South of the Border, West of the Sun

by Haruki Murakami | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: 0679767398 Global Overview for this book
Registered by Stoepbrak of Cape Town, Western Cape South Africa on 8/23/2014
Buy from one of these Booksellers:
Amazon.com | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon DE | Amazon FR | Amazon IT | Bol.com
This book is in the wild! This Book is Currently in the Wild!
1 journaler for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by Stoepbrak from Cape Town, Western Cape South Africa on Saturday, August 23, 2014

Synopsis (credit: back cover)

Born in 1951 in an affluent Tokyo suburb, Hajime — beginning in Japanese — has arrived at middle age wanting for almost nothing. The postwar years have brought him a fine marriage, two daughters, and an enviable career as the proprietor of two jazz clubs. Yet a nagging sense of inauthenticity about his success threatens Hajime's happiness. And a boyhood memory of a wise, lonely girl named Shimamoto clouds his heart.

(Bought second-hand at My Bookshop, Aurora, Durbanville.)

Journal Entry 2 by Stoepbrak at Cape Town, Western Cape South Africa on Saturday, August 23, 2014

Haruki Murakami can spin a tale with sheer mastery, such as his fragile description of the friendship between two primary schoolchildren in the opening chapter. But then at times, such as with some of the adult intimate scenes, it sounds like the fantasy of a teenage boy. I also found aspects of the main protagonist's protracted agonising towards the end unconvincing. Distractions like these made it impossible for me to rate the book higher than 7.

I started listening to the audiobook from KLM's on-board selection (sorted under music, strangely) and finished the book at home.

Journal Entry 3 by Stoepbrak at Haas Coffee, Buitenkant St in Cape Town, Western Cape South Africa on Thursday, January 15, 2015

Released 9 yrs ago (1/15/2015 UTC) at Haas Coffee, Buitenkant St in Cape Town, Western Cape South Africa

WILD RELEASE NOTES:


Since we worked only half a day on New Year's Eve, my original plan was to release the book at Haas Coffee early that afternoon. It turned out they were closed the whole day. I got my chance today and left the book there just before closing time at 17:00.

If you are new to BookCrossing and found this book, welcome! Enjoy the site, the book, and the BookCrossing community.

BookCrossing has not taken off in a big way in South Africa yet, but there are a number of dedicated BookCrossers across the country who are actively involved to grow the concept. A discussion group for BookCrossers in the wider Cape Town area, BCct, was set up to make it easier to arrange meetups or to spread local news. If you are a BookCrosser from this part of the world or planning a visit, please feel free to join. Visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bcct for more information.

Whether you decide to join or not, please make a journal entry — now, and again when you decide to release the book to continue its journey.


Read and Release!

Are you sure you want to delete this item? It cannot be undone.