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

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

Spoiler:

But, to me the entire Mamiya story is so prophetic to Toru's own story and had such a profound effect on what he end up doing I find it hard to separate the two at times.

I don't think you're meant to separate them. It was a very effective parallel.

Spoiler:

The man with no face? Is this his own pasivity that he doesn't listen to at certain times?

I guess I thought that was supposed to be his brother in-law. I'll have to reread some of this myself!

[€uroMeinke]

Originally Posted by Eliza Hodgkins 1812

I guess I thought that was supposed to be his brother in-law. I'll have to reread some of this myself!

Spoiler:

I think the man without a face is Toru - especially after rereading this quote from Malta (which is later repeated by Toru in his thoughts):
(page 282)

To know one's own state is not a simple matter. One cannot look directly at one's own face with one's own eyes, for example. One has no choice but to look at one's reflection in the mirror. Through experience, we come to believe that the image is correct, but that is all.

in other words, Toru's true self has no face - or at least cannot be seen by him.

[€uroMeinke]

And to combine Lisa nad my last posts - aren't they yin and Yang - when one feels good the other bad, etc.? I know there's a quote in there about that and it seems they cannot coexist in the same world.

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

Originally Posted by €uroMeinke

Spoiler:

I think the man without a face is Toru - especially after rereading this quote from Malta (which is later repeated by Toru in his thoughts):
(page 282)


in other words, Toru's true self has no face - or at least cannot be seen by him.

Spoiler:

My bad. I was confusing the faceless man with the unidentified antagonist (definitely the brother) who was keeping his wife in the room. I momentarily forgot about the faceless man. The bodiless voice of Komiko is the perfect balance to Toru's faceless counterpart in the well-world. I was confusing myself.

I didn't read this book all that long ago but I've read about five since, so I'm already forgetting important details.

[tracilicious]

Originally Posted by Eliza Hodgkins 1812

Spoiler:

My bad. I was confusing the faceless man with the unidentified antagonist (definitely the brother) who was keeping his wife in the room. I momentarily forgot about the faceless man. The bodiless voice of Komiko is the perfect balance to Toru's faceless counterpart in the well-world. I was confusing myself.

Me too. I need to reread it and I just read it!

[tracilicious]

Originally Posted by Eliza Hodgkins 1812

I guess I thought that was supposed to be his brother in-law. I'll have to reread some of this myself!

As did I.