after the quake*
In 1995, earthquake shook Kobe, Japan. The disaster and resulting tragedy shook people who lived in the affected area, and those who did not. “after the quake” is a collection of six stories about people who did not live in Kobe. And, this is the beauty of the book.
Haruki Murakami writes about the stranded husband of a woman who is traumatized by the disaster that hit an area where none of her dear ones live. He writes about a teenage girl who befriends a middle aged man and discovers the shared fascination for bonfires; bonfires that represent life. Murakami writes about a middle aged business woman who is vacationing in Thailand, trying to heal the wounds inflicted by her childhood lover. He writes about a super frog who decides to save Tokyo from an approaching disaster, with the help of hardworking insurance agent. He also writes about a youth torn between the adversities of life, an ignorantly aphrodisiacal mother, and search for his father. And, he writes (my favorite piece) about a silent lover, who ends up as a caring and gentle friend to his love, and her daughter.
All these stories are loosely connected to the earthquake. It is there in the backdrop. It has affected all the characters and most of them do not realize this. The stories talk of loss, yearning, bizarre quests, loneliness, and love. The quake details are minimal…may be nonexistent. Murakami manages to seep in the vastness of the disaster by building full characters and describing their inappropriateness.
The words are simple, yet the stories are transfixing and mystical. Murakami gives a surreal touch to all events and leaves the interpretation up to the reader. The reader breezes through the pages but is intoxicated in the end. Once you finish reading the book, you begin thinking. You cannot escape this.
* Murakami wishes that his book’s title should be all lower case. I like his book. I respect his wish.
6/5/2005
High Fidelity
Funny. Honest. Cute. Wise. Charming. Unputdownable.
High Fidelity is a story about a thirty-something British guy (Yes, a guy, not a man. You know the difference, right?), who owns a record store, collects records for his personal home collection, makes tapes for people, and has a fucked up love life. Let me rephrase, High Fidelity is a story of Rob, a guy with no life. Only, he thinks differently. Or maybe not. People have opinions, he has lists. For everything that happens in any given day, he makes a list. His girlfriend dumps him, he makes a list. His records don’t sell, he makes a list. His friends forget his birthday, he makes a list. His girlfriend’s father dies, well, he makes a list. If you are a girl, you don’t like Rob. But you know he is true and want him to be happy. If you are a guy, you relate to him, at one level or another.
Nick Hornby writes as we think in our heads – in simple, honest words. The conversation is sharp, the jokes are funny, and there is compassion. This book is not a work of super imagination, at least not a complete work of super imagination. Author’s deep insight into the shallowness of human nature makes me sure that the story is weaved from the experiences collected over time.
Hornby has done a great job of smoothly interlacing umpteen references to music with the story. Not even once does the mention of songs hinder the flow of the story. In fact, the story uses the songs to step forward. Another notable element is the strong characterization. Each character, however short its role may be, is depicted with such clarity and conviction that it comes alive in the reader’s head. I know Barry; I know Marie; I know Ray; I also know Rosy – the simultaneous orgasm, pain-in-the-arse girl. And yes, I love Hornby’s witty phrases.
So if you are looking for a charming, easy-to-read, out-and-out fun book about a man’s journey to getting sorted out, pick up High Fidelity.
