While wandering through the bookstore, I stumbled upon Haruki’s latest book. Although his novels are great, I personally adore his essays more. They’re like a breath of fresh air compared to the heavy, abstract works of other authors. His essays are light and diary-like, focusing on everyday episodes. Plus, his writing style is effortlessly sleek. They’re my go-to reads when I need something light. With so many essay collections out there – it makes you wonder when he even wrote his novels! ‘The Elephant Vanishes’ and ‘What I Talk About When I Talk About Running’ are my favorites when I’m feeling down – they’re absolute gems! 📚
Haruki often compiles his magazine essay columns into books, and this one is a collection of 18 columns he wrote over a year and a half. 📖
To cut to the chase, it wasn’t all that exciting. 😕
It felt as dull as ‘What’s There in Laos Anyway?’ or ‘The Scrap.’ However, I’m hesitant to say it won’t be enjoyable for first-time Haruki essay readers. It might just be my own familiarity with his writing that’s making it feel repetitive. Maybe I’ve grown tired of the recurring whiskey, jazz, and marathon metaphors. But I suspect there’s more to it than that. Let me delve deeper… 🎷🥃🏃
Indeed, jazz, whiskey, and marathons frequently pop up in Haruki’s essays, but they’re merely catalysts to unfold his stories. Even in light essays, there’s always a message, and he uses these elements to weave his tales smoothly. The insights were always fresh and novel. Not grand or groundbreaking, but within those few pages, they would shine brightly. Sadly, this work lacks that sparkle. It’s as if the essence is already set in stone with the t-shirts, and he must drive stories tied to each one, revolving around jazz, whiskey, and marathons. 👕
Furthermore, the special interview tacked on at the end – presumably to stretch the page count – was downright terrible. Those questions, seriously? Even a street performer could come up with something more entertaining. 🎤
Yet, newcomers might find it delightful. The book isn’t too thick, so you might breeze through it while standing in the bookstore. I do feel a tad sorry for the publisher who must’ve paid a hefty royalty… but hey! 🤷♂️
Leave a Reply