A really charming easy read, uncharacteristically wholesome and innocent by this author

Ryu Murakami, when not called "the other Murakami", is usually called the enfant terrible of Japanese literature.

This was the third of his books I've read, after Coin Locker Babies and In The Miso Soup. I loved Coin Locker Babies, but didn't like In The Miso Soup quite as much - I think I generally have quite a strong stomach for violence in novels, but even for me it was a difficult book to read that made me feel quite queasy.

69, on the other hand, couldn't be more different from either of those books, being a lighthearted, semi-autobiographical story set in the author's small hometown at the end of college in 1969 (when the author is 17). It touches on how Western culture (rock music, jazz, films, etc) was a breath of fresh air to Japanese youth at the end of the sixties, but mostly it's just a very funny, quite often laugh-out-loud funny story of coming of age, of being at that precious and difficult age where you're influenced by everything, but haven't figured out yet, or had the experience to be able to figure out, who you are.

Really enjoyed this one.

Absolutely loved this book.

So so much like [a:Bret Easton Ellis|2751|Bret Easton Ellis|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1405340867p2/2751.jpg].

Loved the story about the Yakuza date and his other "first" escapades.

This book is literally like a mashup of [a:Haruki Murakami|3354|Haruki Murakami|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1615497402p2/3354.jpg] and Bret Easton Ellis. Couldn't be more perfect. So many bits about music in this book, and so much coming of age and sociology.

This might be my favorite Ryu book yet.

I love how the narrative keeps breaking what I thought was real, and he goes "just kidding", "this is what really happened". Outstanding writing.

I enjoyed "the mission". Good social commentary on becoming an adult and rejecting normal life.

The police investigation part was intense. I felt like I was there with him. Really well written.

I liked this book's message, and story.

I loved the book's "missions". The preparations for the school play was outstanding.

4.9/5

Often described as Japan's enfant terrible (though I'm never quite sure I understand what is meant by the term and I'm not sure that those who use it are actually that sure either) Ryu Murakami's books take everyday situations and twist them in often scary and violent ways.
This novel though has much quieter and straightforward book being more a fictionalised biographyl. A writer looks back over his formative year, a year in which he turned 17 and began to push the boundaries of his society.
An enjoyable easy de-stress read.

3.5
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