Haruki Murakami is one of the most famous Japanese writers of all time, especially in Brazil. His books are international successes and are translated into more than 50 languages. In this article, we will talk a little about this writer and his works.
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Curiosities and history of Haruki Murakami
Haruki Murakami [春樹村上] was born in Kyoto on January 12, 1949, the son of a Buddhist priest and a merchant from Osaka. He spent his youth in the cities of Shukugawa in Nishinomiya, Ashiya, and Kobe.
From an early age, he learned and enjoyed Japanese literature. He attended Waseda University in Tokyo, dedicated himself to theater studies, and even opened a jazz bar called Peter Cat. He only started writing later at the age of 29.
His works are often surreal, melancholic, and fatalistic, marked by a Kafkaesque style (the style of Franz Kafka) with recurring themes such as alienation, loneliness, and an atmosphere of nightmare and absurdity, escaping any logic.
His works have received numerous awards such as the World Fantasy Award, the Franz Kafka Prize, the Jerusalem Prize, and the Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award.
He is greatly influenced by Western culture and even worked translating works from English to Japanese by writers such as Raymond Carver, J.D. Salinger, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Truman Capote, and John Irving.
His first work was a novel called Hear the Song of the Wind, released in 1979. The work that made the name Haruki Murakami famous is called Norwegian Wood and was released in 1987 in Japan.
Like many Japanese, Murakami is passionate about endurance sports, participating in marathons such as the 100-kilometer ultramarathon. He completed his first ultramarathon in Hokkaido around Lake Saroma.
His passion for running is so great that he wrote one of his books that talks exactly about this subject. The book reveals great information about the writer, in addition to being humorous and philosophical. If you want details about the book, see below:
We always like to leave links to the books on Amazon for you to see more information and reader comments. You can also purchase them physically, helping Suki Desu.
1q84 – Murders and parallel worlds
1q84 is one of Haruki Murakami’s recent bestsellers, one of his greatest stories divided into 3 books. The books begin by telling the story of 2 different characters named Aomame and Tengo.
Aomame is a martial arts teacher and secretly a hired assassin, while Tengo is a math teacher and aspiring writer. The work moves towards romance, in addition to various mysteries and surreal events.
The story addresses topics such as parallel worlds, mysterious girls, murders, and strange cults. The name of the book is 1q84 because of the year in which the story takes place (1984). The book was published in 2009 and released in Brazil in 2012.
If you want to read this famous Japanese work written by Haruki Murakami, you can access and purchase the books by clicking below on the links from Amazon Brazil. You can start reading before your physical edition arrives, or you can read on Kindle.
Norwegian Wood – Haruki Murakami’s first success
Norwegian Wood is Haruki Murakami’s first successful book, this novel was published in 1987 and is inspired by a Beatles song of the same name.
The story of Norwegian Wood takes place in 1960s Japan in the life of a young man named Toru Watanabe. He becomes involved with his deceased friend’s girlfriend, an older woman and student of libertarian ideas.
The work portrays the 60s and 70s well, with references to pop culture, American literature, European culture, cinema, and even makes various mentions of the Beatles, Miles Davis, Bill Evans, and other hits of the time.
Below you can find information about the book and purchase a physical or digital version in Portuguese and English.
Hunting Sheep
This book released in 1982 depicts an impassive and cold Japan in the business world. It portrays well what Japan was becoming and what it has become today, people replacing their human relationships with objects and brands.
This novel depicts a world dominated by the media and lonely characters in search of affection, presenting the great consequences of commercialism and advertising in Japan.
The protagonists of the book do not have names; despite the theme, the work is full of mystery that even involves genetic manipulations for military purposes. Hunting Sheep was the work that made Haruki Murakami famous worldwide.
Like most of Haruki Murakami’s works, in this book you encounter surreal things like a model with seductive ears, a right-wing political group with an enigmatic leader, and even a man-sheep.
Despite the plot being completely crazy, the book manages to deliver a fluid and enjoyable read, always leaving you more curious to know what happens next. You can see details of the book below:
Books by Haruki Murakami
We will conclude this article by sharing a list of books and other works that Haruki Murakami has participated in during his writing career. I hope you enjoy the books of this Japanese writer and make a good choice.
I will try to briefly comment on 3 of the most popular works from the list below. If you liked the article, don’t forget to share and leave your comments.
My Dear Sputnik – Tells the story of a young man in love with a girl who dropped out of school to become a writer. The work presents a sophisticated Japan full of vibrant colors, with a story involving a love triangle.
Chronicle of the Cord Bird – This book by Haruki Murakami talks about the ephemerality of love, the evil that permeates modern society, and the sad violent legacy that Japan brought with its wars.
Kafka on the Shore – One of the writer’s most ambitious novels, with a surprising and imaginative story, composed of references that range from Japanese pop culture to Greek tragedies.
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