Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage … a review

So I moved and obviously, now I have a new library. I found the latest Murakami and was very pleased. Of course, I’m not pleased now that he didn’t win the Nobel But that’s a separate post.  This latest book, about Tazaki’s life and how he has to face the ghosts of his adolescence when he’s spurred on by his girlfriend, is a very different read from the usual. There isn’t even a cat!

Of course, there are dreams, and strange unrealities, and a parallel Universe, but they are not the crux of the plot. There IS an actual plot, so that’s quite a change as well. Murakami is a very versatile author and he seems to be experimenting a bit here. It worked for me. The storyline takes the protagonist into the deep recesses of his past and through in the future to Finland. There is a strange familiarity in the style of writing, like a cup of tea with an old friend. There is also the slow paced suspense of finding out how someone’s life changes based on which way the book goes. I really liked the character of the girlfriend – she is kind, compassionate, organised, and fun. I think I identified  with her a bit.

The end is quite open, but depending on who you are as a person, your mind is bound to lead you one way or another. The author sort of hints at a possibility and leaves you, as a reader, to make up the rest. I liked this book 🙂

A few writing-related updates…

I have been travelling a lot for the last couple of weeks because my Mum came down for my Graduation ceremony, which was on the 28th. I have also been trying to track down my books to libraries etc. I’m definitely in a few far flung places in Scotland. Here is a photo of me (in the form of the Book Week Scotland book) in the National Library of Scotland!

Because of the Book Week Scotland book, I was named and quoted in an Edinburgh newspaper, here. The book is available in e-book format now, it is here. Do read it, there are some wonderfully written pieces in here and as always, I’d love some feedback on my work.

In other news, I wrote a very interesting piece about a book project for For Books’ Sake. Read it here, and maybe look out for the book!

My Kind of Place