MADreads

Murakami mania

March 6th, 2009 Molly - Central

I’m not one to argue with success. Starbucks’ lattes are delicious. Kate Winslet is a talented actress. Beatles’ lyrics are catchy. I don’t shy away from something merely because it is popular. And so you will find me worshipping at the altar of an international literary superstar. It’s true. I’m officially on the Murakami bandwagon.

Now, I’m no expert on what is cool. My reading habits are not pretentious. And my knowledge of Japanese culture is limited to a lifelong love of Sanrio and tempura. But I like words and as he speaks to so many worldwide, Murakami’s words speak to me. A Wild Haruki Chase: Reading Murakami Around the World is a collection of essays presented at a symposium sponsored by the Japan Foundation that examines this very topic: the writings and popularity of Haruki Murakami. Many of the essays are written by those who have translated his works into other languages, including an essay by Jay Rubin, the English translator of my favorite Murakami novel After Dark. Several of the international translators examine the popularity of Murakami in their countries and cultures, places like South Korea where other Japanese artists are not especially popular.

A cerebral essay by Richard Powers analyzes the science of neurons and brain waves present in Murakami, a topic that gives me a headache. When I am reading Murakami, I don’t count on science to explain multiple realities or how the reader flies around the settings spying on the various characters, that’s just part of the story for me. For those who do want to delve a little deeper, though, this essay will surely satisfy.

My favorite essay in the collection discusses how Murakami writes stories of the heart. And that, ultimately, is what I like to read. Whatever the language.

Entry Filed under: Nonfiction