Hi guys!! So I am going to post my thoughts first, before I forget them, and then I want to run through all of the posts and add some comments!! I hope that is OK. I am so happy we are doing this BTW, and I LOVE our next book choice, I think it's a great compliment to this one. I apologize If I repeat anything people have already said, I will comment on all the posts also.
So, my first impression and observations are such: There are definitely significant and distinct themes that run throughout the whole book. I am a huge fans of these themes and love how Murakami has chosen to weave them together through a unique- dualistic- plot structure. Those themes being: This type of Debord's "Society of the Spectacle", Dreams (fairytales) + Reality/Dualism (which he explicitly mentions), being chased- as a life journey, time (temporality), my favorite- The deep sea! His writing style is what struck me the most. It is simple, yet with an artful- creative want to be eloquent. It works though. It could be the translation also? I do think that he approaches creative writing like an artform, not that any writer doesn't, but specifically as an art piece. If that makes sense. From what I've read, I definitely agree that the structure and presentation of the story as a "film" is accurate. I don't dislike it though, because I feel that in a very Japanese way it is done in a Blade Runner, sci-fi manner to be a common mode of observation. It could be orwellian, purely cinematic, self-reflexive, alien like- two realities, or all of the above. But I think that it remains consistent with a lot of the themes for the story- particularly the spectator/spectacle. I really appreciate his reference to what I will wager is a Simulacrum- a la Nietzsche and Baudrillard. esp. with his use of metaphor and I feel like Tokyo is the BEST location for the setting of a description of a Simulacrum.
Ok, enough with my thoughts, I will offer up just my favorite part. OHH wait- i also felt like there was a strong reference to japanese horror film and how the spectator is related to that, specifically in the scene where Eri is in the TV and the ubiquitous "WE" yells for her to "RUN". Ok, favorite part/moment was when Mari describes how for the first and only time in her life she just felt like she wanted to or could be friends with the Chinese prostitute and how being from different worlds, it could never be- I felt that that was the most sincere moment. Sorry if this is not what any of you wanted, but I love what we got goin on here. Please excuse my poor syntax and grammar/spelling.
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hey siobhan!!! i'm super glad you posted. i was totally thinking about the society of a spectacle theme going on but i couldn't quite place it. I think it explains the feel of the book acting like a film and the kind of lack in the dialogue... its almost like we are more of a viewer to the book then a reader... if that makes any sense. I am beginning to feel the reader is supposed to feel alienated from the dialogue a bit... but still i felt that kept it on this surface level that i was annoyed with at times. Which goes along with the society of the spectacle part... its no more then a spectacle, left hanging and yeah... ok perhaps. also i see what you mean about relating to a japanese kind of horror film. i cannot put my words around why right now but yeah... i see it.anyway yeah for book clubs!
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