I savour every word Murakami writes, and I make a note of every recommendation he makes: in literature, music (often jazz or classical), food or otherwise. I've now read every one of his novels bar one (which sits on my shelf to be read imminently) with just two short story collections and three non-fictions left to devour.
Then, I shall start to re-read my favourite novels. In part, to better remember then, in part to understand them more deeply. I have long wondered what it is that so enamours me with his oeuvre, that I only discovered in 2019: I have theories but they are only impressionistic, like some of his writing. I plan to mull on this more, and perhaps explore in a dissertation as I reach the last year of English Literature my degree... we shall see.
In the mean time, I was greatful to read his musings here on writing, as I approach completion of a Year 2 Creative Writing module.
He writes on p 202 "Stories can exist as metaphors for reality, and people need to internalise new stories (and new systems of metaphor) in order to cope with an unfolding new reality" and perhaps this is part of what I have found in Murakami - I've fallen in love with his stories during a point of some major transformations in my life. Whatever the reasons, I hope Murakami lives a long life to still serve some more treasured gems for superfans as enthusiastic as I.