So you guys, I am beginning to think that nobody's heart is in this but mine, but I'm still going to go ahead and hope somebody else remembers to post too. Actually, I think I'll just send out en e-mail reminding you.
Anyhow, I don't have the book with me because its at my house, and the internet is not, so I'm just going from memory here. I didn't get a really strong impression from the first 50 pages, it just felt like set-up... not too exciting. The only thing I really took notice of was the way he writes the book like its a movie script. I don't particularly care for the way he literally directs the "camera", but I do think its sort of nice the way he begins each chapter by stating the location first, then giving a brief description of it, before moving on to the characters. I feel like the parts that have dialogue are taken up mostly with dialogue and only short indications of what the characters are doing, no feelings or inner thoughts or anything, so its just sort of very blunt.
Um, David and I were talking and we both think that his dialogue tends to be a little awkward, or false feeling. I am not sure if that is because he is not so good at writing dialogue, or if something gets lost in translation, but I have a feeling dialogue might not be his strong point. The major problem I have had with Murakami before is something to do with that I think. I am always really enthusiastic about his ideas and I really enjoy the writing, but I tend to get a little annoyed by the style about 3/4ths of the way through. I'm specifically thinking of Hard Boiled Wonderland right now, the bit where he is talking to the scientist and the girl underground, and the scientist is basically just explaining the whole thing, really ruined the effect the book had of really intriguing and engaging me, and the dialogue was just a little bit silly with all its out-dated slang and cheesy phrases.
So, that is basically my first impression. Hopefully you guys were a little more attentive than I was, because I haven't really come anywhere close to any idea of what this thing is about. I need to give it some thought, but maybe you guys have some ideas?
Oh I guess the only other comment, is that I like the image of the man in the TV with no face. Um, which is really a very helpful comment. Ok.
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3 comments:
ok so yeah the first 50 pages went super fast and i read slow and basically i was not engaged either.
i totally agree about the dialogue part. but i was kind of attributing that to some kind of cultural barrier and the personalities of the characters... especially Mari. But now that i read your comment i thoroughly agree that the dialogue is the weakest part so far.
I really enjoy the man in the TV. He is definitely the most intreging reason to keep reading, except the way Murakami writes about him and the scene leads me to believe he will eventually explain it. Kind of what you are describing Em in Hard boiled wonderland. I'm just waiting for him to tell us what is going on. And i think the camera descriptions are some kind of metaphor for what is ultimately going to be some sort of theme or lesson. And i think it will be something about beauty. Its like only when there is the glow of a television and most people are sleeping with their eyes closed can we see this stoic situtation of beauty with this guy never moving just staring at a beautiful sleeping woman like it is some kind of absolute.
I'm on like 87 right now. i donno... i figure just keep reading at your own pace and let people know about where you are in the story as a reference for what you are thinking....
dude i'm so into this
xo
YAY! A response! Yeah, I definitely feel like the thing with the TV man and the girl sleeping is going to be revealed to have some kind of meaning, which is part of the reason why I was encouraging people to read farther, because I feel like the first 50 pages don't have a lot, or not a lot that will mean anything until we know more. But yeah, lets keep reading I guess, and post here at your leisure? I don't know.
I can definitely see how a large build-up and anticipation can fall flat when there is an abrupt scene of dialogue where it is all laid out- esp. if it is done so in a silly or awkward manner, i.e: funny slang- but i enjoy the fantastic odd-ballness of it. The story is def. dialogue driven and the characters not fully fleshed out, but i love the meticulous descriptions.
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