Haruki Murakami

I came into contact with this book a few days after finding it at my friend's house after receiving the brief. 

I read it and found it rather interesting in many ways - it was eventful and uneventful at the same time, it juxtaposed reality with surrealism, it was written with very immediate language (which I love in books) and it had a rather abrupt ending.

On the whole, I found the plot very unsatisfying - nothing is really resolved and the undermining of realism by the surreal chapters never feels focused enough. Despite this, I wouldn't say I disliked it. The writing style was engaging and the premise of the novel - a real-time story about the goings on during one night in Tokyo - reminded me of 24, which happens to be my favourite TV Show.

Apparently a lot of his books occur similarly - characters often engage in mundane, everyday activities, but jarring elements are introduced which alter his characters' lives. This is all told in similarly immediate language.

Most articles on the internet seem to re-affirm that Murakami is very introverted:

• Never part of a community of writers - was a loner who wasn't fond of groups, schools and literary circles
• His early books originated in an"individual darkness", later works "tap into darkness found in society and history". He had a hard time in his 20s, which gave him material to draw from.
• Leads a disciplined life style - in bed by 9pm, up at 4am. He then writes till noon. His writing process involved "stepping into the darkness"
• He finds it to be difficult being as different as he is in Japan, and has been criticized for producing work that is very "un-Japanese"

"I like to read books. I like to listen to music. I collect records. And cats. I don't have any cats right now. But if I'm taking a walk and I see a cat, I'm happy."