I've read 2 of his works :

'Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman' and 'Afterdark'. The fact that the setting in his stories are mostly based in Japan attracted me (I've always wanted to visit Japan).

But is anyone out there understand what is the true meaning of his stories? I don't really.

i've read After Dark, Norwegian Wood, Dance Dance Dance and i'm now in the midst of completing Kafka on the Shore.

i must say, i cant seem to find any 'true' meaning to his stories. that is until someone in here points it out to me lol

i love his books^^
i have two collections of his novel, in mandarin n english!!
my all time favorites are - hard boiled wonderland and the end of the world &
kafka on the shore......read them over n over again, from time to time...

I was recommended Norwegian Wood by a friend, but still haven't gotten down to getting it. How are the books? When you talk about real meaning it makes me think of those novels by Hemingway, and I find Hemingway extremely boring.

I've heard a lot about Murakami but every time I try reading a few pages at the bookstore, I just don't get the hang of it. Probably too "deep" and not my style of writing too.

I've read Kafka On the Shore, Wind-Up bird Chronicles, Sputnik Sweetheart and Half boiled wonderland and the end of the world. My favourite is Norwegian Wood. I've read that quite a few times. I love the characters and the way he writes. And the stories are quite unusual, sending the reader on a wild ride, before ending. It's always hard to predict how the story will progress most of times

His books are alright. I have read Sputnik Sweetheart and Kafka. I'd say Kafka is better.

haruki murakami is interesting. i love his novels because he writes in full detail allowing us readers to actually form a clear picture of what he is trying to convey. i have to agree about his novels being vague though, but thats whats fun about it. you can read the novel several times and each time, you get a different interpretation of what it means. i have read after dark, sputnik sweetheart, norwegian wood, underground, after the quake and blind willow, sleeping woman.

what i did when i read After Dark was to write down every single piece of music that was mentioned in the novel to get a feel of the atmosphere that he was trying to convey and then at a later date play the songs in question when the song is mentioned in the novel to listen to what the characters are listening to at the point in the novel

I've read Kafka on the Shore.

Didn't really get it though. Although I've read some of Kafka's book before I don't really see any resemblance to his works. this one seems to be a contemporary retelling of Greek poems and Tragedies. Notably Oedipus and The Odyssey.

although I might be completely wrong, because I can't seem to grasp a single thing the author was trying to convey.
Pseudo-incest scenes were kinda hawt.

Eh. maybe I'll read more of his works one of these days. Norwegian wood since the book's less thicker.

I have read most of his books so I could be considered a fan.

Norwegian Wood and Sputnik Sweetheart are very different from his other books and to me, these books are a lot more grounded in reality than the others. They both deal with loss although I can't really remember the plot of SS. NW is definitely the better book and more mature.

His other books tend to be described as magical surrealism. No one writes books like him. After Dark is not one of his better works though. Kafka on the shore has no relation to Kafka, although if i remember correctly, it's the title of a song that someone sings. Yeah, it's quite pretentious - although it is quite enjoyable.

I think my favourite book is The Wind Up Bird Chronicles. It's been a while but i think it's about time i reread it.

Am going to start my first Haruki Murakami book after hearing such good reviews from friends + strangers alike

wish me luck! xD

I've read all his books but was so disappointed with the last one "After Dark". My favorite is still "Hard-Boiled Wonderland & The End of The World". Maybe I'll go re-read that to wash away After Dark lol

Just finished The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle. i am somehow really drawn to the chapters that regales the reader of Lieutenant Mamiya's ordeals

Lol, I'm a Haruki Murakami reader, though a starter at that.

Currently reading Wind - Up Bird Chronicle.

Like Quacksilver, I love the parts that portray the experiences of the lieutenant. Especially the part where he says that he was no longer "living" , just existing.

Can't say I like the rest though. May and the rest of the characters are just too weird, and while I get that this is a surrealist book, I can barely discern a theme or plot that actually makes sense behind it.

I love the way loneliness is portrayed in the characters though.

To be someone's husband for so many years, and still feel as if he never really knew her at all speaks of a great emotional loneliness - the inability to connect.

Which is better, Kefka on the shore or After Dark? considering one more try at Murakami before I give up on his works

go with Kafka. it's a more wholesome read

Just got his latest book from Kino last week. Had to get it cause it's off by 20%. It's not fiction but about his love for running marathons and his random thoughts.

The only Murakami books I don't have are Birthday Stories (read his story in it already) and Music of His Words (?) done by Jay Rubin.

Also they're currently working on the movie for Norwegian Wood. The Japanese girl from Babel is in it - Rinko Kikuchi (sp?).

reading on Wind up Bird Chronicles now. just done with norwegian wood.

after wind up bird, i should be getting the kefka.

btw, 1Q84 has just been released and sold out in japan.

found this live blog of 1Q84 here.

live blog

i found his books a bit avant garde anyhow.. blind willow sleeping woman is good, but ain't the best read out there..

okay, done with Wind up Bird. and i was like O.O