Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage by Haruki Murakami

Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage is a coming-of-age novel that tells the story of Tsukuru Tazaki, a Japanese railroad engineer haunted by a great loss.
When his close-knit group of friends abruptly cuts all relationships with him, a young Tsukuru is left depressed and without answers. Years later, Tsukuru attempts to reconcile with his old friends, embarking on a quest for truth and a pilgrimage for happiness. Throughout the novel, Murakami explores themes of identity, friendship, alienation, and mental health.
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).
- The novel explores deep themes of identity, friendship, alienation, and mental health.
- Murakami's unique style is captivating and draws me into his storytelling.
- The book has a brilliant yet strange quality that keeps me engaged.
- Murakami's weirdness may alienate some readers.
- I can't recommend his books to anyone due to their unconventional nature.
- Without the weirdness, the magic of his storytelling might be lost.