Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage: A novel
Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage: A novel | Murakami, Haruki
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
Pick icon
100%
review
rachelk
post image
Pickpick

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

BarbaraBB I loved this one! 4mo
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 4mo
38 likes1 stack add3 comments
quote
Oblomov26
post image

Haven‘t we all experienced this?

review
Oblomov26
post image
Pickpick

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.

LeeRHarry This is one of my faves by this author. 😊 11mo
cariashley I love this book! Totally missed the reference in The Bear! 11mo
40 likes2 comments
review
naeyma
Pickpick

Ok

review
BarbaraBB
post image
Pickpick

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. ⬇️⬇️

BarbaraBB ⬆️ In fact he can‘t even blame them that much, considering himself not worthy of them. At age 36 he meets a woman who urges him to revisit his past and try for some answers. Loved it 🩷
Thanks @KarenUK I didn‘t realize how much I was in the mood for Murakami!
2y
sarahbarnes Yes!! 💙 Great review and glad you got to spend some more time with Murakami. I have a copy of Kafka on the Shore that I‘ve been waiting to read. I may have to pick it up soon! 2y
Centique I‘m keen to read this too! 2y
See All 8 Comments
BarbaraBB @Centique I hope you will one day! 2y
KarenUK So glad you liked it…. It‘s my absolute favorite of his…. 💕💕💕 2y
BarbaraBB @KarenUK Loved it! It‘s my favorite now too, along with 2y
Megabooks Excellent review! Beautiful photo and day as well! 2y
Suet624 Delightful photo. 2y
70 likes8 comments
review
Parvez
post image
Pickpick

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 🤗

Sapphire This is one of my top favs of Murakami. I think it‘s more approachable than some of his novels. 1Q84 is still my favorite, followed by Underground. Killling Comandore is on my TBR. 2y
Parvez @Sapphire Yes, the magical realism component is less as compared to other Murakami novels, however, the ending is vague with no proper conclusion. 2y
28 likes2 comments
blurb
SusanLee
post image
Eggs 💙📚❤️ 3y
7 likes1 comment
blurb
shadowspeak17
post image

#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.

review
Decalino
post image
Pickpick

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.

17 likes1 stack add
review
GatheringBooks
post image
Pickpick

#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

OriginalCyn620 I‘ve never read him! 4y
52 likes1 comment
review
ke1lbe1l
post image
Pickpick

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.

quote
ke1lbe1l

“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.”

quote
ke1lbe1l
post image

“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.”

review
shadowspeak17
post image
Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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 ⬇️

shadowspeak17 it. I did find it a little too simile heavy though and wish there‘d been a bit more to the female characters.

So that‘s book 1 of 4 down for my #friendrecchallenge . Also, while it didn‘t really bother me, Tsukuru did get a little whiney at times, so I‘m using this for #booked2020 #WineOrWhine

#catsoflitsy #Phoenix
5y
Cinfhen I‘m sorry to hear about your friendship/ friend. I hope she receives help and you can both repair the friendship one day. Great review. 5y
magyklyXdelish I hope your friend gets the help they need and that hopefully you are able to reconnect into a healthier friendship. 5y
Crazeedi That is terribly sad, I'm sure your heart is very heavy. Sometimes we lose friends and just dont understand, I hope your heart heals from this, sending hug🥰 5y
shadowspeak17 @Cinfhen @magyklyXdelish @Crazeedi Thank you ❤️ I really hope she‘ll get the help she needs. The whole situation has been so complicated and emotionally draining. It‘s so disconcerting going from calling someone a sister one day to being despised and ignored by them the next, even if it‘s not her fault. I just wish there was something I could do to help or be there for her somehow, and I really hope that someday we can fix our friendship. 😔 5y
37 likes5 comments
blurb
GatheringBooks
post image

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

OriginalCyn620 📚👍🏻📚 5y
49 likes1 comment
review
Jess861
post image
Pickpick

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

Jess861 I'm interested - if I enjoyed this book what would others recommend as another Haruki Murakami book to read? 5y
Soubhiville Logged, that‘s 3📚 5y
cdcnmac one of my all time fave books!! love this author 5y
39 likes3 comments
blurb
Jess861
post image

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

starlight97 What's that drink? 🤩 5y
Jess861 @starlight97 - It's the Stranger Than Fiction Porter from the Collective Arts Brewery. Quite tasty if you like dark beer. I'm thinking it may only be available in Ontario though. 5y
AmyG I just read this book and also enjoyed it. 5y
See All 7 Comments
Jess861 @AmyG Glad to hear! Good book that I'm enjoying so far although not loving it. 5y
starlight97 @Jess861 sounds lovely 😛 5y
BookwormM What is the drink? The can is so pretty 5y
Jess861 @BookwormM It's the Stranger Than Fiction Porter from the Collective Arts Brewery in Ontario. 5y
38 likes7 comments
review
tjwill
post image
Pickpick

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

Soubhiville Logged, that‘s 6📚 5y
52 likes2 comments
review
Eggs
post image
Mehso-so

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

Eggs Sometimes HM goes off on a tangent to see if we notice, to confuse us perhaps. Not my favorite but it‘s all subjective anyway. To another reader this novel may be excellent. #authoramonth2020 @Soubhiville @Andrew65 5y
BookishMe As my colleague once pointed out, his writing is pretty formulaic. I realise I now find it fun to tick off the recurring themes instead of focusing on the story! Lol 5y
Andrew65 Totally agree with your review, and especially these sexual theme. Why? They are not needed and spoil enjoyment of the books. (edited) 5y
See All 6 Comments
Eggs @BookishMe I hadn‘t thought about the “formulaic” aspect- I‘ll be watching for that 5y
Eggs @Andrew65 agreed. There are other more powerful literary devices that could be created 5y
Soubhiville Logged, 24📚 5y
75 likes1 stack add6 comments
review
Bookwormjillk
post image
Pickpick

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

Andrew65 Totally agree with all aspects of this review. Did we really need the sex scenes? NO!!! (edited) 5y
Bookwormjillk @Andrew65 They were just so weird! 5y
Soubhiville Logged, is this your 6th? 5y
51 likes1 stack add4 comments
review
Andrew65
post image
Pickpick

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 👇

Andrew65 👆 Also disappointed by the very ending and not knowing what happened with Sara. #ReadingEurope2020 @Librarybelle @BarbaraBB #Finland (edited) 5y
Andrew65 Brings me up to 2112/2100 target of pages read for #MarchUnshelfingReadathon. @Clwojick @Geenie @SquidgetsRoom @GHABI4ROSES #MarchUnshelfing (edited) 5y
BookishMe I recently read somewhere that Murakami is obsessed with erotica and it's a common motif in his writing 🤔🤔 5y
See All 11 Comments
Clwojick Yeah! I knew you‘d crush your goal! 🔥🔥🔥🥳🥳🥳 5y
Andrew65 @Clwojick Thanks and for your belief. Still going and got 16 minutes before midnight. (edited) 5y
Andrew65 @BookishMe That‘s a shame because it isn‘t needed. 😔 5y
Eggs I read this book too; agree w your feelings of erotica and sexually hostile dreams...no thanks. But apparently it‘s in several other of his novels-its just where his mind goes happily down a trail to use sex instead of real communication @Andrew65 5y
Cathythoughts I really enjoyed the 2 books of his I read. I agree ... no thanks to erotica... but when I think back on the books it‘s not what I remember at all ... still it will put me off reading him again too soon ... (edited) 5y
Andrew65 @Eggs @Cathythoughts Totally agree, not needed and does put you off. 5y
Soubhiville Logged, I‘ve got you at 7📚 5y
Andrew65 @Soubhiville Thanks, that‘s correct. Lagging well behind the leaders. 😳 5y
84 likes11 comments
blurb
Andrew65
post image

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.

aquariusnat Never read him either. But he's on my TBR author list too . Let us know if you liked it ! 5y
AmyG I‘m reading this one, too. So far, so good. But I am thinking I may have already read it...it seems very familiar! 😳🤣 5y
GHABI4ROSES This is included in your unshelving? Double duty? Or extra credit? 5y
See All 19 Comments
Andrew65 @aquariusnat Will do. Quite different but enjoying it so far. 5y
Andrew65 @AmyG That‘s always the problem! 5y
Andrew65 @GHABI4ROSES Included in the Readathon but as ebook can‘t be included in the unshelfing. (edited) 5y
EadieB @Andrew65 I read IQ84. My husband was in an accident on the way to church. He was broadsided as another car went thru stop sign. He was just a little lightheaded and is in St Luke's Q-Town having tests done but he is totally fine. I‘m in the emergency room with him now and they are running all kinds of tests. (edited) 5y
Clwojick What is authoramonth? Is the whole year preplanned? 5y
Andrew65 @EadieB Oh no! Hopefully will be nothing more serious than shock and damage to the car. Sending all my best positive thoughts. 5y
Andrew65 @Clwojick It‘s run brilliantly by @Soubhiville and where a different author is chosen each month and we read and post reviews of books we have read by that author during that month. This is the posting showing which author is being read in each month. Susanita's post on Litsy https://litsy.com/p/bXZlYUMyYm5t (edited) 5y
EadieB @Andrew65 Thanks! He is doing fine as he is just worried about his car. Thank goodness for a strong Cadillac and airbags. 5y
Andrew65 @EadieB Most definitely, thankfully that is what insurance is for too. Cars can be replaced, people can‘t! Send him my best wishes. Last week I was at traffic lights for roadworks and a car reversed into me coming out of a side street on the opposite side of the road! By the time I got out of the car they had shot off around a corner, didn‘t even have time to get a registration number! 5y
EadieB @Andrew65 Nasty people who take off after hitting someone! Finally home and all he has is a concussion. Thank goodness! 5y
Andrew65 @EadieB That‘s good to hear. 😊 5y
Clwojick Thanks! 5y
TheAromaofBooks I have had 1Q84 on my TBR for quite some time, so even though it's ridiculously long, I think I am going to at least test it out this month. I'm a bit scared, though!! 😬 5y
Andrew65 @TheAromaofBooks I am still thinking I might try it as have enjoyed this one. 5y
TheAromaofBooks I've only read the first dozen or so pages but it's honestly quite intriguing. So I'll give it a bit of a go and see how I get along with it!! 5y
Andrew65 @TheAromaofBooks Good luck 🤞 5y
81 likes19 comments
review
Morningstar11
Pickpick

.

1 like1 stack add
review
MrB1
post image
Pickpick

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

blurb
shadowspeak17
post image

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 ⬇️

shadowspeak17 them quickly. Hopefully I won‘t regret that. I‘ve heard great things about Saga, but I still have yet to find a comic or graphic novel that I don‘t feel meh about. 😬 5y
30 likes1 comment
blurb
GatheringBooks
post image

#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.

KarenUK My favorite Murakami 💕 5y
Eggs Great choice! 5y
shadowspeak17 One of my friends picked this for me to read next year. I hope it‘s good. 😬 5y
Leftcoastzen I really enjoyed this book! 5y
48 likes3 stack adds4 comments
review
Hanabi
post image
Pickpick

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.

blurb
LauraJ
post image

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

Leftcoastzen I love this one ! Chip Kidd! 5y
LauraJ @Leftcoastzen After reading the story, the cover design seems so brilliant! 5y
Leftcoastzen I agree! 5y
ValerieAndBooks Nice! A Murakami title I still don‘t have. 5y
LauraJ @ValerieAndBooks It‘s pretty good, except for the female characters, who feel flat. 5y
43 likes1 stack add5 comments
blurb
Chili
post image

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

stacybmartin You‘re very welcome - I enjoyed picking books and goodies out for you. I hope there are no duplicates and you enjoy everything! Happy summer and happy reading! ☀️ 6y
Chili @stacybmartin Not a single duplicate. I love everything!! 😍Thank you! Happy Summer! 6y
Bklover So much goodness!!!! Great job @stacybmartin !! 6y
stacybmartin @Bklover thanks - I had so much fun! 6y
41 likes4 comments
review
Yangyangyang
Pickpick

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.

review
Redwritinghood
post image
Mehso-so

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. 🤷🏻‍♀️

VioletBramble I thought that this novel, out of the Murakami novels I've read, was the most accessible and had the least amount of confusing magical realism. I really liked this one. 6y
Redwritinghood @VioletBramble I have only read one other of his books (IQ84), but I liked it better than this one. Did you read IQ84 too? 6y
VioletBramble I haven't read IQ84. I started with Wind-Up Bird Chronicle which is very strange, and has had the chapters rearranged in the English version, making it more confusing. I really liked it though, and because it was a kind of difficult read all his other novels have felt easier. Sputnik Sweetheart is pretty good, plus it's short. These two and Colorless are my favorites so far. 6y
80 likes3 comments
blurb
Graciouswarriorprincess
post image

I am listening to this and hope to finish today.

ephemeralwaltz LOVE this one! 6y
Graciouswarriorprincess @ephemeralwaltz I just finished it. It was so good!😃 6y
42 likes1 stack add2 comments
review
caporoscio
post image
Mehso-so

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.

review
Victoriahoperose
post image
Mehso-so

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.

24 likes1 stack add
review
quanners
Mehso-so

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

alimabean Yeah, I don‘t think this is the best intro to his work! Have you read ‘Sputnik Sweetheart‘? 6y
quanners No I haven‘t but I‘ve attempted to read 1Q84 and the new one Killing... and I couldn‘t finish either of those. The only book that I‘ve enjoyed is his memoir. 6y
2 likes2 comments
review
Kitta
post image
Mehso-so

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. 😬

Dolly Colorless is the only one I‘ve read by Murakami. I thought it was different and well done. Any suggestions for my next one? Not sure which ones are early books. 6y
Kitta @Dolly It was good, just too similar to his other work for me. I meant to mark it a so-so not a pan! Here‘s some of my favourites: Norwegian Wood, A Windup bird chronicle, Sputnik sweetheart, and Wild Sheep chase. 6y
Dolly Thanks👍 6y
12 likes1 stack add3 comments
review
izah.ahmad
post image
Pickpick

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.

blurb
izah.ahmad
post image

Too accurate...

blurb
DrTalc
post image

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?

blurb
quietjenn
post image

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

58 likes1 stack add
blurb
Expandingbookshelf
post image

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 😒

review
hoggman
Mehso-so

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.

review
Imbookenit
post image
Pickpick

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

quote
kattykattykins
post image

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!

Zelma 😂 cats are so goofy! 7y
40 likes1 comment
blurb
Booklish
post image

#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.

Kaye Welcome 🌸 Thank you for the Follow ♥️ 7y
3 likes1 comment
blurb
Booklish
post image

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