A live production of this novel, created by Stephen Earnhart, premiered at the Edinburgh International Festival in 2011. It is a story about a man whose wife goes missing and it discusses the boredom of our modern age. A film adaptation was released in 2010.Īfter Norwegian Wood, he released The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, to critical acclaim and monumental success. His 1987 book Norwegian Wood, a play on the Beatles song, is a sad tale about the struggle of mental health between young adults. Throughout his career, he has done very well. This is to say his work does not evoke a sense of nationalism or anything remotely resembling other traditionally successful Japanese writers. In his home country, Murakami has taken criticism from the Japanese government, which calls his work “un-Japanese”. He, much like Japan after the war, had a stiff obsession with Americana. Murakami’s parents were both teachers of literature and he was born in the post-WWII period of Occupied Japan.

He had said his main influence is Kurt Vonnegut, and given that author’s appetite for science fiction in his otherwise totally realistic novels, it is easy to see the connection between the two. Haruki Murakami is known for his understanding of Western culture, and it is perhaps this attention to detail that makes his books so compelling. It widely regarded as his best novel, and features magical realism and an alternate timeline story taking place in Tokyo in 1984. Haruki Murakami's book 1Q84 was released in three volumes from 2009 to 2010, with english releases in 2011. Featuring a dual storyline involving alternate timelines taking place in 1984, the book is a clever fantasy entry and praised the whole world over.

Though he has plenty of amazing books in his catalog, many consider his 2011 magical realist novel, 1Q84 his best.

Japanese author Haruki Murakami is one of the most beloved writers of the last 20 years in any country. Image Source: Wordpress Why People Read Haruki Murakami

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