Overview:
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.
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Review:
Haruki Murakami is one of my all-time favorite authors, and his first works Wind/Pinball do not disappoint. It was so interesting to read these early novels knowing the evolution of Murakami's work. With other authors, you can sense when they have hit their stride or passed their peak. Murakami's writing is consistently excellent. His turns of phrase exceptional from his very first novels.
If you've read other Murakami novels- which obviously I recommend- Wind/Pinball will give you a sense of nostalgia. Having just finished these novels, I'd love to re-read Murakami's full collection. I love how much life and atmosphere goes into each novel. Murakami creates such a sense of time and place; it's so tangible. When he describes a 'very good coffee,' my mind immediately conjures the smell and taste of the best coffee I've ever had. If he mentions a record, I recall my introduction to those songs. Even when the limits of reality begin to stretch, I can visualize and relate to the scene. There is a subtlety in Murakami's writing that allows every possibility to exist as reality.
If you've read other Murakami novels- which obviously I recommend- Wind/Pinball will give you a sense of nostalgia. Having just finished these novels, I'd love to re-read Murakami's full collection. I love how much life and atmosphere goes into each novel. Murakami creates such a sense of time and place; it's so tangible. When he describes a 'very good coffee,' my mind immediately conjures the smell and taste of the best coffee I've ever had. If he mentions a record, I recall my introduction to those songs. Even when the limits of reality begin to stretch, I can visualize and relate to the scene. There is a subtlety in Murakami's writing that allows every possibility to exist as reality.
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