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A review by venusinlove
First Person Singular: Stories by Haruki Murakami
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I was having a pleasant time actually while reading the first five stories and then the sixth one hit me. Despite how bland they were, I actually enjoyed some parts of them and really tried to get behind Murakami's mind. But it seemed more like something a high person would write. That said, I'll list for my own sake some of the remarks I made while reading them.
1. Cream - I really tried to get into the thought of that circle! I really did and the more I think about it the more I understand it (or I think I do?).
2. On a Stone Pillow - I really liked the poetry in this story! That is presumably the only good thing about it.
3. Charlie Parker Plays Bossa Nova - Probably the one that really struck me as something more Murakamiesque. It was pretty fun and delightful to read.
4. With the Beatles - Didn't care about The Beatles and so we find out that neither did Murakami so I really don't know why he put them and not someone else but alright. I liked the story with the brother, that was intriguing to see how it would unfold.
5. Confessions of a Shinagawa Monkey - Loved the idea about the names! would have loved to see how it would be in an actual book tbh.
6. Carnaval - And here is where I wanted to punch him. Maybe writing a whole ass chapter about a girl who is "ugly" was not the right choice when most of your audience includes girls. Not only that, it's just really shitty... Like, why would you do that? And why did nobody stop him from publishing it? I was really upset to read this story, nothing else.
7. The Yakult Swallows Poetry Collection - Baseball and Poetry. I seriously don't know what else to say because that was it and I didn't care one bit about it.
8. First Person Singular - Weird, I'm not sure what happened because it went way too fast and I couldn't even concentrate on what was going on.
Mediocre at best. It doesn't feel like it was written by Murakami honestly and I feel quite disappointed. He is just not that good at writing short stories. Maybe if his next book is a sequel to Killing Commendatore (fingers crossed), I can read something more exciting from him again? Hopefully? I want to get off this Murakami-hating train but I need him to start writing better stuff too. lol.
1. Cream - I really tried to get into the thought of that circle! I really did and the more I think about it the more I understand it (or I think I do?).
2. On a Stone Pillow - I really liked the poetry in this story! That is presumably the only good thing about it.
3. Charlie Parker Plays Bossa Nova - Probably the one that really struck me as something more Murakamiesque. It was pretty fun and delightful to read.
4. With the Beatles - Didn't care about The Beatles and so we find out that neither did Murakami so I really don't know why he put them and not someone else but alright. I liked the story with the brother, that was intriguing to see how it would unfold.
5. Confessions of a Shinagawa Monkey - Loved the idea about the names! would have loved to see how it would be in an actual book tbh.
6. Carnaval - And here is where I wanted to punch him. Maybe writing a whole ass chapter about a girl who is "ugly" was not the right choice when most of your audience includes girls. Not only that, it's just really shitty... Like, why would you do that? And why did nobody stop him from publishing it? I was really upset to read this story, nothing else.
7. The Yakult Swallows Poetry Collection - Baseball and Poetry. I seriously don't know what else to say because that was it and I didn't care one bit about it.
8. First Person Singular - Weird, I'm not sure what happened because it went way too fast and I couldn't even concentrate on what was going on.
Mediocre at best. It doesn't feel like it was written by Murakami honestly and I feel quite disappointed. He is just not that good at writing short stories. Maybe if his next book is a sequel to Killing Commendatore (fingers crossed), I can read something more exciting from him again? Hopefully? I want to get off this Murakami-hating train but I need him to start writing better stuff too. lol.