Top 7 Japanese Novels (Notes from Under the Tatami Mats–41 … My Adventures in Japan)
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“Murakami’s novels will have a staying power similar to that of the greatest Beatles albums.”
Along with the above seven novels, there are dozens of great novels written by Japanese writers, in various genres. But a quick glance at the above list (that is, a glance at #1, #2, #3, and #4) makes it clear who gets my vote for the finest Japanese author of his generation – if not of all time.
A transnational cultural artist and icon
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Reality, and a bit beyond
Virtually all of Murakami's novels and short stories are eminently readable. They generally fall into 2 types, as follows:
The one type is magic realism, which verges on the surreal, in such novels as “Kafka On The Shore” and “The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle.” The other type comprises existentialist tales of solitude, loss, loneliness, and alienation, such as his classic “Norwegian Wood” as well as “South of the Border, West of the Sun.”
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Read a Murakami novel
For the most part, they are quiet and unobtrusive characters who do not stand out. They are not strange or bizarre; they are simply unique, different. But you’d never know that … unless you read a Murakami novel.![](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://steemitimages.com/DQmSYCjnoWmWHRwCkVMVxRTSoCfx1iXmkp7sb2919wxySvK/image.png)
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Top 6 Novels by Westerners about Japan or Japanese Characters
Top 4 Foreign Writers Writing about Japanese Society or Culture
Top 3 Books on Japanese Government and Bureaucracy
... and more
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Links to my Other Series …
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Guide – "Guide to Entries" (right-click on title)
Index– "Index" to all Chapters and Sections (right-click on title)
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Lou Reed – "Anthology of Memorable Lyrics, Part 2" (right-click on title)
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それらの小説は英語ですか?
それらの小説の要約が素晴らしいので、私はそれらを読んでみたい。
Yes, all of Murakami's novels are translated into English. Great translations, too, as far as I can tell.
Kafka on the shore is one of my favorites, I like Murakami
I have read Tales of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu. Its an interesting tale, translated into English, and a fascinating look into ancient Japan. The author is a woman, of noble birth and wrote, which was odd since noble women of that age were not allowed to learn how to write Chinese, the official language of court. So, against the odds, she wrote and became a well respected person in her own right.
Great sir nice post All novels and short stories from the Murakami are particularly readable.
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