In general, I liked this book. The style in which it was written is entertaining and thought-provoking. Especially the descriptions that seem so pointless, yet artistic and meaningful to the feel of the novel. They also conveyed certain emotions that were better left un-explicitly stated.
What I found frustrating about the book is its lack of point. The plot seemed pretty motivated throughout the book, but the ending seemed so abrupt and unconvincing.
The general anonymity of the characters was also intriguing. Actual names were rarely used, creating that sense of uncertainty.
I would definitely recommend this book. Even though there’s no clear moral, it’s a quick and interesting read.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Week 5
Overall I enjoyed this book; however, I wouldn’t call it one of my favorites. The book at first was very intriguing because it was so different from anything else I had read. As the book progressed, I found that it didn’t really hold my attention and I found myself rereading a lot. I didn’t like that the plot moved very slowly, even if it was slowed down by the amazing use of description by Murakami. At some points, it even took me several pages to realize that this certain event was a flashback and not in the present. Maybe I would have found this book much easier to understand if I had read the first book in this trilogy. Something that surprised me about the book was how much of it I could relate to my World History class. This includes how animals came to live in certain areas, the Meiji era and Marxist theories.
Despite the storyline somewhat lacking for me and the eventual annoyance of the main character not having a name, the book’s symbolism and unique perspective on life were definitely won me over. I would recommend this book to people for its beautiful language and insight, but with a warning of its uniqueness that has probably turned some people away.
Despite the storyline somewhat lacking for me and the eventual annoyance of the main character not having a name, the book’s symbolism and unique perspective on life were definitely won me over. I would recommend this book to people for its beautiful language and insight, but with a warning of its uniqueness that has probably turned some people away.
week 5
This book was an interesting read because it flowed in a different way that I had never experienced before. The fact that it did not have names for most characters was inspiring and showed me a different path to writing. I really enjoyed this book it had a unique perspective on life that is probably less work than mine so I might need to change that.
The perspective this book took was one of the strangest ones I have ever read. This main characters descriptions of objects, people, scenes, etc. were completely different and entertaining. They seemed to foreshadow the book subtly. If I were to read this book all over again I would try to focus more on the foreshadowing aspect in order to combat the slow pace. The book was interesting but the slow pace would have been annoying if the reader did not try to analyze the book while reading.
I would recommend this book to others in the beginning of the year. I picked beginning of the year because after reading it I was prepared for another school year, at least mentally if not physically. The mindset the reader has after reading this book is philosophical. Overall it was a great book that I would suggest to a more mature audience that likes to read and is interested in Japan.
The perspective this book took was one of the strangest ones I have ever read. This main characters descriptions of objects, people, scenes, etc. were completely different and entertaining. They seemed to foreshadow the book subtly. If I were to read this book all over again I would try to focus more on the foreshadowing aspect in order to combat the slow pace. The book was interesting but the slow pace would have been annoying if the reader did not try to analyze the book while reading.
I would recommend this book to others in the beginning of the year. I picked beginning of the year because after reading it I was prepared for another school year, at least mentally if not physically. The mindset the reader has after reading this book is philosophical. Overall it was a great book that I would suggest to a more mature audience that likes to read and is interested in Japan.
Week 5
This was a very unique and interesting book. I really enjoyed the book as a whole, but the ending left me quite confused. Murakami’s writing style is very intriguing with his many similes, unique characters and use of symbolism. This book really makes you think about the patterns of human nature and how we all relate to each other. I wonder if the wild sheep chase was symbolism for a much broader topic relating to human nature. The beginning of the book compelled me to hope that the main character would have a revelation in the end and find direction in his life, but this didn’t really happen. Though it did seem that the main character gained some self-confidence and realization in the end of the book. Staying in the house at the top of the mountain for many days seemed to help him clear his mind and his encounters with many odd characters helped him to realize something…though I am not quite sure what that was. I was very puzzled by the main character’s encounter with Rat, because, at first, I thought it was a dream, but events that occurred after that seemed to contradict this theory. Truthfully, I am not quite sure what to make of this book. I really enjoyed Murakami’s writing style, but the plot was just so weird. The beginning of the book seemed to have some promise, but the ending was so unfathomably…odd.
I would recommend this book to a friend because it was a pretty good book, and most of all, it made you think. This would be a great book for discussion because there are so many ways that you can interpret this book. Also, Murakami’s writing style makes it a quick read and the melding of reality with fiction make it very unique.
I would recommend this book to a friend because it was a pretty good book, and most of all, it made you think. This would be a great book for discussion because there are so many ways that you can interpret this book. Also, Murakami’s writing style makes it a quick read and the melding of reality with fiction make it very unique.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Reflections on A Wild Sheep Chase
In all honestly, I found it very difficult to get through this book. The lack of plot, and outward character relations really pushed me away at times. However, at the end of the book when the nameless girlfriend leaves, I really begin to respect the text. I saw true, honest to gosh emotion in the narrator. I was confused at the girlfriend- analyzing everything she had done the past few days to get any clues as to why she would get up and go. (Later we find out it has more to do with the Rat than anything). This moment really caught my attention- maybe for the first time in the entire book.
I saw the The lack of personal title to the characters added the effect of perplex vagueness, as impossible as that may seem. Perplex in that instead of picturing someone based on their title, we look at their actions, being much more difficult to analyze the characters throughout the novel. The only real titles we know are The Sheep Man, J, The Rat, and Sheep Professor. How vague. My overall reaction- well... the book seemed as if it had a simple plot, and then at the end it got quite complicated. I liked that, oddly enough.
I would really recommend this to a reader purely because it's such a different text then what we are used to. The characters, the plot, the culture, everything. It's an experience, rather than a read.
I saw the The lack of personal title to the characters added the effect of perplex vagueness, as impossible as that may seem. Perplex in that instead of picturing someone based on their title, we look at their actions, being much more difficult to analyze the characters throughout the novel. The only real titles we know are The Sheep Man, J, The Rat, and Sheep Professor. How vague. My overall reaction- well... the book seemed as if it had a simple plot, and then at the end it got quite complicated. I liked that, oddly enough.
I would really recommend this to a reader purely because it's such a different text then what we are used to. The characters, the plot, the culture, everything. It's an experience, rather than a read.
Post #5: Reaction
I don't quite know what to say about this book. At first, I was intrigued by it's uniqueness. The style is so different from anything I've ever read. But that got old quickly. I was soon bored by the slow pace the book seemed to be taking, and I had to force myself to keep reading. Had it not been a book I needed to finish for school, I probably would have stopped reading. That isn't to say that this book is without merit. I really like how the main character is nameless, I feel like that says so much more than any description of the character could have. I like the fact that this book was a mystery, but the path to find the answers was different from your classic mysteries.
I don't know if I would recommend this book to someone else. It wasn't a bad book, but it was nowhere near the top of my favorites list, either. It was kind of cool to read a book that is so different for what I've read before, but I didn't really enjoy it. I guess I wouldn't try to persuade someone out of reading this book, but I'm not running out to the book store to buy another book by the author, either.
I don't know if I would recommend this book to someone else. It wasn't a bad book, but it was nowhere near the top of my favorites list, either. It was kind of cool to read a book that is so different for what I've read before, but I didn't really enjoy it. I guess I wouldn't try to persuade someone out of reading this book, but I'm not running out to the book store to buy another book by the author, either.
Week 5 - Reaction
As a whole, this book was enjoyable.
The writing style was my favorite part. It was unique and at many times funny enough for me to smile to myself while reading. The similes were especially interesting, and the observations and theories of the main character were amusing.
The main trouble I had with this book was that I didn't feel like I totally understood it in the end. Even though the plot was adequately explained and the events leading to the climax were very straight-forward, the actually ending left me pretty much speechless. As in, I have no reaction to it nor an explanation for it.
This is the type of book where you have to be willing to accept whatever the author says, no matter how supernatural or down-right odd it is. This can be enjoyable at times and irritating at others.
I'd recommend people to read it mostly so that I could ask them what they thought it all meant.
The writing style was my favorite part. It was unique and at many times funny enough for me to smile to myself while reading. The similes were especially interesting, and the observations and theories of the main character were amusing.
The main trouble I had with this book was that I didn't feel like I totally understood it in the end. Even though the plot was adequately explained and the events leading to the climax were very straight-forward, the actually ending left me pretty much speechless. As in, I have no reaction to it nor an explanation for it.
This is the type of book where you have to be willing to accept whatever the author says, no matter how supernatural or down-right odd it is. This can be enjoyable at times and irritating at others.
I'd recommend people to read it mostly so that I could ask them what they thought it all meant.
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