Books & writers: "What I talk about when I talk about reading Murakami", by bonzopoe

Haruki Murakami is a controversial writer, and not because of the books he writes, but because he divides opinions regarding his quality as a writer.

His name has been on the list of possible winners of the Nobel Prize for literature on several occasions already, and that is where the controversy arises. Since his followers long for him to finally win it, while his detractors say that he is an overrated writer and does not deserve it.

I am more among the former than the latter, although the truth is, whether he wins the Nobel Prize or not, it doesn't matter to me. That's not going to increase or decrease my enjoyment of reading his books. Because I have to confess that I enjoy reading Murakami, hence the name of this publication that alludes to two of his books: "What I talk about when I talk about running", and "What I talk about when I talk about writing".

So far I've read about 5 books by this author, and I have two that I started reading during the pandemic, and I'm not done yet. And although they vary in quality, and like practically every book, they have their "details", none have disappointed me.

The first one I read was "South of the Border, West of the Sun", and then what is probably his most famous book: "Tokyo Blues". And that was enough for me to become a fan of his style, and of contemporary Japanese literature in general, which led me to meet another of my favorite authors, Banana Yoshimoto, but that's another story.

Returning to Murakami, there are several things that I like about his books, and that from a distance I can say that they have influenced my preferences as a reader. Allow me to share them below.

1.- Their stories are contemporary. The vast majority of his stories are set in the present, or are told from the present or a near past, so it is easier to relate to them, since they are set in a shared socio-cultural context or one that is not so distant from us. , which makes it easier for us to understand the characters and their psychology.

2.- His books are not about great external dramas or limit situations, but about internal dramas, conflicts or internal situations of the characters like those that any person can have. A love from the past, complex family relationships, the fragility of love and the complexity of our human nature in general.

3.- Everyday life as another protagonist in their stories. No big battles or enigmatic murders are described here, people are described preparing coffee, deciding what to eat, their journeys on the subway, their customs, habits and personal oddities, like the ones we all have.

4.- The musical references always present in their stories as an important element of their context. In Murakami's books, reference is always made to the music that the protagonists listen to, or that came out of the window of a house, or the band of a bar or the jukebox of a cafe played in some scene.

And for someone who enjoys music as much as I do, this is always interesting, especially when you take the time to search and listen to the songs. It's as if Murakami is telling you the soundtrack to his stories, which adds another layer of depth to the experience.

5.- Many of his secondary characters are very interesting, even at times more than his protagonists, and the relationship he achieves between the two gives rise to dialogues and situations that are very enjoyable, and not infrequently they make you smile or laugh unexpected.

6.- Their stories are optimistic as they revolve around internal conflicts and have few protagonists, which allows a greater connection with their universes and realities.

7.- He is very colloquial as he handles a very accessible language, nothing fancy, which makes his books quick and easy to read.

Surely his detractors could mention many negative things about his books, which would be a good complement to my opinions, but for my part I can mention one that has always bothered me, and the fact that I am a follower of his does not prevent me from recognizing: his sexual scenes .

In almost all his books there is one or another scene or situation related to sex, in which I feel that he is very explicit, and not infrequently they are uncomfortable, and it is not that I am a prude or do not appreciate eroticism, but because of his way of writing, it feels like you're talking to your grandmother or your mother and she suddenly tells you what sexual positions are her favorites.

I feel that their sexual scenes are out of tune and a little out of place, and that it is not necessary to go into details of how one character does something sexual to another, to understand the situation they find themselves in or the dynamic between them.

Leaving aside the reviews, both good and bad, I consider Haruki Murakami a good writer, and one of those who are ideal for those who start reading and are looking for quality accessible authors. Whether or not he deserves the Nobel is another matter, possibly one that only time can settle. Thank you very much for reading and until next time.

Thank you very much for reading this post and dedicating a moment of your time. Until next time and remember to leave a comment.