The City and its Uncertain Walls by Haruki Murakami - Review

[@CrescentandJasmine]

Really enjoyed your review. It seems we had a lot of the same takes. Just finding your channel. Great stuff! Cheers

[@eha440]

With each book he writes, he becomes more and more Murakami Haruki

[@angussinclair1344]

Great review - can't wait to pick this one up! Would be super cool to see you put a top-ten reads of the year or something at the end of the year!

[@rororeads]

I normally do :)

[@bookmark_kl]

It felt a rehashed version/extended version of "wonderland". But yeah as usual, very readable.

[@BookishTexan]

How thematically different do you think the book is than The Wind Up Bird Chronicle? Structurally there seem to be a number of similarities.

[@rororeads]

Both novels grapple with inner and outer worlds…I’d say The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle is more grounded in personal and historical trauma, whereas The City and Its Uncertain Walls explores the metaphysical boundaries between isolation and connection. City is much more abstract I reckon.

[@BookishTexan]

@ Thank you!

[@takecarealwaysforever3379]

same sentiments

[@Paromita_M]

Hmm feels a bit samey doesn't it. I'm a bit wary of Murakami - I liked Norwegian Wood and didn't like Kafka on the Shore. 1Q84 was an early DNF, but that could have been a mood thing. Very nice and helpful review.

[@tyghe_bright]

What? A Murakami novel where the female character was a bit thin?

[@IvanWebster-w8j]

Please bear with a curious non-Brit. What does "naff" mean? Nutty? Nonsensical?

[@rororeads]

@@IvanWebster-w8j poor quality

[@IvanWebster-w8j]

@@rororeads Thanks. I continue to enjoy your reviews. You won't thank me for adding a provocative question: What do you make of the "Orbital" Booker win? Sorry.

[@FrankOdonnell-ej3hd]

I’ve been trying to get into 19Q4 or 1Q84 for some time now but have had to put it aside for now. I heard Norwegian Wood was a lot easier and more conventional so may give it a shot before trying anything else plus I’ve always liked that Beatles song. Since you say this one is heavy on exposition and fantasy I have to say no. The only fantasy stuff I can stand is Lord of the Rings which I read as a kid and The Golden Compass (Northern Lights to you). And as for exposition one thing I can’t stand at my age is someone who can’t get to the point. But I like KD too though wouldn’t go so far as to call him my lord and master haha. ⚛❤

[@sauravsikdar9649]

Will Murakami ever get a Nobel?

[@rororeads]

@@sauravsikdar9649 I don’t think he will.

[@SeanBroussard-dz5zg]

Incredibly unlikely. The Nobel has nothing to do with popularity. Look back over previous winners and you'll see that winners tend to be overlooked writers.

[@sauravsikdar9649]

@@SeanBroussard-dz5zg except perhaps Kazuo Ishiguro

[@thisisveryannoying]

Is it a sequel or recycling of Hardboiled Wonderland?

[@sophie201201]

I definitely hope not. Most of his books are the same story rewritten over and over again and the way he writes women is atrocious. There are many wonderful authors out there who get very little recognition.