After the Quake ~Haruki Murakami
–2002
–147 pages, Vintage Books
–4/5 stars
[Note: The Jan-Ai Scholarship Drive will conclude with a forthcoming interview with artist Anne-Julie Aubry. Technical difficulties have caused this drive to extend beyond the originally planned week. In the meantime I need to start catching up with a long list of overdue book and movie reviews. Don’t adjust your sets.]
Murakami… the name is and has been hot on the lips of internet book bloggers for some time now. In addition my friend Cameron has often sang his praises at our weekly comic shop gatherings. And yet I was reluctant. Partially because of the fear of reading his work and not being as impressed by it as many others have been. It is never pleasant to go tell someone that one of their favorite authors/books just didn’t do it for you. Never.
Yet honesty in book talk is highly valued and I would never feel good about myself if I didn’t tell it to you straight. Credibility and integrity must be prized. And so I stayed away from Haruki Murakami. Until last Thursday, that is…
Last Thursday, after Wanted (reviewed here), Cameron, Jeff and I strolled over to Barnes and Noble–just to browse, naturally. In the course of conversation I asked Cameron to give his recommendation of where I should start with Murakami, if I was to do so. In no time at all Cameron, with the fire of Murakami passion in his eyes, had returned with a book–After the Quake. His enthusiasm, coupled with the fact that I was only committing myself to 147 pages of reading (and mention of a giant frog), was infectious and I found myself laying fear aside so that I could take my first Murakami home.
I am glad I did.
As odd as it may sound, I am having a hard time putting my thoughts on this collection of short stories into words. Let me begin by saying that there is a thread that binds, however loosely, all six of these tales together–the 1995 earthquake in Kobe, Japan which killed 5,500 people and injured 26,000. None of the characters featured in these six stories were in the quake, nor do many of them have any known connection with those who died. But in various ways this tragic event weaves itself into the existence of these characters, at times to profound effect.
Six stories–I found the first 3 stories to be compelling though not remarkably so. I thought the last 3 were terrific. But even that is oversimplifying my thoughts. As I said, the first 3 were very compelling. I did not dislike them in anyway and was not disappointed with them. If anything the opposite was true. Each story fueled my desire to read the next one. I went home Thursday night and stayed up until 2 in the morning reading. I was finished with all but the last 10 pages (laid aside for 4th of July celebrations until later that night) by early Friday afternoon. That fact alone speaks for itself. I simply did not want to stop reading.
What I saw in these 6 stories was a man who has the ability to put you, the reader, smack dab in the middle of someone’s life–someone very real and not unlike you and I. Like a voyeur we travel along with them for a brief moment, spying on their lives and experiencing their joys and pain, their tragedy and triumphs. And while that description could possibly be used for any number of short stories it is what stuck out so in my mind while I was reading Murakami’s work. What I saw captured in Murakami’s tales was the quiet, tragic beauty of life–of real, day-to-day existence. Rather than a set of stories that point out one overarching truth about taking the time to stop and smell the roses, I felt that Murakami painted word images that showed a certain beauty in every part of life. I felt this was especially true with the story Thailand, which was the first story in the book that I had a strong emotional connection with. It was a really beautiful story.
I know that I am not making much sense. I knew right away when I closed that final page that this would be a tough review to write. Maybe it is best to say that I can certainly understand why so many people are enamored with Haruki Murakami. I would have to say that I am impressed. I went right out yesterday and bought Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman and read the first 4 of 24 stories before I went to bed last night…and read another this morning before work.
Short stories are an interesting animal. They don’t do anything for some people, some readers can take them or leave them, others, like myself, have a strong connection to the medium and enjoy them even when they are not the greatest stories ever told. While I am not yet ready to place Haruki Murakami in my upper, upper echelon of authors, I admit to being enamored myself and look forward to trying out one of his novels after I get through these short stories.
Cameron mentioned in conversation that he reads Murakami in the fall. That statement was prevalent in my mind throughout After the Quake and I couldn’t help but feel that I would have had an even stronger connection to these stories if I was reading them in the cool melancholy of autumn. I completely got that statement as I read these stories and even though I am in the grip of Murakami-mania right now and could not lay this new short story collection aside until Autumn, I will perhaps try to read my first Murakami novel in the fall.
Let me close by saying that I read somewhere that this collection was a bit different than some of his other work because there was less inclusion of supernatural and fantastical elements than in other stories. Of the six stories in After the Quake, only Super-Frog Saves Tokyo had a fantastical bent to it…and I loved it! In fact I read it aloud to Mary last night and she thought it was great.
If you have not read Murakami and would like a taste, or if you simply haven’t read this very entertaining short story of his, you can check out the entirely of Super-Frog Saves Tokyo right here.
I want to thank you Cameron, and all the other bloggers who have written about Murakami’s works over the last year. It has been a distinct pleasure to overcome my trepidation regarding Murakami. I look forward to sampling more of his work, and telling you all about it, in the coming months.
Ken: Glad to hear it Ken. I can certainly relate to what you are feeling. My only advice would be to give him a chance by reading the whole, short, book. Like I said, it wasn’t until that 4th story that I had a big emotional connnection…that one made me tear up a bit, I have to admit. I still found the first 3 darn intriguing, but the last 3 stories are what hooked me.
Cameron: Thanks again for the subtle push, I needed it. I have read 7 of the short stories in Blind Willow so far and am enjoying them as well. I read The Mirror aloud to Mary last night…nice, atmospheric ghost-story-around-the-campfire kind of tale. As for the novels…see my response to Bellezza below.
Amanda: I am currently reading a Murakami novel (see my response below to Bellezza) and am loving it. It is one that, so far, I would recommend.
Robin: It really is a good place to start, at least in my newbie opinion. And again, the brevity of the book was a big draw for me to give it a shot. I realized I wasn’t risking much time commitment to do so.
Bellezza: Thanks. I wish I could take credit for recognizing that thread, but it was pretty blatantly advertised on the back of the book that the earthquake was the connecting thread to all those stories. I am well into Blind Willow and there certainly isn’t that kind of connection, but I am enjoying it.
And….funny you should mention it, but I read a description of After Dark yesterday and I was so interested in it that I went out and picked it up as well. I am about 80 pages into it so far and it is so good! I alternated reading that and Murakami short stories last night and at breakfast this morning. It was a real treat!
And yes, I’ll be more likely to participate in said challenge next time!
JP: I love reading stories where you connect with the characters in a way that makes you miss them. Even though it was brief I certainly felt that way about the characters in Thialand and in Super-Frog Saves Tokyo.
😀 super-frog saves tokyo!!!
JP: He does indeed!
I hadn’t even heard of this one! Definitely going on the list. I can’t tell you how happy I am that you enjoyed this and had a good first experience with Murakami that will you bring you back! My first book of his was Norwegian Wood and it’s such an incredible novel. From what I’ve heard it’s the least bizarre of all of his novels and it tells just a beautiful story that really connects to the human core. Just like you said, he’s wonderful at connecting us with his characters. And I couldn’t agree more that his books are written to be read in the Fall. Norwegian Wood certainly is! You should definitely give that one a read. I think I’m going to read Kafka on the Shore next.
I’ve loved Murakami since I read “The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle”; I also read “After the Quake”. It caught my eye because I lived in Japan when that quake hit (not near Kobe, tho) and remember vividly watching the story unfold in the general’s office…and hoping that something of that magnitude wouldn’t hit Tokyo. Anyway, Murakami’s a favorite of mine.
Hey, Carl…maybe Rowling next?
ah, i’m so glad you enjoyed him! and this sounds very good indeed.
and you were making perfect sense with what you were saying about him – the way he puts you right in the middle of someone else’s life. its so intimate. you’re right there. and its so cool!
you get to know his characters so intimately that afterwards you feel that you really know them… and subsequently miss them so much when the book is finished.
Carl, I love this line of yours: “Like a voyeur we travel along with them for a brief moment, spying on their lives and experiencing their joys and pain, their tragedy and triumphs.” I just finished Murakami’s book “After Dark” which was so incredible in its writing of Tokyo between midnight and dawn that I feel I spent the night in the characters’ presence.
I’ve not been good with understanding Murakami’s short stories. The only collection I read was “Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman,” and frankly I was at a loss to find a thread such as you described for this collection. However, I admire him so much as a writer, and I feel knowledge of him is so necessary to those who want to call themselves well read, that I must pick up “After The Quake”.
(Does this lead me to believe you might be persuaded to join in a Japanese Literature Challenge should I host another one?;)
How interesting! I’ve had this book on my TBR shelf since Bellezza’s Japanese Literature Challenge last winter, but I hadn’t gotten to it — I was feeling the same trepidation you described. So, I’m glad to hear that this is a good place to start with Murakami, and that you liked it!
I read Murakami’s Norwegian Wood and it was my first (so far only) Murakami book I’ve read. I have to say I should have probably picked a different Murakami book. His writing is wonderful…the story, well…not sure. I totally understand though what you said about how he puts you right in their life. I guess with Norwegian Wood it was such a tragic and sad I wasn’t sure I wanted to be there with him. It will definitely not be my last Murakami book but be prepared if you read that one.
‘I simply did not want to stop reading.’ Welcome to the club brother! If you ever thought reading about a man making a simple dinner for himself or the brief description of a cleaner in a love hotel would be boring, Murakami will prove you wrong. I still find myself thinking about the protagonists in ‘Dance, Dance, Dance’ and ‘The Wind-Up Bird Chornicle’. I also have spent many an early morning (drinking tea, smoking, and playing jazz) unable to put one of his books down. I glad you enjoyed it Carl, I figured you would enjoy the short stories first. The novels on the other hand are a completely different animal…
Murakami is one of those writers whose books I’ve picked up and carried around, but never made it all the way to the checkout. I’ve read loads of good reviews, but I’ve also seen a few negative ones and so I stayed on the fence to this point. I like what you said about his ability to paint word pictures to illustrate the everyday beauty in life and how you immediately went out and bought another of his story collections, that was enough to shove me off the fence and all the way to the checkout – I picked up “After the Quake” on my home last night…
Janet: I have heard many great things about Wind-Up and will no doubt read it at some point. Wow, I bet that was pretty wild living there when that happened. I’m sure it was devastating to watch from anywhere but must have been more so being in Japan. I bet you had an interesting take on Super-Frog then.
Chris: It sounds interesting Chris, both from your and Amanda’s take on it. At the rate I’m going I’m going to need to slow down so I have some Murakami to read in the fall! 🙂
And Rowling…you crack me up!
After Dark is excellent as well.
Cameron: I can concur…I just spent the last several hours reading it and have just finished. I feel that warm glow you feel after you’ve read a really good book. Review forthcoming.
Hooray for AFTER DARK! Leave some other pages unturned because I will host a second Japanese Literature Challenge soon.
I too was in Murakami frenzy a while ago. I read 3 of his books in a row (then I decided to have a break and gave other authors a chance ;). I read Norwegian Wood, Sputnik Sweetheart, and the Wind-up Bird Chronicle. I personally would highly recommend Norwegian Wood. Possibly the best book I have ever read.
I haven’t read After the Quake or After Dark. I have Blind Willow Sleeping Woman, Wild Sheep Chase, and Kafka on the Shore on my shelf right now waiting to be read :). Did I tell you I’m in Murakami frenzy?
Mee: I don’t get it…do you like Murakami? 🙂 Sounds like Norwegian Wood is the one that I need to put on my shelf for an Autumn read!
Bellezza: I will, I promise.
This is a completely new-to-me author and genre ~ will be hitting the library this afternoon… great review. Deb
I hope you enjoy him. I had heard a lot of hype and had been concerned that I wouldn’t enjoy his stories, but boy was I wrong!!!
I enjoyed Norwegian Wood but I really prefer longer stories. The longer the book, the better for me. And I don’t read supernatural or fantasy themed stories. So I’m at a loss as to where to go next with Murakami. After Dark seems too gritty for me. I’ll watch to see what you read next.
I agree with you’re thoughts on Murakami, particularly this one: “a man who has the ability to put you, the reader, smack dab in the middle of someone’s life–someone very real and not unlike you and I.”
I have the same edition of After the Quake as yours. I too enjoyed “Superfrog Saves Tokyo”. It was delightful and rather touching. I have yet to finish Blind Willow, which I started last year but still haven’t gotten back to (soon, I hope). It’s a fantastic book, perhaps his best short story collection. The title story, Blind Willow Sleeping Woman sounds like a metaphor for Norwegian Wood and I totally loved it. Really good writing.
Mark David: I’m really looking forward to Norwegian Wood. I am a big fan of short stories and his short stories are just brilliant, so I’m looking forward to reading more of his actual novels and forming opinions about them.
Sandra: I’m not sure if I would qualify After Dark as gritty. Maybe…hmmmm… I do think you should give it a try, it is great!