Dance Dance Dance by Haruki Murakami - Book Chat

[@pier1997]

This book really captivated me, mostly because of it’s open ending. This work needs time to be digested and brings lots of food for tought. I personally found two main themes. The first one his the refusal of capitalism and materialism, which is represented with the figure of Gotanda and Ame. Gotanda litterally is the product of modern society. He’s beautiful and always acts perfect to please those around him, but after realizing that fame and money don’t bring happiness he ultimately lives alone and depressed. Ame is in a similar situation. She’s extremely talented, but she’s also an extreme egomaniac. She keeps forgetting everyone and everything around her, but after the death of the one-armed poet ultimately falls in deep depression after realizing that she couldn’t even build a relationship with her own doughter. Also the expression “shoveling snow”, a tedious and repetitive act that must be done, the metaphor for working. In today society we must work to stay alive, there’s just no other way. The other theme is the intrinsic life reflection that Murakami does along the entire story. The protagonist was fundamentally a delusional guy, abandoned by everyone, and stayed still inside a limbo for far too long. Finally he starts dancing again (which is living) and with the pretext of his disappeared ex girlfriend starts connecting with all these characters that ultimately intertwine between eachother. It’s worth nothing that at the end of the story each new character abandon him exactly like happened to him in the past. Gotanda kills himself, the poet dies in an accident, Kiki is presumed dead, Yuki gives him a last goodbye. But when everything seems lost, at least one last person, the receptionist Yumiyoshi, reassures him that she’ll stay by his side. Than finally the protagonist, which understands that during this long dance he lost dear ones and will lose people in the future (because it’s the intrinsic consequence of living), has a breakthrough and pledges his love to Yumiyoshi. Promises her that he’ll move to Sapporo and start a new life togheter. Like Murakami says we’re gliding through two doors which are life and death, the room with the skeletons are the material reminder of all the people who left us, and the last skeleton is an omen foreshadowing that sooner or later will be our time to. So in the meanwhile we must connect, live, move and not wait for things to come by themselves. Personally now, when I meet a new person, instead of staying quiet I always try to speak one more word. You never know if behind that face there could be a new story. Better to life a life full of connections that a life full of regrets when it will be too late.

[@drewwaves]

Thank u for this beautiful comment.....u have no idea how much i need to hear this....the perfect closure i desperately need...bless u whoever u are...if u ever see this reply 🙏🏻

[@curioushmm9027]

can never have too much murakami as far as i'm concerned...loved wild sheep and dance dance..and your quoting felt like a blessing!

[@parkerrose3590]

I watched this Chat before and after I read the book and loved it. I just finished Dance, dance, dance after reading all of the "Rat Series". I have read other HM books, but so far I think I liked this book the best.

[@EarnestlyEston]

That's wonderful! I think Hard Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World is still my favorite but I really liked Dance Dance Dance as well.

[@parkerrose3590]

@@EarnestlyEston I'll be reading Hard Boil Wonderland in the near future.

[@Jinke888]

Thanks for the review, great novel

[@ericacusnariov1651]

that quote was so good that feels like i don’t even need to read the book now ahah 10:20

[@dargeni2]

Thanks for that extract at 10:10 . My favourite one

[@EarnestlyEston]

Thanks so much! It's a fav of mine as well :)

[@lilliannieswender266]

Hi Eston. I have read a few books by Murakami, but he is one of those authors I really can't get into. I haven't read this book, but your review intrigued me, so I might give him another chance. It always amazes me how much you get from the books you read, thank you so much for sharing you insights with us. Have a good February Eston.

[@EarnestlyEston]

Hi Lillian! A friend of mine decided to read "A Wild Sheep Chase" after I chatted it awhile back and I was sure that she was going to hate it based on what I knew of her reading preferences but she ended up really liking it! This is one of the reasons that I never pick books or boyfriends/girlfriends for people as I'm often wrong about my assumptions...haha. However, one part of the book that she felt was annoying, I really liked so no two people ever read a book the same, right?

[@J0zB]

👋🏻

[@EarnestlyEston]

Hi Debby!

[@EveryoneWhoReadsitMustConverse]

Nice, I have yet to read Murakami but, have 'after hours' on my shelf waiting. Do you recommend? I like weird fiction (Jeff Vandermeer and such) so what ev. You do great reviews, thanks!

[@EarnestlyEston]

I haven't read that one.. do you mean "After Dark"? (which I also haven't read yet). I haven't ever read any Jeff Vandermeer and really need to get some of his stuff on my infinitely expanding reading list for this year :) Thanks!

[@EveryoneWhoReadsitMustConverse]

@@EarnestlyEston yes, after dark, of course... :P

[@ciara-cn9zu]

I have read after dark , I would say it’s a good book. It’s a lot shorter. And definitely more contemporary than fantastical. But I read it in one go and was happy I read it. I went into it a bit blind and I think I enjoyed it that way. So I would recommend the same 😊

[@EveryoneWhoReadsitMustConverse]

@@ciara-cn9zu it's on! Now I am looking forward to it :D thank you