I Finally Read Murakami | VLOG

[@alihakim4625]

recently discovered this channel and now i am addicted to it, especially how with ease charu reviews the books

[@naira8315]

Everything you said about the book was exactly the way i was feeling when i first read the book 3 years back. Murakami had just disappointed me beyond belief. Then after one more underwhelming experience with another one of his books, i finally picked up the right one - Kafka on the Shore. I cannot stress enough how unbelievably incredible that piece of work is. Kafka was soon followed up many of his other works like Wind-up bird chronicle, Men without women and each of those proved more and more of his genius to me. Murakami has finally ended up being one of my very few favorite contemporary writers whom i read religiously (because i mostly cannot stand contemporary fiction). Just pick the right book is all I'd say and i promise that man is as worth reading as Proust :)

[@KavyaSingh-k8v]

japanese media is very good at showing tension at places, jahan koi tukk nahi banta hai. Thank you, Charu. I finally have some words to express what I feel while consuming japanese movies or literature.

[@samyaaaak]

I also felt the same way

[@lakhminarayansahoo6753]

But I think these tensions make it feel more emotional and make you remember that instance for a long time. Any thoughts?

[@amaanmaniyar002]

I too thought initially that kafka on the shore is going to be a long read, but after crossing 20 pages i didmt even realise i was halfway through with it. I finished it in just 2 days. My fav scene from the book is where miss saeki is reminiscing about the painting and how there's an eerie correlation between kafka and miss saeki.

[@siddhant1947]

Started Murakami with norwegian wood too, I think I ended up liking it more because it's a bit more grounded and antithetical to something like Kafka on the shore or the average Murakami novel. The problematic portrayal of women runs as a common thread but I did feel that the magical realism being minimal added to the experience rather than diminishing it, it was ever so slightly disorienting while still being grounded in reality. This review hit the nail on the head with regards to the fact that the experience will vastly differ depending upon where the reader is in their own life, or what their literature consumption has been. I feel like this only gets exaggerated with his other books imo. There is a moral push and pull which is palpable but that added to the impact this had when I finished it. Great review!

[@Philosopher420]

I've also completed "Kafka on the store" recently. Completed "Norwegian wood" last year and I'm in love with Midori since then.

[@rimachatterjee5440]

I feel Norwegian Woods is not the first Murakami book anyone should read. But it should be Kafka on the shore. I also remember getting very uncomfortable, irritated and angry while reading this book. And till this date I don't feel very good and have no liking for this book, yet there is some sort of element in this book which I can't explain. It has very strong writing and captivates you in certain trance. Only and only because of the writing that I later picked up Kafka and to my relief it was much better for me. Surely it also had demeaning characters but it was more likeable than the first one.

[@nainadhingra10]

Beautiful shots in the beginning we need more such content!!

[@FilmyBaateinWithAzeem]

Kafka on the Shore is one of my all-time favorite Books. Loved to read it

[@bookishly.yours.kanika]

Thank you Charu for sharing your honest opinions about the book. I also read it this year only. I'll be honest. It has been a sort of disappointing read for me. But, I have to agree with you on the imagery part. The two best parts of the book for me have been its imagery and beautiful quotes. My disappointment for the most part, I believe, stemmed from the fact that I could not resonate with its characters. Maybe, I will also share a review for this one on my channel. Now, you have sort of given me a nudge.

[@nandishhegde9025]

If you're reading Murakami for the first time, please start with short stories and preferably a physical book too.

[@priyachauhan07]

Keep shining charu!!🥰

[@shaikaabidali3491]

It's always a delight watching you talk about books charu..🥰 You got me into reading.. Thank you ❤

[@shantanudixit9273]

I completely agree with each & every word spoken. Felt the same, went through the same realisation, another good one is sputnik sweetheart. I also finished South of the border, west of the sun on audible.. it’s completely forgettable. I had to think so hard to remember which one was it, not audible’s fault but it is just the story, felt so repetitive. Grief, sex, jazz, unrequited love, mediocre boys growing into obsessive men are all his books. I feel all the short stories are way better since they have different themes or just offer something new/different altogether than his usual take on life, but amongst his novels if youve read 3-4 of the good ones then thats about it. It still makes a good career graph as a writer but yeah.. nothing that I can take from them and keep with me. He’s someone I’ll read when I want to rather indulge in jazz, grief, and sex.

[@Akriti_1999]

Hey Charu! You make such beautiful content...Thank you for your efforts...Even if I am doing something, I listen to your videos like music😁 If you can, please make a video on hindi language books you have read or some good books you read this year...✨

[@adweitaspams]

this was very pleasant to watch. well made. keep it coming

[@lesfakngo]

Charu ji, I'm reading Samsa in love and your notification came.

[@yoginipandit25]

3:55 it was a good review because it was an honest review ✨

[@646mayank]

I don’t know if this is just me or I noticed a shift in the overall editing in this video which felt kind of welcoming and more conversational.

[@KimMingyu-i6r]

2:45-2:56 this is SO true. had Colleen Hoover been a man, the audience would've been a lot more forgiving to the extent of glorifying her and her works.

[@saina1O1]

Can't agree more..good work bro

[@shub576]

‘South of the border west of the sun’ is good read if you’re starting murakami

[@Dhirajwaghmare-gt1qx]

I don't think the book is about a love story or a Lust story; it is more about a life story, and yeah, the way he writes intimacy is awkward and uncomfortable, and the way he portrays female characters is problematic. These are the only flaws I find in Murakami's books other than that he is a magician; as you said, "Murakami makes you smell the rain." Norwegian wood doesn't come under the magical realism books like Kafka on the Shore that Murakami is known for; it is more of a realism

[@thatfilmyguy_]

Best thing i saw today ❤

[@maliha3921]

I recently read “kafka on the shore” ( I finished it 5 days ago ) , it was my first Murakami book . I loved the writing it was beautiful, i loved every chapter with nakata ( one of the characters) but i feel like it wasn’t for me . I didn’t like the weird s*x scenes 🥲, and very problematic relationship dynamics, which sometimes did disgust me 🥲. I also didn’t like how the certain elements of the plot were just dropped and never really carried forward . I liked the ending. The first 200 pages were slow but very interesting and I thought i was gonna love this book but that wasn’t the case. I think if it would’ve been a tad bit shorter ( around 400 -450 pages ) , with a lot less weird s*x scenes, and with a stronger plot , i’d have loved it !

[@praveendhoundiyal9635]

I have same thought on this book, it is also my first Murakami book

[@Abhishek-gf5sx]

Murakami is my favourite author💖💖

[@Summerblur]

Of course he is cuz he objectifies women

[@kaustabchakraborty9136]

I would not suggest Norwegian wood to a Murakami virgin. Maybe start with something light like After Dark or Sputnik Sweetheart.

[@idkttasmea]

I've read Kafka on the shore, Norwegian wood and then Sputnik sweetheart, but Sputnik sweetheart is the book I liked the most

[@Archis_Anupam]

I read Murakami and for all intents and purposes it's not as deep as it promises to be. Kafka On the Shore is very pretentious. Murakami's treatment to female characters are extremely weak. Norwegian Wood was slightly better all things considered but there parts where Murakami doesn't understand the emotional depth of the character he creates and goes extremely sensual and sexual. The world building on the other hand is awesome. Magical realism is extremely well done in his writings. I won't recommend this to anyone, there are far better books to read and learn.

[@KejriwalBhakt]

Tell me 5 books to read and learn. PS : I despise fiction.

[@AshutoshDhamale]

For me the magical realism aspect is the main part he is pretentious of. When I read Norwegian wood, I could not judge based on gender, but the way he depicted the loneliness made me feel insecure

[@aditirandhe42]

Initially I was highly disappointed by this book and I did not get what was the hype about. And now as I look back I remember every small detail about the characters and YESS Murakami does make a smell rain.❤

[@rupeshghode8410]

True

[@sanjairaj3532]

I wish I could read Norwegian woods and Kafka on the shore for the first time again

[@abhiishhekk]

With time, I have realized that Murakami's writing, despite all its glory and mystique for which he is rightfully famous and praised, is also somewhat unnecessarily problematic or poorly written when it comes to portraying women. He seems to perceive them as "men with breasts." I don’t know how to explain it, but all that eroticism, when compared to the feel and vibe of a Colleen Hoover school of writing, makes my opinion of him a bit too strong in my own eyes. I love how and what he writes-that sense of *“Yeh kya ho gaya... yeh kyun hua...”* is very strong and often overshadows most of the flaws. However, I still feel a certain nudge of discomfort about this aspect of his work. I’m not sure if it’s just reflective of how older Japanese men are, or if it’s something very unique to him.

[@abhiishhekk]

men with breasts flow flow mein zada hogaya but still... i stand with what i say.

[@999og]

Charu, I haven't read Murakami yet. You are not alone 😂😂❤

[@lohit8982]

Wow.! Cant believe you put Collin Hoover and Murakami in a same sentence!!😢

[@abhigyanprakash17]

Hi Charu, Love your work Please read After Dark Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage These are also great, might give a different pov on Murakami😅

[@RohanKumar-wu9rk]

+1Q84

[@aaliaamariyam9291]

Same same i agreeeee on it.

[@rajanijayaraman5960]

Please make a video of talking about books such as - The Kite Runner , A Man called Ove and The Stationery shop of Tehran.

[@Anandssr2114]

We want vanni😊

[@roshansarashetti8701]

You have read the wrong book. Try wind up bird chronicle, you will know what murakami is

[@koshal4med]

😅 can relate

[@divyanshpandey2838]

I would have treated you comfortable ( in good way)

[@AG-xq3ut]

Marry me, I'll bring lots of books for you. the way you talk about the books makes me happy.

[@manjit2990]

Watanbe. i read this long back.

[@chiragmajumder1717]

Anyone with a Proust recommendation? Specially something on death and grief that Charu is talking about in the video

[@vin9021]

I am trying hard to get kindle but kahi mil hi nahi rahi

[@tejaswininaik6526]

@charu can you tell me the name of the book you described where Proust talks of grief and loss ?

[@user-rohitt]

From where to buy kindle? can you please recommend me any option?

[@Anachin37]

Why start with Norwegian woods for getting into Murakami?

[@ommaurya6693]

Can you plzx tel me the book about marcel that you like the ot where he written the sorrow of 50 pages plz

[@sw-wb5qb]

the only issue with his writing seems to be the lack of thought he puts into the female charcaters. i stopped reading kafka on the shore half way through because the way he objectifies them. it just made me super uncomfortable. i wanted to give his other books a chance but apparently they've the same issue too.

[@snehapradhan5591]

I agree, I don't get the hype either

[@Feyenoord101]

2:24 Character pronunciation is jarring.

[@anamika_1248]

I tried Kafka on the Shore…really tried. But it was such a slow burner…I couldn’t take it. Half way through I gave up. I don’t get it…why so much hype for Murakami?!

[@abhayxo]

whats wrong w the teeth?