About the Book
Haruki Murakami has written the first volume of his bestselling trilogy titled "Hear the Wind Sing". Murakami, considered the most famous Japanese author, chronicles the life of a young man who is fed up with the monotonous and mechanical existence of Japanese society during the time he was writing this book. He strives to free himself from the despair and loneliness that often overwhelm him. Sometimes, his efforts yield no results, leaving him confronted with numerous questions that create significant mental challenges for him.
"Hear the Wind Sing," published in 1979, won several awards including the Gonzo, Noma, and Akutagawa prizes. The story is set in the year 1970, and the author attempts to portray life in Japanese society through simple language and vivid imagery, drawing attention to his criticisms of the robotic and mechanical lives of people.
Murakami narrates 18 days of the young protagonist's life filled with various events, discussing matters that are not acceptable to his main character, who wishes to examine them from a different perspective. The narrator shares not only about himself but also about his relationships with others, especially his very close friend who calls him "Mouse," and expresses feelings that may be incomprehensible to many. Although this book, being the first work of the Japanese author, lacks the maturity of his later works, its fluidity improves with the continuation of the story in subsequent pages and lines, satisfying readers with its delightful dialogues and insights.
An interesting remark by Murakami about this work is that if it hadn't been chosen for the Gonzo Prize, he would have pursued a career other than writing. This can serve as a great motivation for readers to understand better how the journey that made Murakami who he is began. If it piques your interest, you can enjoy reading "Pinball" and "A Wild Sheep Chase," which are the second and third parts of the "Mouse" trilogy.
About the Author
Haruki Murakami is a Japanese author born on January 12, 1949. His works have always been bestsellers and have been translated into over 50 living languages. He has received numerous exceptional awards, including the Franz Kafka Prize, the Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award, and the World Fantasy Award. His powerful writing has led individuals like Steven Poole from The Guardian to place him among the greatest writers. Some of his most popular works include: "Pinball," "Dance Dance Dance," "After Dark," "Sputnik Sweetheart," and "Norwegian Wood."
Who should read this book?
It is recommended for lovers of magical realism not to miss reading this introduced book. Additionally, those interested in Japanese literature and Murakami's works are advised to include this piece in their studies.
Book Quotes
My late grandmother used to say, “People with dark souls have dark dreams. Those whose hearts are even darker don’t dream at all.” The night my grandmother died, the first thing I did was stretch out my hands and gently close her eyes. In that moment, all the dreams she had seen in her seventy-nine years quietly vanished (poof!) like a summer downpour on hot sidewalks. Nothing remained.
Lies are terrible things. One could say that the greatest sins plaguing modern society are the increase of lies and silence. We boldly lie, and then we swallow our tongues. Anyway, if we were to speak only the truth all year round, it would probably lose its value.
From the age of twenty onward, I tried with all my might to live according to this philosophy; as a result, I was deceived and misunderstood, used and abused, time and again. Of course, it brought me strange experiences as well. All kinds of people would tell me their stories, then they would leave and never return; it was as if I were nothing but a bridge they hurriedly crossed. In any case, I kept my mouth zipped, and thus the stories remained with me until I entered the final year of my twenties.
“There is no such thing as perfect writing; just as there is no such thing as perfect despair.” A writer I encountered during university said this. It took me a long time to fully grasp his meaning, but still, I found solace in his words that there is no such thing as perfect writing. Nevertheless, whenever I sat down to write, I became disheartened. The range I could manage was very limited; for instance, I could write something about an elephant, but when it came to the elephant trainer, I had no idea at all, and so on. I had been caught in this chain for eight years; eight years is a long time. If someone acts on the principle that everything can be a learning experience, then aging shouldn’t be so painful. At least that’s what others tell us.
“In your latest novel, your hero Waldo dies twice on Mars and then once on Venus. Isn’t that a contradiction?” Hartfield replied: “Are you familiar with how time flows in the vastness of space?” The journalist answered: “No, but no one else knows that either.” “What’s the point of writing a novel about things everyone knows?”
There are things in this world that you can’t do anything about. For example? For example, tooth decay. One day it suddenly starts to hurt. No one—no matter how hard they try to comfort you—can ease your pain. It makes you angry at yourself. Then, before you know it, you find yourself angry at others because they aren’t angry at themselves. You see how it builds up?
If we have something, we fear losing it; if we have nothing, we worry that we’ll always stay this way. We’re all a bit like that. The sooner you realize this, the more you can try to strengthen yourself, even if just a little bit. It’s okay to pretend to be strong. Right? There’s no such thing as a truly strong person. There are only people who pretend to be strong.
There is no such thing as absolute writing, just as there is no such thing as absolute despair.
People with dark souls have nothing but dark dreams. Those with very dark souls have nothing but daydreams.
Whenever I look at the ocean, I want to talk to people, but when I’m talking to people, I always want to look at the ocean.
