Has anyone read this? It's been on my shelf for a couple of years and I think I'm finally going to commit to reading it. I know it will be awesome, it's just so long. Anyone want to be a reading buddy? It will probably take me a year or so, haha. If someone does want to read it with me, I could probably commit to 100 pages a month?
I've been meaning to read this as well and just keep passing on it because of the length. I'd be down for having a reading buddy! We can keep each other motivated! 100 pages a month is definitely doable for me.
Yes! Check in here March 17 on the first 100 pages for me, Whitney, and whoever else is in!
I am apprehensive to dive in, because there are probably 100 books on my "to-read" list before that one, but it is something I want to read and I normally don't have folks reading it along with me. I will attempt to give it a go. These days I usually only read the works I am teaching or if I get a couple days off, a Wendell Berry book or something.
Wendell Berry is so great.
But yeah, you should read it with us!
I had never read Wendell Berry until I was trying to finish up my degree a semester early and took a Topics English class in a Maymester. When I got in there, it was entirely devoted to Berry. 18 books in 21 days. Definitely my favorite 80-year-old Christian farmer-dude.
I will definitely try to keep up, though I am always juggling several books. I am trying to teach two books at a time in each of my classes, so it's a bit hectic. About to get easier, when I return to familiar territory in a few weeks.
I'll read it too!
Awesome!! This will definitely keep me on track
Yay! I'm excited for this. This will definitely keep me on track, too, since I have a bad habit of starting a bajillion books at a time and not making much progress with anything.
I'm on page 18! Haha
How's everyone doing?
Not very well. Plan on making up ground over the weekend, but between teaching, coaching baseball, and taking classes...no.
That's why I checked in!
Yeahhh, not super well. I'm only about 20 pages or so in. I've got this weekend almost completely free, though, so it's on!
I'm on page 26
Becca alerted me to this! maybe I'll join in! :D
do it!!
I started reading today
Nice!!
How many pages are you all reading tonight? I have 18 left!
do not read past here until finishing pages 1-100!
What did you all think?? What a cliff hanger to leave us on.
I'm not sure if I like Aomame or not yet but am definitely intrigued by time getting fuzzy for her. I like tengo and fuka-eri a lot and am excited to see who this professor is. I think it is awesome that it gets a little self referential near the end of this section...talking about reading long books and it taking time and stuff.
anyone still with me? haha
I'm with ya! Gonna add my input later tonight after practice or tomorrow morning!
Yes!!
I finally bought the book! I am on page 120... The parallel story reminds me of Kafka at the Shore.I think the writing in this is a little more refined though. I am interested in seeing how the two stories come together. Does 100 pages a month sound good for everyone?
Yeah!! I'm excited to see how they come together too!
What did you all think of the hotel bar scene? I thought it was still pretty male gaze-y even though it is from aomama's perspective.
Oh! And I thought it was funny he mentioned a bald census. Is it in the Windup Bird Chronicle where she is counting bald men?
Are we aiming for 200 by April 17?
Eh?
Yeah I can do it!
Woohoo!
How do you all like the book so far? I got all the way up to page 450!
Wow! I'm on like 217. I think it is great so far. And I'm happy to at least see the beginning of the Aomame/Tengo connection. I still feel the Aomame sex stuff is a little male gaze-ish, but I trust Murakami enough to ride it out and give him the benefit of the doubt for now.
Page 475! Anyone else still in? Whoa, it is getting crazy.
I'm on page 600 something! I really like it, can't give too much away though!
Haha,are we just gonna wait til we are either at the same place or til we're both done and then talk?
I'm still around page 200-something :( I definitely fell off on this one. I'll try and catch up!
It picks up! I think you can catch up!
I finished it like a couple weeks ago. The male gaze-y stuff definitely lessens. I was pretty entertained throughout. What page is everyone on?
880 something!
I just finished it! Ahhhh!
I just finished reading this. Finishing the book feels like waking up from a long dream I'll probably forget in a few hours. Carl Jung was obviously an influence, and the book had a strong mythic, dream-like quality to it, while still maintaining a solid groundedness in its way. It definitely takes a master novelist to maintain that for 1150 pages. While reading it I could feel the story working on me on a really deep archetypal level, like any good fantasy novel, but I still don't really get it. Anybody have any interpretations?
Also, how does it compare to Murakami's other books? This is the first I've read by him.
That'd a great way to describe finishing the book! I don't know if I "get" it either. I think you could definitely be right that it's kind of a subconscious thing it does to you. It is one of the more amazing love stories I've read I think
And I think this is pretty comparable to the style of his other books. You should really read Windup Bird Chronicle
I'm gonna dive head first in there with ya!