimately comes back to you.”
p.203

The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, Book One by Haruki Murakami (JLit Read-along Discussion)

An interruption in my bloggy break so that I can post about a book that I am reading for Japanese Literature Read Along. This book is being read over three months, this month we read book 1, April will cover book 2, and May will cover book 3. I wanted to participate in the discussion that is currently being held for book one, The Thieving Magpie – June and July 1984.

The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle
by Haruki Murakami
Published in Japan, in three books, 1994-1995
Published in English 1997
Pages: 607, Book One pages: 167
Source: Purchased book
Read for Japanese Literature Read Along

Back Cover:
Japan's most highly regarded novelist now vaults into the first ranks of international fiction writers with this heroically imaginative novel, which is at once a detective story, an account of a disintegrating marriage, and an excavation of the buried secrets of World War II.
In a Tokyo suburb a young man named Toru Okada searches for his wife's missing cat. Soon he finds himself looking for his wife as well in a netherworld that lies beneath the placid surface of Tokyo. As these searches intersect, Okada encounters a bizarre group of allies and antagonists: a psychic prostitute; a malevolent yet mediagenic politician; a cheerfully morbid sixteen-year-old-girl; and an aging war veteran who has been permanently changed by the hideous things he witnessed during Japan's forgotten campaign in Manchuria.

Book One, First Sentence:
When the phone rang I was in the kitchen, boiling a pot full of spaghetti and whistling along with an FM broadcast of the overture to Rossini’s The Thieving Magpie, which has to be the perfect music for cooking spaghetti.

I found myself, throughout the day, thinking of this story even though it does not seem like much is going on, yet, at the same time, it does seem like there is a lot going on. That is an odd sensation for me, but it is working because I have been drawn into the story. I am enjoying the read.

Toru Okada; I like him. He is sincere in his thinking and motivations. He is not perfect which I think adds to his sincerity. I do find it interesting, yet again, to read about a main character who is male, and wandering about life…trying to figure himself out. The difference though between Toru and the narrator of A Wild Sheep Chase is that Toru has a name which, I think, has helped make a connection for me. Beyond that, Toru seems to have better direction with his thoughts and commitments if not with his occupation. I like him. I am curious to the path Toru will take as the story continues.

As far as the other characters are concerned, I am liking them. They are a bit odd, and I wonder about their purposes because they do have purpose…that much I can sense.
This is my second Murakami book, and I am thinking that this author writes strange characters, who have meaning which is not overtly written. These characters, while a bit odd, add to the story with their quirkiness which has also given the story its intrigue.

At the end of Book One, Toru is given an empty box, what is the significance of the box? That is a question I am still pondering. I know it means something, what exactly I cannot say. I hope that I figure this one out, or at the very least, others have a few ideas for the significance of the empty box.

The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle was translated from Japanese by Jay Rubin. I am not having any problems with the translation as I feel the story is smoothly written, it flows. How much of that feel is attributed to the author or the translation, I do not know as I have not read the book in Japanese. I would venture to say, the smoothness is Murakami’s doing while the translator did a fabulous job of keeping the essence of the story, the meaning intact.

Book Two of The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle will be discussed on April 15th. The story has hooked me with Toru’s meanderings and with stories of the others that have entered his world. I am intrigued. I am not certain as to where the story is headed, but I know that I am very curious about Kumiko. What is going on with her?

I look forward to reading Book Two of The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle.

To join in on the discussion of The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, you can head on over to In Spring it is the Dawn.

A Wild Sheep Chase by Haruki Murakami

An interruption in my bloggy break so that I can post about a book that I have read for Japanese Literature Book Group. I wanted to participate in the discussion that is currently being held for this book.

A Wild Sheep Chase
by Haruki Murakami
Published in Japan 1982
Published in English 1989
Pages: 299
Source: Library copy
Read for Japanese Literature Book Group

GoodReads Description:
It begins simply enough: A twenty-something advertising executive receives a postcard from a friend, and casually appropriates the image for an insurance company’s advertisement. What he doesn’t realize is that included in the pastoral scene is a mutant sheep with a star on its back, and in using this photo he has unwittingly captured the attention of a man in black who offers a menacing ultimatum: find the sheep or face dire consequences. Thus begins a surreal and elaborate quest that takes our hero from the urban haunts of Tokyo to the remote and snowy mountains of northern Japan, where he confronts not only the mythological sheep, but the confines of tradition and the demons deep within himself.

First Sentence:
It was a short one-paragraph item in the morning edition.

I enjoyed this story immensely. Even so, it was a story that enabled me to set it down,and then be drawn back to the book every day with the desire to read more. Each time that I would pick this book back up, I would become completely engaged in the reading. The story had a nice, easy going pace while filled with a sense of mystery and intrigue of the wild sheep chase. At times, the story was a bit strange, yet the strangeness felt natural. Even now, during this writing, I find myself wondering about the strangeness, and the meaning. In my way, while I don’t completely understand it all, the strangeness of the story did make sense.

The cast of characters were all very interesting, each with a quirk which helped to add some depth to the narrator’s tale. As for our narrator, he was interesting as well, but not in a flashy way as he had little ambition in life. Still, he intrigued me with his thoughts, and actions. I liked the flow of his tale, and the lull of his tone.

A Wild Sheep Chase captivated and entertained me throughout the whole story.

The following are a few of the questions that tanabata asked for the Japanese Literature Book Group.

How does this book compare to other Murakami titles that you've read?

This was my first Murakami book. However, I am currently reading Wind-Up Bird which I am enjoying…even more than A Wild Sheep Chase.

Any favourite scenes? Or characters?

My favorite scene would be all the scenes with the Sheep Man. I loved how he talked, and the strangeness about him fit the story perfectly at that point. My favorite character would be the girlfriend. I felt it was a bit strange how she drifted into the narrator’s life. She is a character that I feel has a lot more to say, lot more to her story…I would love to hear her side of things.

What or who do you think the sheep represents?

That is the part of the book that I do not have a full grasp on. I have a few ideas, but I am sooo not sure. I would love to hear from others who have read this book, to see what they think. I am most definitely going to read the comments for the book discussion at In Spring it is the Dawn.

There are no proper names used in the entire novel. Why do you think the author chose not to include these names?

I noticed this. I think that by not naming the characters, the reader was kept more focus on the movement of the story rather than the characters themselves. For me, it kept me a bit distance from them. While I found the characters interesting, I never felt that I knew them. This was okay for this book because, truly, it was the mystic of the sheep that was the central focus.

Do you believe the main character was selfish in his behavior when he accepted his girlfriend's assistance on the sheep chase? If not, why do you believe he accepted her assistance, knowing she would be in danger?

I did not get the feeling that the main character made any real connections with people who surrounded him. It felt like he was floating through life without real commitment. Was he selfish? I suppose he was , but I also think he was not purposefully selfish.
The girlfriend automatically gave her assistance. I don’t think the main character had much opportunity to say no. Or, gave much thought to it. He was not truly connected to her.

Did you think the characters and their relationships were believable or realistic?

I think some of them were believable, but when the strangeness set in then a few unbelievable characters showed up.

Who or what do you believe the Sheep Man represents within the novel?

I would love to read others’ thoughts on this question. For me, yet again, I am not really sure.

To join in on the discussion of A Wild Sheep Chase, you can head on over to In Spring it is the Dawn.

Blogging Break….

I am going to take a blogging break during the month of March. This means that I will not be using twitter, visiting blogs, posting to my blog - Polishing Mud Balls with a few exceptions. First, I will post at least twice due to the timeliness of the posts. Second, I will catch-up on answering comments placed on my blog. Third, I will continue posting over at my photo blog, ME, because it is a new project, and I want to keep it going. Fourth, While I will not be reading blogs, I will be online. I will be available via email. I will be researching stuff pertaining to IJ. I will be updating my GoodReads account. I will be reading, I will be cleaning, and organizing. I will be…

Why the blog break? While reading Semicolon’s post, Lenten Blog Break and a New 100 Project, I realized, I need a break. While I am not breaking for Lent, I do need to break, to take time to apply some efforts towards a few other areas in my life. While I love to blog, read others’ blogs, and comment; it does take time. I need this time to get myself back into gear with IJ and everything else that I have mentioned.

I will be back in April. I will post again, read blogs again, and comment again.

If you do come across something that you think I should know now, instead of waiting until April; please email me, let me know. :)

If you want to say hi, do so, email me. :)

I hope you all have a wonderful, fun, and peaceful March.

I shall see you again come April!

-Deanna-

Celebrate Literacy: Read Across America, March 2nd

Sponsored by NEA (National Education Association), Read Across America“is an annual reading motivation and awareness program that calls for every child in every community to celebrate reading on March 2, the birthday of beloved children's author Dr. Seuss.”

To mark this day, I have decided to write about celebrating literacy. This subject appeals to me greatly for a variety of reasons. The main reason, of course, is that I love reading, and highly value the ability to understand the written word. Beyond that, I realize, being literate is not only about books. Literacy is also about the daily life of driving, cooking, following directions, purchasing power, etc. The skill of literacy plays an incredible role in daily living. I must admit though, the first thing that pops into my mind when I think of celebrating literacy is children.

Literacy in children is huge. For many children, becoming literate is easy peasy. They learn to read at an early age, and this is celebrated. I celebrate it. I find great joy when I see the act of learning letters come simply and easily to my three-year old daughter. I celebrate that she loves to “read” and be read to. However, at the same time, I am acutely aware that my six-year old son struggles greatly with literacy. Granted, my six-year old is a child with special needs as he is developmentally delayed. Still, he is a child who will need literacy skills for daily living. There are other children, typically developing children, who also struggle with literacy. These children are at high risk. They need extra attention. As already stated, literacy effects daily living. For children, daily living includes academics, and literacy has a huge impact on all of their school subjects. The skill of literacy is important for every child.

Literacy is huge for each, and everyone of us. Almost every aspect in all of our daily lives depends upon some level of literacy. Therefore, helping children gain a solid literacy base is of utmost importance. As adults, what can we do to help children gain literacy? I have put together a list to help guide, and remind us of ways to help encourage literacy in children. I have also put together a list of resources, and websites. Please take a look, there may be a tip, resource, or website of interest.

Ways to help foster the skill of literacy in all children, struggling or not:

1.Daily reading; read aloud to your children (all ages benefit, from infant through the teen years), encourage daily independent reading.

2.Provide reading materials: books (library, purchased, gifts, borrowed), magazines, newspapers.

3.Write with your children: send letters to family and friends, write stories, write lists (simple grocery list, wish list), have young children dictate to you their writing.

4.Provide writing materials: pencils, pens, markers, drawing paper, notebook paper, post-it notes, 3x5 index cards

5.Read aloud the child's writing, and/or, have the child read to themselves their writing.

6.Make reading fun: visit the library and/or bookstore, attend events (book clubs, author events, etc.)

7.Set an example

What I can think about, I can talk about.
What I can say, I can write.
What I can write, I can read.
I can read what I can write and what other people can write for me to read.
(Van Allen & Halversen)

Resources/Websites:

Celebrate Literacy; All Year Long – Monthly literacy ideas

Fantastic Outdoor Family Literacy Activities

Ideas for Family Literacy Events

More Literacy Games

Family Literacy Ideas – broken down into age groups

Ten Wacky Family Literacy Ideas

Booklights – offers some wonderful book ideas from children's book experts

Reading Rockets – Teaching kids to read and helping those who struggle.

Read Across America – March 2nd

Read Across America – Reading Rockets, partner of NEA

Jen Robinson's Book Page - Recommended Children's Books by Age Range

Books Read: February 2010

It seems that my reading pace has slowed down.  I have been in denial about this for months, but no longer.  I look back at this time last year, I read 17 books in February, and wonder, what is the difference between last year, and now?  Honestly, I cannot come up with a real solid answer.   I hope that my reading pace will pick up because there are sooo many books that I want to read.  If it does not, oh well, life will continue on.  :)

All four books that I read in February are books that I greatly enjoyed.  They are all worth while to read.



Favorite February Book:
This was a very tough decision.  Out of the big whopping four books that I read, my choice was between two books.  I wavered back and forth until I finally decided upon…

Sarah’s Key by Tatiana De Rosnay
This is a beautifully written story that alternates between the lives of Julia and Sarah. Two women who were born decades apart, in different countries. Two women who were effected by the Holocaust.  There is depth, and intrigue throughout the story.  A story not to be missed.  My review is here.






Books Read: 4
* = a great read of the month - a 4.5  to 5 star book that stands out in my mind amongst all the others that I have read.


* Sarah’s Key by Tatiana De Rosnay
  Coraline by Neil Gaiman
*Crossing the Bridge by Michael Baron
* Voyageurs by Margaret Elphinstone


Book Still Reading: 1
East of Eden by John Steinbeck


Books Attempted But Did Not Complete: 0


Stats for the Year, running total:
Books Read : 8
Purchased Books : 5
Library Books: 3
Already Owned Books: 0
Gifted Books: 0
Books Borrowed from Friends: 0
Books Recommended by a Friend: 4
Published in 2010: 1
Male Authors: 5
Female Authors: 3
New to-me Authors: 6




How was your February?



Happy Reading during the month of March!

12 by 12 Reading Challenge: March

Each month, a new challenge.  The goal is simply  to read more novels.
For more information and to link-up, visit this month’s host, Alaine of Queen of Happy Endings.






During March of 2009 I was able to read 16 books which simply amazes me at this juncture in my life.  Seeing that I am not currently reading anywhere close to that amount books, I have decided to try to increase my current average of four books per month to six.   
My goal: six books.
Hopefully I will accomplish this goal.


Books that I would like to Read:
A Wild Sheep Chase by Haruki Murakami
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami (finish part one)
East of Eden by John Steinbeck (finish this book)
Fallen by Lauren Kate
Morning on Horseback by David McCullough (okay, this is an biography, still, I am listing it…making the rules what I want …vbg )
Dawn on a Distant Shore by Sara Donati
The Great Hunt by Robert Jordan
Soulless by Gail Carriger
The Pillow Book by Sei Shonagon (this is an ongoing read for 2010)
The Unnamed by Joshua Ferris