The Piano Tuner by Daniel Mason: Brilliant story, evocative rendering of British Burma

Daniel Mason creates a stunningly brilliant debut, combining his passion and knowledge for writing, history, music, and medicine in his debut novel, The Piano Tuner. First he conjures Dr. Anthony Caroll, that genius of a field physician in Burma whose successes in forging alliances with the locals makes him indispensible to the British Army. This interesting character demands for a rare Erard grand piano to be shipped to Burma, and when this piano, after the arduous journey, needs a tuning, the story begins, with Edgar Drake, a piano tuner whose specialty is with Erards, is commissioned to be sent to Burma.

We then see Burma through his eyes: the politicking within the army; the tiger hunt that has captures the attitude of the British towards their subjects, and the ultimate journey to an obscure village that has become Dr. Caroll's fortress. One cannot avoid the comparisons with Conrad's work, and although Mason is very promising in this, there is something quite lacking insofar as the depth of the main character is concerned. His concern for the piano, fascination with the doctor's work and chaste admiration for Khin Myo are valid, but somehow these things are not given basis.

The counterpoint of the story is the Erard itself, and Mason does excellent research in bringing back to life the piano technology of the 1800s. Of course as a medical student who studied malaria in the area, his elaborations on the medical aspects of the story are excellent.

I said that Daniel Mason has conjured a brilliant story, and at that, a story with an unexpected ending. Whether or not this ending is as successful as the rest of the tale is debatable, but there is no doubt that this story is beautifully done and Daniel Mason is a promising new author to watch out for.

Reunion by Fred Uhlman: Friendship destroyed by war

The casualties of war go beyond the physical. Those who die, die; but those who survive lose a part of themselves. And oftentimes losing a friend through death or separation is just as painful as losing a limb. People can endure suffering, but like battle scars or stumps, the pain will remain. As the narrator begins the novel: "He came into my life in February 1932 and never left it again."

In Reunion by Fred Uhlman, the narrator is 'reunited' with past when he receives a letter from his school in Germany asking him to subscribe to a war memorial for his schoolmates who died during World War II. This triggers him to nostalgia and reminiscence; thirty years ago was a child of Jewish descent living in Germany. Like any child he longs for companionship and finds one in Konradin von Hohenfels, a noble child who becomes his best friend. But their friendship, although sweet, was short -- the rise of the Nazis forces the narrator to flee to the US and loses most of his loved ones in Germany and cuts off his ties to his former homeland.

Then, after thirty years, he gets reminded of his past. For the most part, the recollection is on a nostalgic tone and he recalls the beauty of the land where he spent his childhood. He relishes at the experience of his friendship with Konradin. It bears no details of the suffering the narrator endured, it doesn't delve into the atrocities or the concentration camps, but we feel the pain. We feel the stormclouds moving in, darkening the innocent world of a child, who gets his first taste of racial discrimination when he had to be sneaked into his best friend's house lest the latter's parents be abhorred at the sight of him.

This novella, however short, adds to the vast body of writings devoted to that dark moment in history by offering a different, "minor", equally important, persective of the impacts of war.

Reunion is truly a hautingly moving story. Such is the pain that humans inflict upon themselves that past and present become worlds apart, and reunions of once-greatest friends can only take place in memory.

Miramar by Naguib Mahfouz: The truth lies somewhere within and between

In Miramar by Naguib Mahfouz, four contrasting versions of the same story are presented: four men take up residency at a lodging house; one young woman flees there from bondage and arranged marriage. The men are drawn to her; the younger ones desire her, burning the flames of jealousy and ultimately the death of one of them in which all become suspects.

Since the plot isn't that central, the element of multiple narratives doesn't achieve the status of "In a Grove" by Ryunosuke Akutagawa (adapted by Akira Kurosawa as 'Rashomon') in which the multiple narrative sytle was perfected. Even so, each point of view adds depth to the novel and helps portray the various faces of post-Revolution Egypt.

The central character, Zohra, is a woman who wishes to emancipate herself from a future of predestination and bondage. She seeks to pursue her own path in life through education, but the men who describe her through their unique narratives are sympathetic to her, but they still view her in a somewhat condescending attitude that was typical of their culture and times. Even so, their backgrounds differ in their view of her. The two elderly men look at her as if she were the past, and together with it their lost youth, their days of glory. On the other hand the younger men view her as they would the future -- they are desirous for it and are adventurous, optimistic.

Miramar serves as the venue for these interactions. Literally meaning "view of the sea", it is a glimpse of Egypt at the time of its writing. Men are fighting one another, though all seemed confused as to what they are exactly fighting for. Zohra, however, survives. John Fowles noted in his introduction, "She is Egypt herself". There then is hope in the writer's mind for the country he so colorfully portrayed and loved.

What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Murakami: Inspiration and perspiration

Of course it was Thomas Edison who famously said that genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration - or something like that. Murakami, one of my favorite novelists, writes a book that shares his dual passions of writing and running (with focus on the latter). What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami is a candid memoir that shows how perspiration can be inspiration; running and writing goes side by side to drive the narrator to the success.

But the memoir is no Zen manual or inspirational memoir -- indeed there are no profound lines about reaching the finish line or stuff like that. The slim volume, like Murakami's novels, uses down-to-earth language, the same witty lines, and a very honest take on running, writing, and life in general. Here Murakami is not that masterful writer behind the scenes, putting dialogue on such unforgetable characters like Toru Watanabe of Norweigian Wood and Toru Okada. Instead, he is himself -- a shy person who gets apprehensive before a marathon, a writer who shares his , and someone truly

The determination of Murakami is impressive -- yet once again, instead of overthinking it, he doesn't search for meaning too much. He run because he simply wanted it; he just didn't seem to fit baseball and tennis. It is good that he applied the same passion and determination to writing. Thanks to that, we have the benefit of his books. This recent volume is one of them, and because of it I am inspired to run those miles as well!

Going back to Edison, inspiration and perspiration are those things that go hand in hand. Whether as athletes or artists, we need both. Whether 1% or 99%, the proportion doesn't matter. Ask Murakami and he probably will say the same thing. What matters is you do what you want and you follow through till the finish line.

The Master of Go by Yasunari Kawabata: Breaking (and lamenting) the stalemate between tradition and modernity

Confronted with a changing world, there is the great temptation for a writer to use symbols to portray the ongoing change - to reminisce about the old times and somehow contrast the worlds old and new. In the case of Kawabata, a journalist who actually covered the events tht form the basis of The Master of Go, it would have been quite natural to use the battle between Old, invincible master and the young challenger to symbolize the changing world. But instead, Kawabata masterfully crafts intimate portraits of the people involved: the obsessed Master, the driven challenger, and the people around them. They then create the sense of change without telling about it, succeeding in what writers ought to succeed: showing, not telling, the message they wish to convey.

The story begins at the ending: the old Master is defeated, and eventually succumbs to death. Perhaps there is no plot at all to speak of, since the climax has already come. Yet the delight in reading the story does not lie in its plot, but they way each event is told: there is the narrator's sympathetic view of the Master, the sequence of scheduled games written in sparse prose, yet set in the most poignant of Japanese scenes: a hot spring inn and its old designs, the cherry blossoms, the trees... Minute details are very important in this short masterpiece.
The mental burden of defending his title proves too much for the Master, and his sicknesses force delays on the matches -- delays which the young challenger is not too keen to accept. This conflict causes headaches for the organizers, but the match pushes through. Mention is given of the old times when the master sets the rules; there is no need for strict regulations to govern the game. There are subtleties that a Go player may be able to appreciate more and of course there will be a lot of things that are lost in translation, but a reader who has no background of the game will still understand and appreciate the novel.

Even though it is a 'sad story', there is another theme, more subdued but equally overwhelming: that of beauty. No Western author will be able to beautify a game of chess, say, between . But for the author and his characters - the game is an act of beauty and regardless of how much Japanese culture has changed since their times, it remains so. Thankfully, Kawabata has given us a window to glimpse at it.

The Crazed by Ha Jin: Personifying a crazy bureaucracy

The ending of The Crazed by Ha Jin was tragic but it was a logical conclusion to all the events. Ha Jin started the story on a slow pacing- a daily, monotonous life featuring Jian and his professor, Jian and his fiancée’s letters, Jian and his colleagues, and the academic environment in post-Mao China.

Still evident in the novel are the shadows of the Cultural Revolution. The government, although it has softened a bit, is still portrayed as repressive, often unreasonable. But the corrupt officials- petty and big- are seen as unreasonable all the more. They – Ying Peng, Vice Principal Huang, and the others – are the ‘enemies’ of Professor Yang. And they are the more real and present enemies of the people, for all they care for is personal gain. In doing this, they are compromising more important things like literary scholarship; or in some cases they shatter the people’s faith in the system. Like Jian. The Tiananmen Square massacre was a turning point in his life, but it took the cunning of Ying Peng and her likes to drive him out of China – out of the seemingly ‘crazy’ existence.

Professor Yang’s enemies are also the same enemies that hamper the advancement of my country. They come in the form of government officials who care for nothing but their own good. Even in the academe, I know they exist. They disillusion the remaining idealists and turn them into cynics. These cynics leave the country like Jian; in some instances they turn corrupt as well, using the ‘if you can’t beat them, join ‘em’ mentality. Ha Jin did very well in Waiting. Highly commendable. But more commendable is the fact that he has sustained, even improved, his quality of writing in The Crazed.

Roots by Alex Haley: The generational African-American struggle for freedom

Some dismissed this epic as a fake. But it doesn’t claim to be wholly fact. Granting that it is indeed a fake, then it would be like all the others- fiction. And granting that it is fiction, it is would still stand out as a classic. My copy of Roots by Alex Haley I bought for a mere P20 in a thrift shop. Multiply the price by a dozen and It’s still worth it.

The first part of Roots brings to mind Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. Its first parts show that Africans and Europeans have different cultures but what they have in common is humanity. They have their own customs, practices, and traditions. They may not have centralized government but they have no need for such a system in the first place. They were living happily until the slave traders caught them one by one. By focusing on one person – Kunta Kinte – Alex Haley succeeds in presenting to us the real impact of slavery. The question here is: If a man is separated from his land, his people, his culture, and even his freedom, what is left of him? Since Roots spans seven generations (Biblical allusion?), it gives the answer: even if freedom is taken away; hope remains, and through his descendants Kunta Kinte is able to liberate himself from bondage.

The latter parts of Roots bring to mind Beloved by Toni Morrison and Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston. It presents racial discrimination and all the other dilemmas the African-Americans faced in their struggle.

It was the first part, however, that I enjoyed the most. For in there you can see Alex Haley at his finest. It took a lot of research, imagination, and creativity, for him to create a Gambian village with its exotic environment and fascinating people. The legends, the beliefs, the customs- it’s as if he were there; it’s as if I was there as I read the text. The theme of Roots? I think a major one is human suffering. Another is overcoming that suffering in the face of difficult circumstances. There are sub- and underlying themes, one of which asks the question: Is racial prejudice based on color alone? How come the earlier Africans were too eager to spite the slaves, when they were of the same color? All these questions require an understanding of American history and society and African culture; these elements weave together the fine fabric that is Roots. Even the adaptability of the slaves is significant, for it is a testimony to human fortitude.

Indeed, Roots, like Martin Luther King, Jr., Michael Jordan, and of course Barack Obama, is a triumphant proclamation that the African-Americans have succeeded in reclaiming their rightful place in our world.

The Temple of the Golden Pavillon by Yukio Mishima: The irony of beauty and destruction

The darkness and terror of this novel surpasses The Stranger by Camus, and equals The Brothers Karamazov by Dostoyevsky. I am still absorbed by the story and its depth, its sorrow. Having finished the novel just minutes ago, I am troubled and disturbed, though at the same time relieved. It would take awhile before I can fully grasp the meaning of the novel. It is an exploration in the psyche of the youth, and being a young one myself, I would have to fully discover my identity and my purpose to understand Mizoguchi. He was Holden Caulfield in the Japanese context, but he possesses something clearly universal in today’s youth: anxiety, rejection, and the depression that would follow.

I am only sad for him, and also for Tsurukawa, who is my favorite character in the novel. Why? For he offers such cheer in spite of his hidden sorrow. It reflects Mishima’s assertion of the state of the Japanese youth in his time. As Kashiwagi, he is the other side of the youth of Japan, who lives for the moment. He is not spared from having a distorted notion about things.

Like Mizoguchi whose last words in the novel were ‘I wanted to live.’, I too, want to live, and I will live. The difference between Mizoguchi and me is, I have direction. I have faith in my God whereas Mizoguchi had no real God to depend on; his faith was based on objects, and Superior Dosen who lived an immoral life. Perhaps family ties, that so called Hsiao or filial piety, is falling apart in Japan? If Mishima’s portrait is accurate this is so, as seen in Mizoguchi’s total apathy for his mother and father. The psychological approach may say otherwise, but that’s a different discussion.

Yukio Mishima, despite his confused life and violent suicide, did not disappoint me. I am very pleased with The Temple of the Golden Pavillon; it convinces all the more that the great works of Japanese Literature – Mishima’s novels counted – belong to such a high form of art.

Grass for His Pillow by Lian Hearn: The tale continues with same suspenseful, lyrical narrative

Still enchanted by the Across the Nightingale Floor, I didn’t hesitate to buy Grass For His Pillow by Lian Hearn for more than P1000. Again, despite my attempted restraint, I wasn’t able to last long without finishing Grass for His Pillow. And I tell you, the price I paid was more than worth it. This second book is more fast-paced than the first one, and we witness here the maturity of Takeo and the transformation of Kaede from a ‘mere pawn’ in the battles of the lords’ to the lady of her domain, capable in action and tactful in speech.

It begins as Takeo enters the world of the Tribe – crafty, skillful assassins possessing supernatural powers. He finds about his real father’s world, but, after enduring their training and apathy (they are only after his abilities, not him – that is, he is just a means to an end), he realizes that this is not the path he wants to for his life. Within him is a struggle between two loyalties – that to the Tribe and that to Lord Otori. It is also a struggle between his love for Kaede and his present life. Eventually, he makes the decision to leave the Tribe – choosing a path he wants no matter how it takes. Such decision echoes The Alchemist by Coelho: To realize one’s destiny is a person’s only obligation. For Takeo, pursuing his dreams and risking death is far better than living and yet not realizing his destiny. Takeo may have foolishly risked his own life, but his courage is highly admired. Greatness never belongs to those unwilling to take paths to worlds beyond.

Meanwhile, Kaede bravely deals with her domain and the lords of the clans. While she knows Lord Arai is her liege, she nonetheless manages to put up a subtle defiance with her tact. In the end, her defiance culminates with her secret marriage with Takeo (reminiscent of Padme Amidala and Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars). There are side characters whose participation in the ‘Tales’ make it all the more full of verve and action. Shizuka, for instance, who is also torn between her loyalty to Kaede and her allegiance to the Tribe. Takeo, in his time of great difficulty, finds solace and friendship in Makoto, and in the temple where the story ends. The philosophy is: every action has a consequence. It is very much Zen Buddhism, but it is true. Thus, the secret marriage of Takeo and Kaede also has a consequence – what that consequence is we are yet to find out.

Brilliantly conceived and masterfully written, The Tales of the Otori is a great inspiration for people who wish to make a difference in their lives – and that of others. It is an encouragement to those who have lost hope, and enlightenment to those have it. For young ones, it is a profound illustration of growing up and hurdling the challenges along the way. It treats life as one great adventure which we must cherish and make the most of.

Miguel Street by V.S. Naipul: Profound stories with humor and wit

This book is a must read for everyone who appreciated Mr. Biswas. Set in Miguel Street, Trinidad through the eyes of a teenage boy, every story in this collection deals with one personality, and again one can see Naipul’s characteristic humor and irony. There are colorful characters like Big Foot, Hat, and Popo. They are all poor, but ‘no one starves’. It’s like A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, really. In the end, the boy leaves Miguel Street: it seems that he is the only who has succeeded among all its residents.

The variation of characters makes this collection of stories a good set of stories; but the unity of theme makes this collection of stories a very good 'novel'. Interestingly, though, there was no story centered on a female. This says something about the persona, and the section of society he personifies. Colonialism, poverty, and the frailty of human relationships are among the main themes of Miguel Street. As the persona matures, his opinion on things differ. This maturity is quick, though, for he is exposed to the things of the world early on. Miguel Street is no profound read, but it has humor- that is more than enough.

A House for Mr. Biswas by V.S. Naipul: A vivid portrayal of post-colonial struggle

The ending was so sad, but more significantly it was triumphant. In A House for Mr. Biswas by V.S. Naipul, the last words read, “…while Shama and the children went back in the Prefect to the empty house.” Mr. Biswas gained his house, but it took him a lifetime. This struggle in life and against its cruelty is universal to all cultures, although it has a special similarity with Philippine culture: the impact of colonialism is tremendous. Owad is the typical Indian who goes to England to earn a degree; he is also the typical Filipino who goes to the United States for the same purpose. In A House for Mr. Biswas, the far-reaching and long-lasting consequences of British colonial rule are implicitly written, in detailed and sometimes ironic prose. That Naipul would include someone who ‘started a conversation on anchors’ or the expectation of a ‘someone who would take notice’ is proof of his literary flair. The Tulsi family is matriarchal; it has something to say about the condition of women in Trinidad. Just look at the Tulsi daughters. The relationships among in-laws is also seen.

A very interesting thing in A House is Mr. Naipul’s treatment of education. Everyone has a chance to go to school, but Anand and Savi earn their chance to go to England. So he is saying that hardwork nullifies the handicap of poverty. However, education itself cannot be treated positively all the time. Like Owad, who became a Communist after going to England. He belittles and disapproves of the cousin of Shekhar’s wife, who, in his words “went to all the way to Canada to learn the violin… [while] people are starving, not getting enough to eat here in Trinidad.” He later marries her. It goes to show how comic, but at the same time tragic (hence “tragic-comic”, a term often used by reviewers of this book) Naipul’s work is.

No wonder he won the Nobel Prize. I may check out another work of his later, so that I will see Trinidad more. Or maybe I’ll try to reread The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy, and see it in a new light. Whatever I do next, I know that through Mr. Biswas I have gained knowledge of Indian life, and found it strangely familiar.

My Antonia by Willa Cather: Great love story of American countryside

It was F. Sionil Jose, one of my country’s foremost novelists, who recommended to me My Antonia by Willa Cather. He said it was one of his ‘early influences’, along with Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. Naturally my curiosity was aroused, but I couldn’t find a copy of the book. Not until one day when my sister told me she bought one from a BookSale outlet. She read it before I did, and she – who has read more classics that I have – told me that it’s one of the best books she has read. Wow! My expectations already high, I took to reading the novel. In a few days I was done, and now I can only repeat what they told me: it’s a beautiful, very beautiful masterpiece. Of a landscape so majestic and of a love so deep. I can almost see the endless ocean of countryside.

As for the love, its profundity lies in the fact that between Jim and Antonia it was never a love that is romantic. It was rooted on their nostalgic childhood spent in that small town in Nebraska. And that same love was powerful enough for Jim to add his possessive adjective to Antonia, hence the title ‘My Antonia’.

Any reader of the book shouldn’t miss the way Cather inserted her feminist ideas into the book. Antonia, who worked like a man for some time, can do what a man can do; it’s only that it won’t be proper for her to- in the eyes of society. Women are women; the difference between and women doesn’t necessarily lie in the latter’s abilities, but it’s more of an individual and collective choice.

Up to date Willa Cather’s book hasn’t been equaled, and I believe the critics when they say it’s one of the greatest love stories of all time. I think My Antonia is a far cry from the newer novels about rural US. However, she should not be seen as competing with the contemporary authors, for her books have already attained the level of ‘classic’.

Soul Mountain by Gao Xingjian: Excellent modern prose from and about China

Want to know China? Read this book. Want to appreciate Chinese culture? Read this book. I just love it! The story within Soul Mountain by Gao Xingjian is Nobel Prize-quality enough, but what enthralled me the most are the folktales, the poems, the songs, and the anecdotes- from the time of Yu the Great to Chairman Mao. It’s bucolic, romantic, and evocative all at the same time. It was really fun reading story after story while reading a story. I was a bit confused about the use of personal pronouns (the point of view shifts from I to you and there is a he and a she, which according to the instruction ‘compose the protagonist’). But once you get used to the shifts the reading is smooth. The story proper deals with one man’s search for his identity and the purpose of life. He ends up saying that he still doesn’t understand. But in searching for the meaning of life, you understand life better.

The vivid descriptions of all the places- from villages to mountains; rivers and lakes- also reflect the author’s grasp of his subject matter. His imagery is so successful that I am reminded of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Hero, and my own experiences in climbing mountains.
Combine all these elements and you have a masterpiece- one that cannot be easily forgotten. Chinese culture, which is so rich and complex, has comprehensively been compressed in Soul Mountain. Although I consider Ha Jin’s works very good fiction, they are still lacking in depth compared to Soul Mountain. Ha Jin only presents the realities of China today; Gao Xinjiang traces them to the past and heavily connect them to the psychology of the individual.
What else can I add? The book speaks for itself; I can only do one thing more: recommend the book to anyone I find interested in literary prose.

Across the Nightingale Floor by Lian Hearn: A great tale of adventure

If the Japanese treasure beauty and honor, then Across the Nightingale Floor by Lian Hearn would for them be indeed a rare jewel. The book possesses such charm, adventure, and romance, that one is at once transported into the realm of the Otori and the lands beyond, the place where there lives a young boy named Tomasu. Across the Nightingale Floor is the story of his life, how he came home one day only to find his family massacred, how he escaped from the evil Lord Iida and how he was rescued by the benevolent Lord Otori. This Lord Otori, whose father and brother died in battle against Lord Iida, takes care of Tomasu, renames him as Takeo, and makes him his adopted son. Takeo soon grows to be a brilliant lad, skilled in the sword and the pen, charming and bright. He, being the son of a gifted assassin with special powers, is initiated into the arts of an order called The Tribe. He is quick to learn, and very soon made Lord Otori Shigeru proud of him.

But that’s just the beginning: Lord Otori is forced to marry the young Kaede, daughter of another feudal lord. He knows if he acquiesces to this plan, Lord Iida will destroy him and his people, so he devised a plan: Takeo will walk through the nightingale floor – a special floor that ‘sings’ or squeaks like a nightingale – and kill Lord Iida. Meanwhile, Kaede arrives in Lord Otori’s castle and upon seeing Takeo, instantly falls in love with him. Takeo notices this at once, and in no time they understand what feelings they have for each other. There are many subsequent plot twists and turns, but all of them are logical conclusions. All the characters act as they are supposed to act, based on their personalities, but the reader is still surprised, captivated, and awed by the action and adventure. Across the Nightingale Floor has echoes of Star Wars and Lord of the Rings, but this observation would all the more point to the fact that the Tales of the Otori has indeed the qualities of an epic adventure, focused on one boy and his beloved.

There is a certain quality in the writing that makes it smooth and surprisingly eloquent. More surprising is the fact that Lian Hearn is an Australian, for many years a stranger to the Japanese way of life.

Takeo is not presented as a perfect being: indeed, he has many faults although it is not noticed as the book is written in the first-person point of view.

I can’t wait to read the second book of the Otori trilogy, Grass for His Pillow. I am confident that Hearn will not fail to sustain the beauty that is Kaede, the adventure that is Takeo.

A Separate Peace by John Knowles: The potentialities of great friendship

Now this book is an achievement even greater than Catcher in the Rye, in presenting adolescence as it is. It is a tale of friendship that is violated by the weakness of human nature, a story of greatest tragedy that pierced through my heart like an arrow. Finny’s death is hard, even for the reader. It was a fierce climax, against the otherwise peaceful background of the Devon school, their separate peace that gets broken because of Gene’s insecurity. It could have been the other way around, and I think this is essential to the theme: great friendships are actually possible. It is a matter of choice, dependent on what wins in the internal struggle between insecurity and trust. Finny last words voice his agony over the realization that Gene caused the destruction of his life and his death.

Tragic as Finny’s death was, one asks the question: who actually died? I think the answer is both, for they were really best friends from the start, and thus their lives were intertwined, conjoined. Finny’s physical death is also the emotional death of Gene, but what shortly follows is Finny’s resurrection in Gene, and Gene’s own resurrection as someone who has learned his lessons. Finny is the avatar of friendship – never did he fail Gene even in his ‘deathbed’. Finny even wanted Gene to join the ‘1944 Olympics’, equating such a participation as his own (I found that scene truly poignant). A Separate Peace has taught me the most important lessons in friendship – lessons I will never forget.

Norweigian Wood by Haruki Murakami: The essence of youthful wandering

One of favorite books is Norweigian Wood by Haruki Murakami. I bought my copy in Tokyo - in a two-book format that's very convenient for the Japanese who hate idle moments and read books whenever they're riding subway trains.

Just like many of his works, the title of the book is named after a song (in this case, by the Beatles) and it is written in the first-person perspective by a young man, in this case a teeanger named Toru Watanabe.

It is essentially a coming-of-age novel but it is worlds apart from Holden Caulfield of Catcher in the Rye or other similar American novels; the rebelliousness and pessimism of youth is there but so are uniquely Japanese themes such as loneliness, coming to terms with loss (so common in the nation with the highest suicide rates in the world), and a sort of sexuality that may actually seem perverted to some but is narrated in a casual, non-erotic way in the novel.

The plot is not really exceptional. His best friend kills himself at a young age, leaving him and his best friend's girlfriend Naoko emotionally attached to each other. The experience drives Naoko crazy. Meanwhile, Toru meets another girl Midori with a character quite different from Naoko, and in the end they wind up together.

Yet it is the heartfelt, nostalgic tone and the wit that makes the novel a great read. It conjures up the most vivid descriptions of student life and creates unforgettable characters that will make you laugh and cry. Finally, the character is not presented in any other way but as who he is: a frail human being longing for someone to hold on to (just like the rest of us). In the end he holds on to the symbolic telephone line - connected to someone.

Manila Bookworm / creeping through cyberspace!

It is a spontaneous decision, and an exercise of freedom, for me to create this blog, in which I plan to share my thoughts about what I read, where I get them, and all other random thoughts that are somewhat related to literature and books. It might lead nowhere, like millions of unfinished, abandoned pages in the hyperspace. And if it does, like a real worm, it will be a very slow process, like creeping through soil. Though I've read countless books, I have to write about them one by one and my interests are diverse so it will really be a long journey - from Murakami to Asimov and from D.H. Lawrence to F. Sionil Jose.

Yet, I am confident that I will enjoy this journey, and I hope you will too!