Short stories. Strange and beautiful, as you'd expect from Murakami, but not difficult to read at all.

The book has arrived and I've started it already. I love Murakami and this looks like I'll enjoy it too. Thanks so much for sharing and granting a wish peteypeat xx

I really enjoyed reading this. I love reading Murakami, it always makes me feel relaxed and peaceful no matter what it is I'm reading about. These short stories were just so full of life and believable people. Even 'Frog', lol. Frog was my favourite character and although I felt a bit cheated that this chapter was so short, it was my favourite and gave me the most food for thought.

Thanks so much for your donation Danielle23!

This book is now part of the 1001-library. If you want to take this book from the library but don't know how to proceed, please refer to the library bookshelf.

There was a nice surprise in my postbox today, the book arrived savely in Cape Town. Thank you very much for granting my wish and the lovely bookmark, Danielle23.

Just arrived, soon to be read, and already requested - amazing!
The book will travel to Stoepbrak after reading.

Back cover:

The economy was booming. People had more money than they knew what to do with. And then the earthquake struck. For the characters in after the quake, the Kobe earthquake is an echo from a past they buried long ago. Satsuki has spent thirty years hating one man: a lover who destroyed her chances of having children. Did her desire for revenge cause the earthquake? Junpei's estranged parents live in Kobe. Should he contact them? Miyake left his family in Kobe to make midnight bonfires on a beach hundreds of miles away. Four-year-old Sala has nightmares that the Earthquake Man is trying to stuff her inside a little box. Katagiri returns home to find a giant frog in his apartment, on a mission to save Tokyo from a massive burrowing worm. 'When he gets angry, he causes earthquakes,' says Frog. 'And right now he is very, very angry.'

This new collection of stories, from one of the world's greatest living writers, dissects the violence beneath the surface of modern Japan.

My first Murakami - I enjoyed reading the 6 stories very much. All stories are linked to the Kobe earthquake. Compelling and a bit like being in a dream, it reminded me of Kafka. I just wish I would know more about Japan to better understand the allegorical passages.

...and the book is on its way to Stoepbrak.

The book found its way around Table Mountain. Thanks to peteypeat for registering it, Danielle23 for donating it to the library, and Horinkie for passing it on!

Haruki Murakami 1001-library books seem to find the journey to me quite hazardous — two of them being the only BC books so far appearing to have gone lost on their way here — so I'm glad Horinkie took no chances and delivered this one by hand. :) I'm looking forward to reading it.

A good story-teller knows: what is left out is often more important than what is included. Being a master story-teller, Haruki Murakami goes further: he knows what to leave out so that the reader does not end up feeling cheated. Each story paints an atmospheric picture with people one recognises as being both real and unique. Having read it, there are just enough questions left unanswered to let the story linger. Life goes on, after all.

I enjoyed all 6 stories, with Landscape with Flatiron, Thailand and Honey Pie my favourites.

An extract from Landscape with Flatiron, describing how one of the main protagonists experiences a driftwood bonfire on the beach: "Junko never said much in the presence of the fire. She hardly moved. The flames accepted all things in silence, drank them in, understood, and forgave. A family, a real family, was probably like this, she thought."

Having just read another little masterpiece, I was worried that my next book would be a letdown. How lucky I've been!

I'll return the book to the library. Let me know if you are interested.

This book is now back on the 1001 library bookshelf and can be borrowed by PMing Stoepbrak:)

If you want to take this book from the library but don't know how to proceed, please refer to the library bookshelf.

The book is on its way to cinnycat in the USA. I posted it this morning, opting for surface mail. Quite often a registered package like this gets lucky and is included with items dispatched by airmail. Only time will tell.

International tracking number: RJ027466502ZA
http://www.postoffice.co.za/tools/trackandtrace.html
http://www.track-trace.com/post

The book has arrived! thanks so much Stoepbrak! I appreciate the long journey. I'll write another journal entry when I'm done reading...