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!

[Not Afraid]

I don't have any idea if my own thoughts are based in any sort of reality, but I'm ok with that.

Here's where I had the thoughts about the man with no face:

Spoiler:

p242, The place was filled with people straining to catch every word that Noboru Wataya spoke. I cut across the lobby and headed straight for a corridor that connected with the guest rooms. The faceless man was standing there. As I approached, he looked at me with that faceless face of his. Then, soundlessly, he moved to block my way.

"This is the wrong time," he said. "You don't belong here now."

But the deep, slashing pain from Noboru Wataya now urged me on. I reached out and pushed the faceless man aside. He wobbled like a shadow and fell away."

This is the second time (the first being when he tell off Norobu in the restaurant) Toru actually acts on something rather than just being completely passive about it.

But, the idea of the faceless man representing Norubu deserves some thought.

[€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.

[Nephythys]

Ok- I won't make the deadline- but I put a reserve on it at the library- should get it this weekend or sooner.

I'll watch closer for the next one-

[tracilicious]

Spoiler:

I found it interesting that May Kasahara's other self also presented itself to him in the well, but not in the dreamworld. The first time he went in it seemed to be the other May that locked him down there. Then when the well was filling up the other May looked down at him to talk to him. Why is the other her above the well, and not inside the dreamworld?

[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.

[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.

[Not Afraid]

I've read so many of his books now, that I find myself getting the characters and events somewhat confused. There are definitely certain themes and "characters" that appear on many of his books. There's usually a cat or 2 as well. Of course, I'm rather fond of cats myself.

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

I've read so many of his books now, that I find myself getting the characters and events somewhat confused. There are definitely certain themes and "characters" that appear on many of his books. There's usually a cat or 2 as well. Of course, I'm rather fond of cats myself.

Spoiler:

I loved what the missing cat represented, and what it meant when the cat finally returned home.