Note: I used to write about books I read on my book site, but then I’m getting uncomfortable with a few functions (or lack thereof), and I’m so busy, or lazy, whatever you wanna call it, to fix it. So I’m trying this new format of writing about them on this blog. I’m still not sure whether it’s best. We’ll see.
Got this from: Joakim (borrowed)
Rating: 3 out of 5
I can’t get enough of Murakami. I read Norwegian Wood, this, and now continuing with The Wind-up Bird Chronicle.
Interesting uncommon topic. About lesbian love. I told that to Joakim, he bought it soon after, finished it in one weekend, then lent it to me :).
Well, that’s about it really. Like Norwegian Wood, you can’t really summarize what’s in the book without giving too much away. In a few words, Norwegian Wood is about someone who loves a girl who has mental illness. Sputnik Sweetheart is about unreachable lesbian love, and the guy who loves this girl. Simple, yet complicated.
I don’t think this book is his best. It’s getting quite draggy at the end and going nowhere. Still, for me it was engaging in many ways. I’m a total sucker for Murakami now, so I’m biased. *rabbit-hopping happily to his next book*
Memorable Quotes
“Don’t pointless things have a place, too, in this far-from-perfect world? Remove everything pointless from an imperfect life and it’d lose even its imperfection” ~ pg 4
“No man should go through life without once experiencing healthy, even bored solitude in the wilderness, finding himself depending solely on himself and thereby learning his true and hidden strength.” ~ pg 5
“What’s nurtured slowly grows well.” ~ pg 16
“The world’s crawling with stupid, innocent girls, and I’m just one of them, self-consciously chasing after dreams that’ll never come true.” ~ pg 55
“When did my youth slip away from me? I suddenly thought. It was over, wasn’t it?” ~ pg 86
And the whole world is just crazy about this author, for I just blog-hop from here: http://strippedbar3.blogspot.com/2007/08/elephant-dances.html. So tell me which is his best novel? I’ve only read his Dance Dance Dance:P
Comment by mrdes — 22 Aug 2007 @ 1:07 am
Since I’ve read only 2 of his novels, I can only say Norwegian Wood is better than Sputnik Sweetheart, I heard that at the time of publishing, everybody in Japan read it. My friend highly recommended The Wind-up Bird Chronicle though (the one I’m reading now). Kafka On the Shore also seems to be one of his most popular books. How do you like Dance Dance Dance? I can’t wait to read his collection of short stories too :D
Comment by mee — 22 Aug 2007 @ 10:56 pm
Hi, I’m back again. Thanks for correcting me: yup, it must The Elephant Vanishes that I read in 2005 (was it that long?), another collection of short stories, which explains my confusion. Her short stories are very imaginative I think, and at times quite humorous and unconventional. Like in the collection, for some crazy reason, a guy and his wife robbed a fastfood restaurant for its burgers, with guns and all – very satisfying read. And thanks for visiting my blog:)
Comment by mrdes — 23 Aug 2007 @ 1:43 pm
Hi, we have included your book review in NLB’s High Browse Online, a book blog.
Do visit us and send in other book reviews you have done.
Thanks.
Comment by Isaak — 20 Sep 2007 @ 1:24 pm