First Person Singular

nikekay

First Person Singular: Stories | Haruki Murakami

pick

Finshed reading on 02 May 2023.

CatMS

First Person Singular: Stories | Haruki Murakami

pick

Picked up this book of short stories by Haruki Murakami, who is one of my favorite authors, from my fabulous local library.

3 likes

claudiuo

First Person Singular: Stories | Haruki Murakami

pick

After reading a few months ago The Strange Library, I bought Kafka on the Shore
but decided to try some short stories first. I've seen his work characterized as surrealism and magical realism and some of the stories are in that realm (and reminded me of a great Romanian writer that I love, Mircea Eliade) but others are different; all have in common a great sensibility and beautiful writing. Add to this his love of jazz and I'm sold. š
A pick!

claudiuo @TheAromaOfBooks Interestingly enough, this book is making me go back to the start of the maze (and since this is my second pass through the maze it is also the 3rd time here - so cool!):
A2: A Spindle Splintered -> D3: Batman: Overdrive -> E2: Transmission -> F2: First Person Singular... and back to A2 š
Thank you so much for coming up with such a great idea!

(edited) 2y

TheAromaofBooks I'm so glad you're enjoying the maze!! I set it up so that each space had 3 spaces that could send you there... so there are three different prompts that tell you to go to D3, three different prompts that can send you to E2, etc. But somehow I have ended up at H3 three times š‚ I've been to 14 different squares but not a single on in C or D! I'm so intrigued about where I go in my own maze LOL 2y

16 likes2 comments

DMC_run8

First Person Singular: Stories | Haruki Murakami

so-so

I liked most of the short stories in this book but I really disliked the last one. Not my favorite Murakami.

1 like

Pinta

First Person Singular: Stories | Haruki Murakami

^^A privileged man in an expensive suit feeling REMORSE? Seems very unMurakamian. Thankfully, feeling doesn‘t last long, easily washed away w/ vodka gimlet until some nasty woman confirmsā€¦ Narrators with such ego, such centered perception, but still asking the big questions: am I who I say I am, how did I get to THIS first person singular? ā€If I‘d chosen a different direction, most likely I wouldn‘t be here. But stillā€”who IS that in the mirror?ā€¯

1 like

Pinta

First Person Singular: Stories | Haruki Murakami

so-so

A somewhat more mellow Murakami, still same obsessions (Beatles, jazz, baseball, symphonies). Alienation & distancing. Women=odd, unknowable, sexual creatures, judging & judgeable, who should only ever be young & desirable. Can memory be trusted? Can monkeys steal women‘s names? Can appointments be made & kept? Vodka gimlets & strangers more memorable than loved ones. Great mysteries, less mysterious when told for the umpteenth time. Trans 2020

2 likes

LionHeartLeo

First Person Singular: Stories | Haruki Murakami

so-so

I feel terribly guilty for saying this, as I‘m a huge Murakami fan & have read them all...I was not a fan of this one.
I think I only truly liked ā€Charlie Parker Play‘s Bossa Novaā€¯.
His short stories are hit or miss for me, but I LOVE his novels.

CatMS I love his novels also, just read 1 if these short stories: First Person Singular, and earlier listened to Confessions of Singapore Monkey which was odd. 13mo

2 likes1 comment

sailu112

First Person Singular: Stories | Haruki Murakami

pick

I am always in awe of Haruki Murakami's writing. This is a short story collection. Loved all the short stories.
āāāā/5

6 likes

Fridayfilms

First Person Singular: Stories | Haruki Murakami

Can‘t think of a better Sunday

1 like

QuintusMarcus

First Person Singular: Stories | Haruki Murakami

so-so

Not bad, but kind of ā€¦ meh, I suppose. Strange, dislocating mysteries, noodles, bells, jazz ā€” the usual Murakami props all present and accounted for. No holes in the ground, though, I guess that was missing. I could say the stories are very writerly ā€” tightly focused, perfect detail, compact. Getting really sick of how he writes about women, though: he needs to wise up and knock it off. Doesn‘t he read the newspapers?

Cathythoughts I like your review š‘¨š¸»š‘¨š¸» 3y

8 likes1 comment