Haven't seen anyone mention it itt but Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage is one of my all time favourite books (and the only Mirakami book I've ever read). I tried to get into 1Q84 but accidentally bought the second book so i couldn't get into it without knowing what went on in tthe first one
Murakami is a GOAT

I read Men Without Women and got hooked on his writing style. Just drags you into another universe. Just picked up Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki

I'm reading Kafka on the Shore rn and boy Murakami is on another level in this one

Read like 8 of his books by now and this one is something else...

Colorless been my first book of his and it was a great start

Man Without Women also a great one

You have a solid intro into his books

Kafka was the first Murakami book I read. Now that I’ve read 5 of his other books, I need to go back and reread it.

stop sleeping on Killing Commendatore!

I saw Drive My Car, I haven't read the short story yet (same with Burning) but this movie is soooo Murakami

first half at the least so perfectly captures Murakami style on film after that becomes more its own thing + more focused on Chekhov tbh, which is also good. Another brilliant film inspired by HM

just picked up wind-up bird chronicles

Reading What I Talk About When I Talk About Running right now and f***in love it

This man loves ears and breasts

Reading 1Q84 atm… Was the translation done by someone different? I don’t think I felt this weird dissonance before when reading Wind Up and some of Kafka. The translation with those two felt invisible. The book is fine but reading feels like I’m watching a dubbed version of a Japanese movie. The sentence structure feels awkward and uncomfortable.

And dream sequences
And s***And s***while in a dream sequence

Anything to get the protagonist off

I didn't feel like the translation was bad in 1Q84, but Murakami has worked with many translators through his career

Kafka on the Shore was by Phillip Gabriel
Wind Up Bird Chronicle by Jay Rubin

actually the first two books in 1Q84 are by Jay Rubin and then the third book is by Peter Gabriel so it's the same translators you've read.

maybe you just don't like Murakami's style

No I like it. Been a fan for a while. I have gotten older since my last read of his and my pallet has expanded sure but I enjoy his work. But when I read sentences like : “I have to concentrate on climbing down the stairs” make me irk. It could very easily be “I should concentrate on climbing down the stairs”. I enjoy the story and it’s as rich as everything else I’ve read from him just the translation feels sort of sloppy imo.

some people would say "I have to concentrate on climbing down the stairs" tho

drop your thoughts once you get to book 3, maybe you'll like that translation better

i cant get into this guy. i tried norwegian wood but i ended up hating all the characters, especially the main one.

Had a good experience listening to the audiobook for it on my own runs.

I’ve always loved the more mundane parts in his surrealist works. Like the part in Kafka when the main character stays in a secluded cabin in the mountain, and he talks about listening to Prince and showering in the rain So cozy, and it always takes me back to a time in my life where I did something similar.

Yeah his characters are usually:
The stoic narrator who likes jazz
The manic pixie dream girl who's quirky/talks a lot.
The female character that solves narrator problem in some sexual manner

I binged Norwegian Wood because it was so dreamy (even though traumatic) and not quite like anything I had read at the time

you hit the nail on the head regarding the female characters. he also leans into sad girl tropes which i dont really like either.

yeah the dreamy writing style is def the main draw from what i can see

Half way through norwegian wood

In what way? (without spoilers pls)
Currently reading Norwegian Wood, reading Kafka next

I’m in book 2 and I have a few theories