Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman by Haruki Murakami

Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman

Blind Willow Sleeping Woman is a collection of 24 short stories by Japanese author Haruki Murakami. The book explores a handful of themes that are common in Murakami’s works, including silence, memory, pain, deja vu, and time – all of which are invisible. The ideas of the French phenomenologist, Maurice Merleau-Ponty, are also evident in this book.

The stories in Blind Willow Sleeping Woman reflect the narrative skill and favorite themes of this successful writer. Darkness lurks everywhere, and the characters are often haunted by their pasts. The book starts in a moment suspended in time and paralyzed in space before the narrator is physically transported to a world promising new phenomena. One that remains unseen for the narrator – one that remains unseen for the reader.

Murakami examines many of the prominent themes readers have come to expect from him—love, loss, spirituality, dreams, the power of music, redemption, and sexual identity—but he also further investigates Japan’s World War II heritage, the notion of reality, and the authority of prophecy, fate, and nature.

What I Liked

I really don’t know – I’ve read every book that Murakami has written and I still can’t put my finger on why. There’s something – it’s a weird mix of setting, character, and something that draws me to read all of his books. Same with this one. It’s brilliant, but strange.

What I Did Not Like

Ok. Murakami is weird. Like really, really weird. I don’t think I can recommend any of his books to anyone. So, I don’t like that. But I also don’t think he can be any less weird without losing some of his books’ magic (they do a lot of magical realism anyway).

Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman by Haruki Murakami
$12.99
In Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman, Haruki Murakami presents a collection of 24 short stories that dive into themes like memory, pain, and the elusive nature of time. I appreciated how Murakami’s signature narrative style shines through, with characters grappling with their haunting pasts and the strange intricacies of life. While I find his work brilliant yet bizarre, I also struggle with how to recommend it to others—his weirdness is off-putting but essential to his charm. Overall, it’s a captivating read, but definitely not for everyone.
Pros:
  • The collection showcases Murakami's narrative skill.
  • The themes resonate with readers familiar with his work.
  • The book is described as brilliant and intriguing.
Cons:
  • Murakami's weirdness may alienate some readers.
  • I can't recommend his books to anyone.
  • There's a risk that reducing his weirdness could diminish the magic of the stories.
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02/14/2025 01:06 am GMT
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