One of the final recommendations on my list, I acquired this from a man I got to know this past summer in the states. He attends CMYK community church, where I attended while I lived in Billings, MT. We also went to the same church growing up (Faith Chapel) but I didn’t know him personally back then. Fast forward 20 years, and he ended up sharing his story at CMYK, which resonated with me, because I had just written My Story. So, we hung out a couple of times to talk and that’s when I received this recommendation. He warned me that it would be an f-ed up story. I have to agree with him…
Recommendation #35 from Jake Frank
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami
While it may have been a “weird” story, it also shares many similar themes to my own story in 2018: a cheating partner, leaving a job, the search for purpose, a time alone in a dark place, living life alone, and mysterious people coming in and out of the main character’s life. Yup, that was my 2018. And the story also chronicles abuse, self-sacrifice, and a hero that doesn’t give up and continues to help the people around him. That was me as well!
I actually had a hard time putting the book down. Well, technically, it is 3 books: The Thieving Magpie June and July 1984, Bird as Prophet July to October 1984, and The Birdcatcher October 1984 to December 1984. And that makes me (as TrinityDreamer) very happy!
It is well-written, and I can see why Murakami is a celebrated and successful author. Much of this story is simply stories, diverse stories of individuals that have lived in Japan throughout various time periods. But he also weaves together certain consistent elements (like the wind-up bird) to imply there are larger purposes and meaning behind the story.
As you know by now, I rarely give much indication to the actual plot elements in my recommendations, and instead I like to pull quotes out that give you a feel for the book and author. Here are three such quotes.
“But even so, every now and then I would feel a violent stab of loneliness. The very water I drank, the very air I breathe, would feel like long, sharp needles. The pages of a book in my hands would take on the threatening metallic gleam of razor blades. I could hear the roots of loneliness creeping through me when the world was hushed at 4 o’clock in the morning.”
“The word came to me like lines of poetry. Noboru Wataya, / Where are you? / Did the wind-up bird / Forget to wind your spring?”
“I closed my eyes and tried to accept my impending death as calmly as I could. I struggled to overcome my fear. At least I was able to leave a few things behind. That was the one small bit of good news. I tried to smile, without much success. “I AM afraid to die, though,” I whispered to myself. These turned out to be my last words. They were not very impressive words, but it was too late to change them…I was dying. Like all the other people who live in the world.”
I encourage you to check this book out. It is a wild adventure that will leave you guessing and wondering how all the elements tie together. In fact, I think I’m still trying to figure that out myself. But regardless, I enjoyed every minute, even if it left me troubled…
The song that goes with this post fits like a glove! It’s kinda crazy that the lyric video of the song for today (January 10th) on my Dependence playlist features Japanese images. Make sure you watch to the end.
I cross my heart cause it keeps me safe
There's too many sinners and not enough saints
And where I'm from people don't wear capes
No superhero is going to save the day
And if these tears should fall and break some ground
May the sun come up and dry it out
Cause the world's in need
Of love right now
And it don't feel too safe
Day by day
My heart is troubled, troubled, troubled, troubled, troubled