LoT Book CLub - Book 2 - Wind Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami

Not Afraid · 08-15-2006, 03:01 PM

I think he becomes convinced that it is Komiko, as she can use the Komiko voice that he recognizes, but I don''t think it is obviously Komiko - unless you apply the concept or "other identy" to the book.

As far as the duel identities, this is a concept that Murakami uses over and over in his fiction. There is always the abstract concept of deality that is present in his characters but, often, there is a physical manifestation of this duality as well. For me as a reader, it makes for very complex and interesting characters with the added touch of "magical realism" that I personally love in fiction (Garcia Marquez, Allende, Kundera, Rushde, Borges - all favorites). Both parts of a characters identity are needed for an understanding of each character, and Murakami does a great job of exploring thise parts of each of his characters - although it is certainly not overt. I think, as readers, we know asmuch about both Toru's and Komiko's "other" side by the end of the book as we do about their worldly identity.

I think most human being with any desire to be thoughtful about their own identity wants to know more about the "core" of himself. Everyone can see what sort of face we put forth, physically, and others can oftentimes see the other "something" that is internal by a strong driving force, but we often cannot see this in ourselves. I am fascinated by Murakami's take on each characters search for their "whole" identity - the real world version and the internal core identity.

I've been thinking about the water elements and the use of the word "flow" throughout the book. Malta Kano comes into Toru's house early on and checks the water to see if there is a problem with flor. Throughout the book, there are water/flow references. They culminate and end after Toru beats and kills his "evil identity (Norubu Wataya) and the well begins filling up with water. At that point, the healthy "flow" of his life is restored once the blockage is removed. I know there are hundreds of such analogies within the book and I can tie this into the concept of the wind Up Bird as a representative of the flow of time. This will take further explaination on my part, but I am, still formulating this concept.

08-15-2006, 03:01 PM	#27
Not Afraid HI! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 17,108	I think he becomes convinced that it is Komiko, as she can use the Komiko voice that he recognizes, but I don''t think it is obviously Komiko - unless you apply the concept or "other identy" to the book. As far as the duel identities, this is a concept that Murakami uses over and over in his fiction. There is always the abstract concept of deality that is present in his characters but, often, there is a physical manifestation of this duality as well. For me as a reader, it makes for very complex and interesting characters with the added touch of "magical realism" that I personally love in fiction (Garcia Marquez, Allende, Kundera, Rushde, Borges - all favorites). Both parts of a characters identity are needed for an understanding of each character, and Murakami does a great job of exploring thise parts of each of his characters - although it is certainly not overt. I think, as readers, we know asmuch about both Toru's and Komiko's "other" side by the end of the book as we do about their worldly identity. I think most human being with any desire to be thoughtful about their own identity wants to know more about the "core" of himself. Everyone can see what sort of face we put forth, physically, and others can oftentimes see the other "something" that is internal by a strong driving force, but we often cannot see this in ourselves. I am fascinated by Murakami's take on each characters search for their "whole" identity - the real world version and the internal core identity. I've been thinking about the water elements and the use of the word "flow" throughout the book. Malta Kano comes into Toru's house early on and checks the water to see if there is a problem with flor. Throughout the book, there are water/flow references. They culminate and end after Toru beats and kills his "evil identity (Norubu Wataya) and the well begins filling up with water. At that point, the healthy "flow" of his life is restored once the blockage is removed. I know there are hundreds of such analogies within the book and I can tie this into the concept of the wind Up Bird as a representative of the flow of time. This will take further explaination on my part, but I am, still formulating this concept.
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