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dragonsandfoxes's review against another edition
3.0
Kitap akıp gitti ama baby boomer jenerasyonundan bir erkek size ne kadar relevant gelirse bana da o kadar relevant geldi. Kendini bu kadar övmesine göz devirmekten bir hal oldum.
blackhousecat's review against another edition
4.0
As a creative person, I found this book to be incredibly inspiring, and as a Murakami fan, I found it to be a very interesting and personal look into his process and ideas about writing. If you’ve read “What I talk about, when I talk about running”, you’ll have heard some of these thoughts expressed before.
mycupofstory's review against another edition
3.0
Murakami used to be my “fresh breeze” back in the day. He was the ultimate source of joy and originality in literature—my Beatles. I devoured his books voraciously, utterly enchanted by his unique storytelling.
Years later, metaphorically speaking, I find myself seated next to him at a dinner party, but somehow the spark in our conversation is missing. We don’t have much in common. I’m no fan of baseball, his music references fly right over my head, and even if jazz intrigued me a little, I couldn’t contribute meaningfully to our discussion. Maybe these interests, which added an enjoyable touch of spice to his books, now dominate the conversation, and my attention begins to waver.
When I ask him about his writing, his answers aren’t particularly exciting either. But what did I expect? Naturally, his responses are a bit like those lackluster answers to questions about the secret of any success: consistency and grit. True as they may be, they inevitably disappoint anyone hoping for a more intriguing, profound answer.
The dinner is, of course, perfectly fine—polite and pleasant, but more of a formality than a life-changing experience.
Still, as I walk away, I wonder: have I really changed this much, or has his originality worn off over time (which, in fact, is the natural lifecycle of originality)? Maybe it’s time to revisit his stories to see if the magic still lingers there. Because, after all, a writer’s works can also exist as more exciting and colourful beings, entirely separate from their creator.
Tomorrow, I’ll walk into a bookshop and pick up his latest work. I’m curious to see how it resonates with me now, in light of this imaginary dinner that his essay collection provided.
Years later, metaphorically speaking, I find myself seated next to him at a dinner party, but somehow the spark in our conversation is missing. We don’t have much in common. I’m no fan of baseball, his music references fly right over my head, and even if jazz intrigued me a little, I couldn’t contribute meaningfully to our discussion. Maybe these interests, which added an enjoyable touch of spice to his books, now dominate the conversation, and my attention begins to waver.
When I ask him about his writing, his answers aren’t particularly exciting either. But what did I expect? Naturally, his responses are a bit like those lackluster answers to questions about the secret of any success: consistency and grit. True as they may be, they inevitably disappoint anyone hoping for a more intriguing, profound answer.
The dinner is, of course, perfectly fine—polite and pleasant, but more of a formality than a life-changing experience.
Still, as I walk away, I wonder: have I really changed this much, or has his originality worn off over time (which, in fact, is the natural lifecycle of originality)? Maybe it’s time to revisit his stories to see if the magic still lingers there. Because, after all, a writer’s works can also exist as more exciting and colourful beings, entirely separate from their creator.
Tomorrow, I’ll walk into a bookshop and pick up his latest work. I’m curious to see how it resonates with me now, in light of this imaginary dinner that his essay collection provided.
johnnyscifo's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
For fans of Murakami, this is an interesting sojourn into his life and process. More memoir than a tool for aspiring writers. Some subjects are specific to a Japanese audience, but there are gems inside for everyone.
kteadotnet's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
3.5
Not my favorite from him but he shared pretty good insights on his process behind writing a novel.
jenuwill's review against another edition
4.0
It is always a delight to have a peek into Murkami's intricate mind. The nuances of this thoughts and his ability to articulate the nooks and crannies of his brain.
lynnafraser's review against another edition
2.0
This is a series of personal essays about the life of a writer written in an easy-going, conversational style. Despite moments of interest, I found the writing quite repetitive and unengaging. I only needed to be told once that he didn’t win a particular literary prize and that he didn’t care - it didn’t bear repeating and a whole essay on the subject. Maybe this is one for hardcore fans, rather than those looking for insight into writing and the business of writing more generally.
aoaooooooolol's review against another edition
5.0
This book is like a guiding light, showing Murakami’s dedication to life and creativity. He keeps exploring originality and his unique style while staying calm and focused despite the push and pull between creative freedom and outside expectations. Even though the struggles and solitude of creation are clear, his honesty and passion really resonate with me.