Wind/Pinball: Two Novels
Ratings20
Average rating3.5
15
Ratings20
Average rating3.5
"The debut short novels--nearly thirty years out of print-- by the internationally acclaimed writer, newly retranslated and in one English-language volume for the first time, with a new introduction by the author. These first major works of fiction by Haruki Murakami center on two young men--an unnamed narrator and his friend and former roommate, the Rat. Powerful, at times surreal, stories of loneliness, obsession, and eroticism, these novellas bear all the hallmarks of Murakami's later books, giving us a fascinating insight into a great writer's beginnings, and are remarkable works of fiction in their own right. Here too is an exclusive essay by Murakami in which he explores and explains his decision to become a writer. Prequels to the much-beloved classics A Wild Sheep Chase and Dance Dance Dance, these early works are essential reading for Murakami completists and contemporary fiction lovers alike"--
Reviews with the most likes.
I found it hard to get into this one, probably in part due to the small pockets of time I had available to read, but while on holiday I had the chance to put more time in and halfway through Wind I found my stride. Of the two books I much preferred Pinball, which I would rate higher than Wind, and now feel like I want to go back and read Wild Sheep Chase to see if I get a different perspective knowing some back-story of the Rat.
These two short novels are Murakami's first works. “Wind” (actually, “Hear the Wind Sing,”) didn't grab me, but “Pinball, 1973” did. Both feature the narrator and his friend Rat who frequent a bar owned by J (which is perhaps Murakami's own bar, as that's what he did when he wrote these stories). Rat has woman troubles in both books and the narrator is at perpetual loose-ends, although he seems to come to equilibrium by the end of Pinball when he gets the wax cleaned out of his ears!
It isn't as good as wild sheep chase but it's still a great read. The second Murakami I finished after Norwegian wood. The magical realism stuff isn't there yet, it's a straight forward book.
