The Wind-up Bird Chronicle
Registered by meexia on 8/25/2007
14 journalers for this copy...
Reading this right now. It's my third Murakami's book. First being Norwegian Wood and second Sputnik Sweetheart. Can't get enough of Murakami at the moment!
From the back cover:
"Toru Okada's cat has disappeared and his wife is growing more distant every day. Then there are the increasingly explicit telephone calls he has started receiving. As this compelling story unfolds, the tidy suburban realities of Okada's vague and blameless life are turned inside out, and he embarks on a bizarre journey, guided by a succession of characters, each with a tale to tell."
In my own words:
Main character is a guy in suburban Japan, living with his wife, and cat which disappeared at the beginning of the book. At first looking for the cat, he starts to meet all kinds of weird characters with their own quirky stories and personalities. At several parts of the book I found myself like the King in 1001 Arabian Nights when his wife stops telling her story in the middle of exciting part, "Nooo, don't stop here. Please continue!" Which is exactly what the guy does when all these weird people he meets suddenly decides to stop their tales for whatever reason. Love this book :). I found myself reading like a little kid, all wide-eyed and open-jawed throughout the book.
23/09/07 Finally finished the book. Not exactly sure if I like the second half of the book (I totally love the first half!). But still a book that I highly recommend for anyone to read.
From the back cover:
"Toru Okada's cat has disappeared and his wife is growing more distant every day. Then there are the increasingly explicit telephone calls he has started receiving. As this compelling story unfolds, the tidy suburban realities of Okada's vague and blameless life are turned inside out, and he embarks on a bizarre journey, guided by a succession of characters, each with a tale to tell."
In my own words:
Main character is a guy in suburban Japan, living with his wife, and cat which disappeared at the beginning of the book. At first looking for the cat, he starts to meet all kinds of weird characters with their own quirky stories and personalities. At several parts of the book I found myself like the King in 1001 Arabian Nights when his wife stops telling her story in the middle of exciting part, "Nooo, don't stop here. Please continue!" Which is exactly what the guy does when all these weird people he meets suddenly decides to stop their tales for whatever reason. Love this book :). I found myself reading like a little kid, all wide-eyed and open-jawed throughout the book.
23/09/07 Finally finished the book. Not exactly sure if I like the second half of the book (I totally love the first half!). But still a book that I highly recommend for anyone to read.
Please make a journal when you get the book so we all know you have received the book and it's safe with you.
Try to keep it with you no more than 4-6 weeks (It's a thick book, so I wouldn't really push the time :)
After you finish the book, either make a journal entry or updated your first one and tell us what you think about it! (not required of course, but I would REALLY appreciate it if you do. I'd love to read what you think about the book! So pretty please? ;)
PM the next person in the list to get his/her address (good to do this about 1 or 2 weeks before you actually finish the book so there's time for the other person to reply).
Last make another journal entry or again updated the existing one when you have sent the book to the next person on the list, so we know that it's on its way!
I hope that all goes fine and everybody gets to read this book! Please PM me if there's any problem.
So the journey goes this way: (it may change depends on newcomers, requests, etc)
==> Start from me, Singapore
1) bearyfriend, Singapore (Intl)
2) weesisj, UK (Europe preferred)
3) NICNIC2, UK (Intl)
4) shnedwards, UK (Intl)
5) Niksu, Finland (Intl)
6) cally-c, UK (Europe preferred) <== 1 year of travel
7) Haugtussa, Norway (Intl)
8) mihi, Austria/USA? (Intl ok, EU preferred)
9) denny08, US (US preferred)
10) Freepages, Australia (AU only)
11) nikkilovesbooks, Australia
12) jeniwren, Australia
13) crimson-tide, Australia <== 2 years of travel
==> home to my parents' house in *Australia* <== book is BACK!
Your book arrived this morning. Very thoughtful of you to include a little note, and asking us to leave "footprints" in the book. Currently reading another ray book, will try to finish soonest so that I can start on yours. I'll put my big footprint once done reading =P
3rd Oct - just started today, will try my best to complete soonest within 4-6 wks.
3rd Oct - just started today, will try my best to complete soonest within 4-6 wks.
This story is real bizarre and weird. Starting was ok, then it starts digressing, and every chapter starts telling its own story. The more I read the more I don't feel like continuing. I've managed to complete the 1st 2 books, thinking it's soon to end with the final, yet there are still 39 chapters to go...And I still don't know what the book is trying to say. Why the guitar man laugh when being beaten by Toru? Who is he? Who is that woman who always call talking about sex? Why does Creta appear in Toru's bed naked w/o herself knowing how it happened? One min she was in a dry-up well, another min she's in his bed. Carried by ghost?
There are some funny parts, and also gross ones. Eg. the story about shitty monkeys of the shitty island, and how the names of Creta and Malta come about etc... Gross one is during the war, a POW was being skined alive, and the description in the book is very vivid.
Will send to the next reader as soon as I have her address. Read and tell me how you find it =)
There are some funny parts, and also gross ones. Eg. the story about shitty monkeys of the shitty island, and how the names of Creta and Malta come about etc... Gross one is during the war, a POW was being skined alive, and the description in the book is very vivid.
Will send to the next reader as soon as I have her address. Read and tell me how you find it =)
Will go to the post office tomorrow. Package includes the book and a "love" letter from Meexia =P Keep both going...
Book on its way to UK via Registered Mail RR668176381SG
Book on its way to UK via Registered Mail RR668176381SG
Book was waiting for me when I came home from a business trip last week.
Thanks a lot for sharing & sending. Will be next on the TBR pile, once I finished the book I am currently reading.
Thanks a lot for sharing & sending. Will be next on the TBR pile, once I finished the book I am currently reading.
For some reason this is the first Murakami book I couldn't really get into. I tried hard to and in the beginning the usual strangness of the book was fine but the more people krept into Okado's life the more difficulty I had to enjoy reading it. I finally gave in about 100 pages before the end and just read the end (which was a first for me, normally if I give in that is it, but as I had come that far I wanted to know the end ;o) Book will continues its journey to the North tomorrow.
Received today safe and sound. Have added it to Mt TBR - I have a few books to read before this but will get it moving again asap!
Thanks for including me :)
Thanks for including me :)
this is the weirdest book I've ever read. I guess weird is the wrong word but I found the language very intersting and its certainly a compelling novel. I'm glad I had a chance to read it :)
ETA: Did anyone not realise what Kumiko was up to way in advance?? I would also say that I found the third part of the book easiest to read for some reason.
Sending to shnedwards tomorrow
ETA: Did anyone not realise what Kumiko was up to way in advance?? I would also say that I found the third part of the book easiest to read for some reason.
Sending to shnedwards tomorrow
Journal Entry 10 by 
shnedwards
from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Wednesday, March 19, 2008
shnedwards from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Just arrived! I'm really looking forward to reading this because I love weird/surreal/crazy stuff. However, it will have to wait a little while because there are already books on my TBR pile that I owe to other people. I will get to it as soon as I can :D
Journal Entry 11 by shnedwards from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Saturday, May 17, 2008
shnedwards from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Saturday, May 17, 2008
Well, I eventually finished it. Sorry for keeping it for so long.
I really love the worlds Murakami creates, and the way that there are no straightforward answers to anything.
This is the second Murakami book I have read, and I will definitely read more of his stuff.
Just about to PM Niksu now. Will send it on as soon as I can. Thanks meexia for sharing :)
I really love the worlds Murakami creates, and the way that there are no straightforward answers to anything.
This is the second Murakami book I have read, and I will definitely read more of his stuff.
Just about to PM Niksu now. Will send it on as soon as I can. Thanks meexia for sharing :)
Journal Entry 12 by shnedwards from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Friday, May 23, 2008
shnedwards from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Friday, May 23, 2008
On its way to Finland!
The book is here! Thanks shnedwards for sending. I finished other ringbook today so I'm able to start this right away.
Murakami did it again. Got me sooo confused! But I liked the feeling, really think his meanings and storylines and how everything is or is not opening to reader. I didn't like the characters that much, though. Especially May Kasahara was annoying. At times I did find it difficult when more characters keeps appearing and you really don't know where everything is leading. And wait the little boy to appear again.One day I will collect all of Murakami's books at my private shelf and read his books again. I may add some thoughts to this JE after I have taken some distance to this reading experience.
Thanks meexia for sharing the book. EvaBlue has asked to be skipped, so I'm sending this and the little letter to cally-c on Monday. KTMC #70.
arrived this morning. will read as soon as poss!
I loved this book with its winding story through many different characters. I like the way that nothing is staightforward & although the story is very surreal, it seems totally believable.Thank-you meexia for sharing & Niksu for sending on.
I have Haugtussa's address, so this will be in the post tomorrow.
Journal Entry 17 by cally-c at -- Controlled Release, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom on Monday, September 15, 2008
Released 15 yrs ago (9/16/2008 UTC) at -- Controlled Release, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Sent on to Haugtussa.
Sent on to Haugtussa.
The book arrived Norway on a nice sunny day, whilst I was out bookshopping...
As the previous readers has said - this is a strange book indeed. At times I felt it quite a chore to get through, and I had to set myself a goal as to how many pages to read per day. But other parts went quickly, and having a day off work I managed to finish the book today.
I liked some of the intervoven stories - particularly Lieutenant Mamiya's story. Others I just skimmed thorugh.
Have to admit that this is not my favourite Murakami novel. But I'm happy I had the chance to read it.
I'll pass it on as soon as possible, as I already have the next persons address.
I liked some of the intervoven stories - particularly Lieutenant Mamiya's story. Others I just skimmed thorugh.
Have to admit that this is not my favourite Murakami novel. But I'm happy I had the chance to read it.
I'll pass it on as soon as possible, as I already have the next persons address.
Journal Entry 20 by mihi from Wien - irgendwo / Vienna - somewhere, Wien Austria on Friday, November 7, 2008
just arrived in my mailbox. Thank you for sending.
Journal Entry 21 by mihi from Wien - irgendwo / Vienna - somewhere, Wien Austria on Sunday, December 14, 2008
I didn't read Murakami for a while now. And this book was incredibly catching me tearing me into it's stories. Some times I experienced it as part of an alternate reality as Murakamis characters experience alternate realities. Fascinating. He definitely caught me.
I don't remember signing up for this at all! That's okay then. I will get to it as soon as possible, as I have a few other books ahead of it. Thank you for sharing. It does sound interesting.
This was a quite different novel from what I am used to reading. I enjoyed it, and I am looking forward to reading more of Murakami's work. I have PM'd freepages and will mail the book to Australia sometime this week.
Journal Entry 24 by FreePages from Canberra, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Sunday, February 22, 2009
Book has arrived in AustraliaCaught!
Lovely to see such a well travelled book and it is still in good condition. Although, I almost saw the end to that! We had a downpour as I was getting out of the car with this one in hand! The few drops of rain wiped off very quickly tho' ;-) Methinks it was a very good idea to cover it.
This was one of the first bookrings that I signed up for in 2007 and now I'm very into the 1001 list, so I'm really looking forward to reading it. It will be my second Murakami.
I have one bookring ahead of it and then I should be able to start it in about a week, everything going to plan :-)
Thanks for sending it denny08 and everyone else whose been in the ring.
Journal Entry 25 by FreePages from Canberra, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Monday, March 16, 2009
Well, it feels like quite an achievement to finish this book. There are so many small themes that run through the book, some seem like page turners but others seem to drag. I agree that it is quite surreal, it's like wandering through a dream that dips and dives all over the place. Near the end, a story about a Japanese man interned in a Siberian Camp had me enthralled. Then it seemed to hold me to the end, I dont think I could have ever picked the ending. Maybe I'm just thick but I had no idea what Kumiko was going to do or how she was going to "wind-up"!Some chapters read very much like a serial from a magazine and after reading wikipedia, it seems that two of the chapters were originally published in The New Yorker. At times I read the chapters out of sequence because I was more interested in a particular story, and then retraced my steps.
One of the larger of the books on the 1001 list at 608 pages. I'm not really sure why it was included on the list, except that no one writes quite like Murakami. I think I enjoyed Kafta more, but it is a book that I will think about for a long time.
Thanks for the bookring meexia!
I dont think I would have read this book if it wasn't for bookcrossing!
I have Nikkilovesbooks address, so it's on its way to the Northern Territory. Enjoy.
...and keep watching out for water Mr Wind-up Bird!
Read Mar 1-16, 2009.
Journal Entry 26 by FreePages at Canberra, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Released 15 yrs ago (3/17/2009 UTC) at Canberra, Australian Capital Territory Australia
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES: Posted today to the beautiful remote wilds of the Top-End.
Happy journey Mr Wind-up Bird.
Enjoy :-)
Journal Entry 27 by nikkilovesbooks from Secret Harbour, Western Australia Australia on Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Thanks so much freepages - what a surprise!! The book arrived yesterday (we had a little bit of a communication prob yesterday - sorry it took till today to journal) just in time because I finished my last book yesterday afternoon. I started to read the first few chapters last night. Hmm, not sure yet ;-) Thanks for sharing it meexia. What a well travelled book.
Journal Entry 28 by nikkilovesbooks from Secret Harbour, Western Australia Australia on Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Hmmm - weird and wonder as we would expect from Murakami. I am amazed at his imagination and how he introduces such differefnt concepts in such a everyday style. I have jeniwren's address, so posting it off today. Thanks for the experience ;-)
Well this was a surprise arriving out of the blue. Forgot all about signing up for this bookring!! Anyway thanks to nikkilovesbooks for posting and to meexia for her little note included in the book and for the invitation to leave my personal mark ( what a great idea!!)
I have read through all the previous journal entries and I am looking forward to reading my first Murakami. I just hope I can find some time very soon to read and keep this moving along as I am a bit snowed under at present with a few scheduled book reads.
Thanks again.
I have read through all the previous journal entries and I am looking forward to reading my first Murakami. I just hope I can find some time very soon to read and keep this moving along as I am a bit snowed under at present with a few scheduled book reads.
Thanks again.
jeniwren sent this on to me as she discovered she has a copy of her own. It arrived today and I'm really looking forward to it - yep, I'm yet another Murakami fan. It's also great to be able to read such a well travelled book and be a part of its journey . . . thanks everyone.
Journal Entry 31 by 
crimson-tide
from Balingup, Western Australia Australia on Thursday, July 30, 2009
crimson-tide from Balingup, Western Australia Australia on Thursday, July 30, 2009
Great book - classic Murakami. Layers of story and meaning, enigmatic characters including a somewhat 'lost' protagonist, an underlying mystery to come to grips with, and a dreamlike quality over-riding everything. And then again not really knowing what the meaning may be . . . and that's OK. :D
I actually had a bit of trouble getting into this one (despite my fandom status), but once onto the second half of the book it had me hooked.
Fate is in there too of course, with the wind-up bird winding up the spring of the world.
Will be sending home to meexia tomorrow.
I actually had a bit of trouble getting into this one (despite my fandom status), but once onto the second half of the book it had me hooked.
Fate is in there too of course, with the wind-up bird winding up the spring of the world.
Will be sending home to meexia tomorrow.
Released 14 yrs ago (7/31/2009 UTC) at Balingup, Western Australia Australia
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Posted off home to meexia in NSW on the last leg of a very long and fruitful bookring. I hope the Australia Post gods are kind on this leg and the book does make it home. There are lots of lovely little notes in it from readers to date. Thanks meexia.
Posted off home to meexia in NSW on the last leg of a very long and fruitful bookring. I hope the Australia Post gods are kind on this leg and the book does make it home. There are lots of lovely little notes in it from readers to date. Thanks meexia.
Book has arrived safely here in Sydney, Australia (it actually did a few weeks ago. I've just been crazy busy and hadn't even opened the package until a minute ago).
I'd just like to thank everybody here. You have all made this such a successful ring! To think that the book has gone around the world for two years! I just read the letter that I signed before sending the book in Singapore, and it was signed on the 9th of September 2007. Since then I have got married and moved back to Australia. Just a thought of how time has passed.
I have now a well-traveled book signed by many readers, which I surely would always cherish. Thank you all and cheers to a great next read! :)
I'd just like to thank everybody here. You have all made this such a successful ring! To think that the book has gone around the world for two years! I just read the letter that I signed before sending the book in Singapore, and it was signed on the 9th of September 2007. Since then I have got married and moved back to Australia. Just a thought of how time has passed.
I have now a well-traveled book signed by many readers, which I surely would always cherish. Thank you all and cheers to a great next read! :)
