Category: Fiction

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Book Reviews Coincidence Fiction

張子璘《早苗》- “Zoumiu”, Again, 9 Short Stories

Zoumiu

This has to be a coincidence.  I randomly picked four Chinese novels to read from the library.  The previous book is a collection of nine short stories.  This books is also a collection of nine short stories.  Relationship, especially in the form of divorce, is one of the themes of the previous book.  Same for this book.  The previous book writes in a certain style of surrealism blurring reality with illusion.  This book, same.  And when one of the stories from 《早苗》“Zoumiu” – note that I translate based on the pronunciation because the title is derived from a female name – has a scene of the main character pondering with a glass of cold beer, I flipped.  It was as though I was reading 《嘉年華會》(“Carnival”).  The beer, the divorce, the surrealism, the same number of stories – either it is a common trend in today’s Chinese literature bear in mind that “Zoumiu” is written by a Taiwanese writer while “Carnival” by a Hong Kong writer, the coincidence is simply, surreal.

Before I comment on the “Zoumiu”, I would like to write a bit on what I observe on the languages of these two geographic locations (can’t really say countries, can I?).  Hong Kong and Taiwan are most likely the only two places in this entire world that the people still write in Traditional Chinese.  I sincerely wish with all my heart that Traditional Chinese will not vanish, swallowed by the Simplified Chinese so commonly promoted by China.  For those who wonder what the difference between the two is, it is as though “Simplified English” becomes official and words such as ‘wot’, ‘happend’, ‘wif’, ‘btw’, ‘u’, ‘tt’, ‘impresn’ become the endorsed language.  Imagine English classics printed with those simplified forms.  The analogy may be crude and not entirely correct.  But the essence is there.  And that is how I feel when I read Simplified Chinese.

While I was reading “Zoumiu”, I realize that the choice of words between these two places – Hong Kong and Taiwan – can be different.  An analogy could be the subtle difference when you read British novels and American novels.  Both are written in English.  But there are differences between the two.  I, for one, read Hong Kong novels at a much faster pace.

At times, I am not sure which culture is more dramatic in nature – Taiwan or Hong Kong?  “Zoumiu” is prefaced by two I supposed reputable writer and editor in Taiwan.  Full of over-the-top promises that set my expectation sky high on “Zoumiu”, before I have even started reading the book.  The author 張子璘 has won the 1st prize of the Taiwan’s “Save the Literature” award.  “Zoumiu” is a story of love, and death.  Death is the center theme.  The nine stories are: 《早苗》《那個中午》《夜裡》《活者的記憶》《背影》《陌生人》《等待》《嫉妒的漂浮》《緩慢的自由》.  Again, for ease of reference, I would translate the titles to “Zoumiu”, “That Afternoon”, “In the Night”, “Memory of the Living”, “View of the Back”, “Stranger”, “To Wait”, “Jealousy Afloat”, “The Slowness of Freedom”.

“Memory of the Living” has perhaps the most impact on me.  In the story, the main character’s mother often stares outside the window, every passing moment of the day, holding a little black box.  One day, the main character returns home and discovers his mother has committed suicide.  He then opens the box and understands what his mother meant by: “I will tell it to you one day, until you mother is too tired, cannot hold it any longer, and I will pass it to you”.  My heart sunk when I too discovered what it is.

Another favorite story of mine is “Stranger”.  One day, a girl discovers a corpse like stranger appears in her home.  And through interacting with this stranger, conversing on the topic of her first divorce and second marriage, the stranger does not seem that foreign any more.  An extract of the story below (the author puts an extract upfront at the beginning of each story, interestingly).

要不是岀現了陌生男子，今天也不過是如此平常的一天，回頭看看剛才走過的路，著實讓她安心不少。那個險白得像個死屍的男人，現在想起来也不覺得害怕了。

The rest of the stories, like these two, explore on the decisions people make, on love, at times observed from a distance, almost like reading from a spirit’s view, or indeed from a spirit’s view.  Some stories are inconclusive leaving me to ponder on what is real and what is not.  One story, “Jealousy Afloat”, the main character is obsessed with the memory and illusion of his lost love decades ago, keeps revisiting old places until he sees her, together with the younger him.  The writing style of that story could seem extreme, but I tend to think that the author is gifted in bringing human interactions alive.

Additional Info: Singapore library tag is ZGZL, Wisdom Books official site, and ISBN 978-957-450-508-1.

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Book Reviews Fiction

王璞《嘉年華會》- “Carnival”, 9 Short Stories‏

Carnival

Almost in a similar period when I appear to have given up eating meat all of a sudden, I have this sudden urge to rediscover my Chinese root.  Reality is, nothing is ‘all of a sudden’.  I have been wanting to give up eating meat for ages.  And I have been wanting to brush up on my Chinese for ages.  Reading Chinese novels is merely a first step of my long term ambition to regain my innate linguistic ability to its fullest and beyond.  I want to be able to read, understand, and pronounce 100% of the words found in a modern novel, able to write in Chinese, and able to create literature in Chinese.  After all, I believe all my friends who remain in Hong Kong are able to do all these.  I am merely playing catchup.

The joy of reading Chinese books is indescribable.  Language-wise, I am able to understand almost all the words and expressions (versus English novels).  But mere understanding is not my primary aim.  I want to be able to pronounce them as well (unlike the Western language, you can’t really pronounce a Chinese word if you don’t know the word).  And that is when modern technology helps a great deal.  I have found a site that helps me to find out how to pronounce a certain Chinese word in Cantonese.  With my mobile phone that allows me to enter traditional Chinese in handwriting mode, I can look for a word wherever and whenever I need to.

Beyond words, I believe some of you who read both English and Chinese literature would agree with me that the ‘feel’ of the two is very different.  It is the vividness of drama and sound, the emotional complexity, the culture and values, and much more that makes reading Chinese such a joyful experience.  One could take a piece of Chinese literature, translate into English, and to me, the essence is simply lost.  How could one translate the literal meaning of “scrap my eyes and see”, “rub in oil and add vinegar”, or “white as the cleanliness of jade and the clarity of ice”?  Sounds so strange when translated literally but sounds so good when read in the original language.

Back to 《嘉年華會》- one of the four Chinese books I have borrowed from the library recently, the author 王璞 is born in Hong Kong, has lived in China, and since 1989, stationed in Hong Kong.  I have deliberately chosen a Hong Kong writer because I reckon I can relate better – both in terms of the writing style as well as the locations and culture. 《嘉年華會》is a collection of short stories – 《希臘拖鞋》《嘉年華會》《收藏家》《跳房子》《悼念綠旗袍》《河邊少婦》《我的高麗同學》《啤酒》《流氓是怎樣煉成的》.  For the ease of reference, I would translate these titles to: “Greek Sandals”, “Carnival”, “Collector”, “Hopscotch”, “Mourning of the Green Chinese Dress”, “Young Woman by the River”, “My Korean Schoolmates”, “Beer”, and “Thugs are Made of This”.

Some stories such as “Carnival” and “Thugs are Made of This” are rather short, like a few pages.  “Beer” is perhaps the lengthiest of all for it takes up half a book.  If there is a common theme amongst these stories, that would be an attempt to mix the reality with illusion.  Another theme would be the loss of something.  The author would try to convince the reader something exists only to later on blur it into illusion.  Or a relationship that is well and good and then out of nowhere, a huge quarrel breaks out (that reads like watching a typical local TV drama) and the couple parts way.

In most of the stories, divorce seems to be a main topic.  I wonder why.  Relationships do not seem to work out.  In fact, nothing works out in all the short stories.  The story “Beer” is perhaps one of my favorite.  It has the depth and complexity that I enjoy reading.  The story’s main character is someone who has experienced four divorces and a childhood crush on a train that still lives vividly in her.  To chain the plots is her passion to drinking beer.  To add onto the plot is the main character’s mission to locate her missing father.  All these plots are told not in a sequential manner, but rather randomly picked as the narrator recollects her life story.  The most amazing thing is how the main character – a writer – creates and distorts the story of her childhood crush, in the form of short essays.  That creates a story within a story – an exploration of what happens when love in reality meets with love as an illusion.

I am glad that the book ends with “Thugs are Made of This”.  In just 16 pages, the author tells a story of an apartment owner from being Mr. Nice to someone rude and nasty after a series of unfortunate events.  Such quickness in plot development, what a way to end the book.  I will certainly look for more books written by 王璞.  And one quote from the book to end this entry.

即使是像我一個逆来順受的女人，也有一顆跳動的心。

Additional Info: Singapore library tag is WGPU, Cosmos Books official site, and ISBN 978-988-211-977-2

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Book Reviews Fiction

The Memoirs Of A Survivor By Doris Lessing – An Amazing Journey Beyond Survival, Beyond Time And Space

A book by Doris Lessing published in the 70s
I deeply respect Doris Lessing’s ability to breath life into characters, and in “The Memoirs of a Survivor (1974)”, she breathes life into rooms and walls and more.  Doris Lessing is one of the most intelligent writers, certainly one of my favorite.  I wish I could have a glimpse of how she creates her works.  Such coherence and linkages as though the beginning is planned as the ending is written, and vice versa.

For example, the ‘it’.  Only when I re-read parts of the book did I noticed that on page 9, she wrote:

I shall begin this account at a time before we were talking about ‘it’.  We were still in the stage of generalised unease.  Things weren’t too good, they were even pretty bad … But ‘it’, in the sense of something felt as an immediate threat which could not be averted too.

I did not take much notice until I read towards the end of the book, on page 130, she wrote:

Very well then, but what was ‘it’?  I am sure that ever since there were men on earth ‘it’ has been talked of precisely in this way in times of crisis, since it is in crisis ‘it’ becomes visible, and our conceit sinks before its forces.  For ‘it’ is a force, a power, talking in the form of earthquake, a visiting comet whose balefulness hangs closer night by night distorting all thought by fear – ‘it’ can be, has been, pestilence, a war, the alteration of climate, a tyranny that twists men’s minds, the savagery of a religion.

‘It’, in short, is the word for helpless ignorance, or of helpless awareness.  It is a word for man’s inadequacy?

I would have missed that linkage.  Also, only when I re-read from the beginning, I can attempt to understand the concept, her concept of ‘they’ and ‘them’.  Attempt, as this book is anything but an easy read.  On the surface, it is a simple story being told from the eyes of a woman – the narrator.  It is a time of near-future when an unspecified disaster causes our society to plunge into the age of barbarism, when people are constantly on a move based on scarce news to a better and more livable place, when no one possesses anything but to constantly make do with what they come across and pass them on, when there is no law and order, and when survival matters.

One day, a small girl Emily is given to this woman’s care.  And comes with this girl is an ugly dog with the look of a cat.  For that part of the story, it reminds me of her book “The Story Of General Dann And Mara’s Daughter, Griot And The Snow Dog”.  A young girl and her animal companion.  The story spans the several years of the little girl’s growing up, the crowds gather at the ‘pavement’ in front of the house they occupied, the emergence of children from the sewage system not brought up by humans, but rather behave like monsters.  Monsters.  Such ugliness that strongly reminisces of the main character of “Ben In The World”.  How Emily has fallen in love with the young leader Gerald, helping him to build communities, authority, and how Gerald – when everyone has given up on those monstrous children who kill and destroy all that they see – never gives up on these children.  A close reference to W. H. Auden’s ‘We must love one another or die’ (a poem called “September 1, 1939”).  Someone has made a note “Lord of the Flies” in the library book that I borrowed.  It is a classic written by William Golding in 1954.  I think there is a certain level of validity on that association.

Layer on top of this straightforward storyline is how the narrator – the woman – sees the surrounding walls transform into images and messages that transcend space and time.  It is when the woman sees the past of Emily – her father, her mother, her little brother, and the babysitter.  Each past from each room, each wall, comes with different metaphor that explains the certain current state of Emily as the narrator observes.  Emily initially is described as ‘invincibly obedience’.  As the narrator observes, there are more and more flaws, then explained by the visions from the walls.  More and more respectable capabilities are observed, as the story unfolds.  That is what I meant by breathing life into a character that Doris Lessing has done it so well.  The narrator never gets too close to Emily, always observes from a distance.

It is hard to describe how Doris Lessing manages to make the ‘walls’ sound so convincing.  She describes the wall as ‘personal’.  In my limited understanding – perhaps I need to read the book again several more times – in that world, nothing is personal as no one truly owns anything.  The only thing ‘personal’ is our memory and our vision, hence represented by the ‘personal’ wall.  And as dramatic as her stories that I have read, just when I was deeply depressed by the gloominess towards the end of the story, a wall – that the narrator promises to show no more – ‘appears’ in a different capacity, in hope and beauty.  That ending, lifts my soul high.

“The Memoirs of a Survivor” lightly explores the concepts of community, feminism, survival, administration, government, and authority – or simply put, humanity.  The most memorable metaphor is how our next generation take what we have used and discarded and create something of their own, something beautiful and useful.  In the story, the narrator’s job is a news gatherer.  Doris Lessing does not tell the readers how important news is in time of uncertainty.  She starves the readers with meagre amount of news that every little plot she discloses I hold dear to, digest and re-digest again.  But still, what causes the disaster?  Are there really big blue fish in the sea?  Or yellow?  No one knows.

Note: Doris Lessing is the Nobel Prize Laureate in Literature 2007 – “that epicist of the female experience, who with scepticism, fire and visionary power has subjected a divided civilisation to scrutiny”.

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Book Reviews Fiction

Dan Brown’s The Lost Symbol – A Page Turner With Puzzles After Puzzles

Dan Brown's Latest Work

I can’t say that I am a fan of the thriller genre but I do enjoy Dan Brown’s style of puzzles mixing facts and fictions with a healthy or unhealthy – depends on how you see it – dose of spiritual reflection.  Besides, once in a while, it is good to read a page-turner for a change and get entertained.  When I learned from Amazon.com that Dan Brown has kept “The Lost Symbol” under wraps by allowing only a handful of people to have access to the manuscript, I was intrigued.  I hit our national library website 3 times a day to see when this book was open for reservation.  Singapore’s National Library Board has brought in 70 copies of “The Lost Symbol” and I was queue number 3.  Not bad at all compares to how I did for that Kinsella Book (queue number seventy odd of I think forty odd books in total).

I have read almost all his books (except “Deception Point”, I think).  I don’t think I can recall any of the storyline.  What I recall though is that I have always enjoyed how Dan Brown rapidly switches plots, delaying the key story revelation, and keeping us engaged with puzzles after puzzles.  “The Lost Symbol” is no exception.  For maximum enjoyment, I strongly encourage you to refer to the online materials for reference as your read the book.  For example, the painting “Melecolia I” is used as one of the puzzles.  You could read how Dan Brown describes the painting in words.  But nothing beats seeing the painting with your own eyes.

I would not dive too deep into the plot because it is not fun for those who are planning to read this book.  Robert Langdon, a character from “Angels & Demons” and “The Da Vinci Code”, is back for “The Lost Symbol”.  I do not think there is a significant connection with the previous novels  so you do not need to read them in sequence.  And like his previous works, I am often amused by how his characters can sustain such emotional tremor and physical wounds and still able to run around, solve puzzles, and intellectually discuss matters in such a lengthy manner.  Personally, I think his opinion on Christianity is – as always – very thin especially after I have freshly finished reading Karen Armstrong’s latest work.  I would not take his religious view too seriously.  But I suspect his opinion will stir another round of controversy – perhaps lesser in magnitude compares to “The Da Vinci Code” – nonetheless.

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Book Reviews Fiction

Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella – Similar Formula, But Connecting In A Different Dimension

Yes, it is the new Sophie Kinsella book - Twenties Girl

Personally, I don’t think there is anything wrong per se for a dude like me to read books like “Twenties Girl”, though many friends often get a little shock when they learn that I am a fan of Sophie Kinsella.  Her books are fun read.  And I have read them all.  The only complain I have … erm … if I could put it that way, would be the book cover.  I mean, yes these are chick-lits.  But must the covers look so, girlie?  One time, I was carrying a complete stack of the Shopaholic series to the Times Bookstore counter, and there were people l-o-o-k-i-n-g.  Or at least that was how I imagined so.  The moment “Twenties Girl” was out, I was hitting our National Library’s website everyday trying to be amongst the first to place a reservation.  Bad news was, I was at queue number seventy-something.  Good news was, our library in Singapore has stocked up sixty over “Twenties Girl” in anticipation of the demand.  Well done NLB!

I remember vividly the day I collected the book from the library.  We had a Spanish examination in the afternoon.  During our late lunch celebration with some of the classmates, I have received an email on my N97 (the text message reminder came much later, while we were watching a movie at night).  Yes, the book was ready for collection.  Hooray!  The library was just opposite to where we had our lunch.  When I reached the counter, it was empty.  I secretly let out a sigh of relief.  But you know what life is like.  Just when you think everything is going OK, I saw a queue starting to form, as the librarian was trying to locate the book.  With a crisp clear, relatively loud voice given the fact that we were inside a library, she showed me the book cover and asked, “Is this the book you are looking for?”.  I swear I saw the queue of library visitors looked at me, then the book, then at me again.  Gosh!

The legendary Shopaholic series aside, I enjoy reading Sophie Kinsella’s standalone novels a lot.  Like “The Undomestic Goddess”, “Can You Keep A Secret”, and “Remember Me?”.  As for “Twenties Girl”, it is still a fun read.  I laughed-out-loud while reading the book in Starbucks, and at home.  The formula is similar: lots of dramas, centered to a girl.  And the lack of character development for the male species is still prevalence.  Maybe this is how girls see the world; maybe such is the genre of chick-lit.  What is different though is that the center character, Lara, is not as flawed as the rest of Sophie Kinsella’s heroines.  Also, the concept of the constant interaction with Lara’s great aunt’s ghost adds a new dimension to the story development.  “Twenties Girl” touches at the emotional level too.  It is less so on the triumph at the personal level, but rather a shift in a focus onto the linkage and importance of the family heritage.  It is also less as a predictable happy ending, but one that leaves a melancholy kind of after taste.

Certainly an entertaining book to read.  Could the storyline be tighter and tidier?  Perhaps.  But if you are already a fan, what are you waiting for?

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Book Reviews Fiction

World of Warcraft: Arthas, Rise of the Lich King by Christie Golden – A Book Review & More

ARTHAS !!

“Our party has defeated the waves of undeads, in the city of Stratholme.  Aiding Prince Arthas Menethil for his goal to defeat the powerful demon Mal’Ganis, we entered the town hall, greeted by groups of dragons in human form.  We hacked our way deep into Stratholme, blood and sweat and fallen bodies of the undeads, and of the dragons.  Colors of magic engulfed our party, of offense to our enemies, and of healing to us.

Then the unthinkable happened.  One of the dragons took its eyes off our warrior and attacked our undead warlock, with full force.  Didn’t stand a chance, our companion fell.  Dead.  Maybe our undead priest tried too desperately to reverse the inevitable of our party’s first death, our orc warrior did not get the healing in time, and he too fell onto the ground, dead.

Without our warrior, it looked as though our mission was doomed.  Our blood elf warlock metamorphosed into his demon form, attempted to hold off the dragons for as long as he could, but did not last long.  And soon, our healer was dead too.  I snapped into action, with heightened reflex.  I was a blood elf rogue, carrying a poisonous mace on my right hand and a dagger on my left.  My party in ghost spirit watching, as I fought side by side with Arthas.  Just me, and him.  Don’t let Arthas die, they all screamed.  I was in killing spree, ditching out as much damage as possible.  At the very crucial moment, we won.  Arthas continued moving forward as I quickly rested and bandaged myself.  We only had time to resurrect three of us, hardly had time to get prepared, and the big demon Chrono-Lord Epoch spawned out of nowhere, charging towards us.  A voice ascended from hell and said: Prince Arthas Menethil, on this day, a powerful darkness has taken hold of your soul.  The death you are destined to visit upon others will this day be your own.” – My personal journal of one of our visits to the heroic dungeon Culling of Stratholme.

Many friends ask: How can you play an online game for more than four years?  It is hard to explain.  In fact, I have given up explaining long time ago.  The analogy as such: Regularly, you and your friend arrive at a court, spend an hour or two to play a game bounded by a certain set of rules.  And in every other days, you do something else, other than basketball.  How can you play basketball or football for years?  Same type of courts, some set of rules, and at times, same group of friends.  The answer could be as simple as what has been illustrated in the first three paragraphs of this entry.  It is not the rules of the game that makes a game special.  It is those memorable moments you take part to create within a game that makes you want to do it again, and again.  I did not write the above story.  It was a journal of one of our venture into a dungeon (in heroic mode) with five online players.  Some days, we blast through the dungeon.  Some days, the same reward is much hard earned.

Of all the many game aspects, I respect the role-playing gamers the most.  Not only do they act in character while playing the online game, they write too.  Check out the role-playing forum if you have time, for an eye-opening experience.  These people are skilled writers, brilliant storytellers.  Of the thousands of fan-based lore writers, some have made it to publish books that are endorsed by the brand World of Warcraft.  No easy feat indeed.  At the back of “Arthas: Rise of the Lich King” for instance, there is a long section of “Further Reading” listing the relevant publications out there.  There is as though an unwritten rule that all the storytellers have to create stories that not only gel with the overall lore laid down by Blizzard (the creator of the Warcraft franchise), but also gel with what have been published in the past.

This book – written by Christie Golden – accounts for the story of Prince Arthas Menethil from young, his romance with Lady Jaina Proudmoore, the trial he faced, and into the dark power he turned his back away from his alliance and has become the Lich King.  It is a familiar story for those who have been soaked in the lore of Warcraft for years.  Familiar names, familiar places, even some of the dialogues – a faithful account of events.  This book is timely as “Rise of the Lich King” is our current game expansion.  For those who may be new to the lore (like Cynthia and to some extend, I, as for some reasons, I have not started on the Warcraft III Expansion pack), “Arthas” is a good book to read.  Christie Golden has portrayed Arthas’s transformation well, a character whom I have developed feelings towards.

In a way, I agree with some of the readers that the later part of the book may appear to be too much of a rush (containing too many events) in contrary to the initial part that focuses more onto the character development.  Maybe an expanded section to account for the epic battles would be welcome by many.  Cynthia has read it and calls it a children book (what happens to all the killing and the implied sex?!).  As for me, for days, I was locked inside this world of Arthas, even as I was on the plane returning from my previous holiday location.

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Book Reviews Fiction

Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami – A Structured Love Story So Dark, So Beautiful

A noval by H. Murakami

“Norwegian Wood” is the second book I have randomly picked up from Kinokuniya prior to my holiday in June.  Substantially thicker than “South of the Border, West of the Sun” – considering how thin that book is – the two stories are strikingly similar.  Read almost like another one of his ‘autobiographical fictions’, which the translator Jay Rubin insisted in his note that it is not.  “Norwegian Wood” is a myriad of love and friendship through the eyes of Watanabe, from his age of 18 to 37.  A story that anchors between this first love Naoko and another girl Midori.  One that ends with a choice of the past and the future Watanabe has to make.

“Norwegian Wood” is one of Murakami’s earlier works.  Hence, less surreal than “South of the Border”, almost read like a straightforward love story.  By no means make “Norwegian Wood” a lesser work but rather, a different kind of work.  The most striking feature that stands out from the rest of his novels is the structure within.  I notice that each sub-plot involves three persons.  Something would happen to one party, change the entire dynamic, and the sub-plot dissolves, replaced by another sub-plot of three persons.  It is read like a continuation of one sub-plot riding onto the next one.  All the way till the end of the novel, the same structure is maintained.  I personally find this way of story writing original.

A lot of details have gone into the texture of the story.  Hence, I wouldn’t be surprised that some readers have identified “Norwegian Wood” as an autobiographical fiction.  Beyond the detail description of the school compound down to how the buildings are laid out, the characters are distinctly alive.  Down to the tone each character uses, and to the change in tone as the same character face different characters of varied personalities.  It is this level of details I appreciate deeply as I read this book during my holiday.

This book was released in 1987.  I believe it was the same book that elevated Murakami to an International status with the readership grown to millions that year.  Hence, in a way, “Norwegian Wood” could well be one of his most accessible work.  Even as a die hard fan who is in love with Murakami’s special surreal treatment to his stories, “Norwegian Wood” having little of that surrealism still ranks high in my book.  For a simple love story though can be dark, can still be beautiful.

After my holiday, I have visited Kinokuniya again and have randomly picked another two of Murakami’s books.  So, stay tuned for more book summaries.

Categories
Book Reviews Fiction

South of the Border, West of the Sun by Haruki Murakami – A Simple, Surreal, and Genuine Romance Like No Other

South of the Border, West of the Sun

Everytime when I travel, I bring along books to read and a notepad to write.  For I don’t stop reading or writing, especially not during my holiday.  I had almost finished reading the new book by Paulo Coelho before I boarded the plane so I reckon, I probably needed at least three books to last the two weeks trip.

One thing I really enjoy writing a book summary is the occasion comments I read – both here and in Facebook – from other passionate readers who may or may not see the book the way I do.  And we exchange thoughts.  Prior to my holiday trip, I have read Haruki Murakami’s new non-fiction book.  As always, I shared my thoughts online.  That sparked off an online dialogue with another fan of Murakami which in turn inspired me to pick two random books of his from Kinokuniya.  “South of the Border, West of the Sun” is the fourth Murakami book I have read.  And I enjoy every single page of it – 187 in total.

“South” in essence is a story of romance told from the perspective of a man, from his relationship with his childhood sweetheart, the in-between love affairs, to his marriage.  A typical story that almost all men who have fallen in love can relate.  An ordinary love template.  The details – both physical and emotional – are so vivid that I was brought back in time as a young boy, to the beginning of my fascination to the opposite sex, to the silly things I did driven by my then raging hormone.  However simple the idea is, a story told by Haruki Murakami is never going to be a typical story.  “South” is original; it is genuine; it touches my heart.  I reflect upon my own love relationship, from my mid-teen (I mature late) till today.  It is one book that I would read again.  That’s why I bought the Spanish version during our holiday in Spain.  And I am looking forward to reading both versions side-by-side.

I am probably slightly ahead of time to compare “South” with another earlier work of his “Norwegian Wood” – as that will be my upcoming book summary.  Both novels are of a similar topic, with a center character that strongly resembles the author himself (I make that observation based on his semi-autobiography “Running”).  His later works certainly get more and more surreal and abstract.  A good example is his recent work “After Work”.  On that note, “South” to me, has a subtle surreal after taste.  It makes me ponder upon what is real, and what is not.

Below is a short quote of what I feel as a beautiful way to put forth something so close to reality, something that appears so real to me today.

“No one will weave dreams for me – it is my turn to weave dreams for others.  That’s what I have to do.  Such dreams may have no power, but if my own life is to have any meaning at all, that is what I have to do.” – South of the Border, West of the Sun by Haruki Murakami (translated by Philip Gabriel)

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Book Reviews Fiction

The Winner Stands Alone by Paulo Coelho – A Dark Piece Of Work That Inspires, Not Entertains

Paulo Coelho's New Novel

I have read almost all of Paulo Coelho‘s English translated novels (except “Like the Flowing River”).  “Winner”, to me, is by far his darkest piece of work.  Still inspirational, like all his previous works.  But it delivers blow after blow to the readers and make us think: What have we been doing to our lives?

The story centers around a Russian millionaire who believes in killing is acceptable if for a good course, his ex-wife, and her current husband who is a fashion magnate.  Upfront, at the preface, Paulo Coelho has already warned the readers that “this is not a thriller, but a stark portrait of where we are now.”  To read “Winner” as a thriller is certainly not the right way.  This novel – more so than others – has a concocted tone of sharing facts and insights mixed with his personal opinions (which can at times be eye-opening), long dialogues from one character or multiple characters that sound like coming from the same person (which is least of my favorite although they can be inspirational), parables and inspirational quotes (which I love), and story development.  I admit that at times, the tone is not as cohesive as I wish to be.  However, if indeed not reading “Winner” as a thriller, there are tons of inspirational messages and truth to chew onto.

Paulo Coelho, in his new book, shares details of the fashion and filming industries and the associated celebrity businesses.  Some are rather repulsive to read, especially when he illustrates how much we are into vanity these days.  Such as “A diamond is the supreme manifestation of human vanity” accompanied with pages of write-up on the diamond industry – from the violence it causes to a piece of jewelery we wear.  Most observations are not new to us.  Just that we don’t often articulate them that way.  Like film scripts to him are mostly man loves woman, man loses woman, and man gets woman back.  If the script is anything but, make sure there is enough violence or special effect to make up for it.  And his list of 46 random items on what ‘being normal’ means also got me thinking on how we accept the our environment or behavior as normal, in which if you think deeper, you may question why.  Such as criticizing anyone who tries to be different, swearing in heavy traffic, or studying at an university for years only finds that you’re unemployable at the end of it, and more.

These are just warm up items.  There are harder messages he delivers.  In the old days, we make pilgrimages to be close to something spiritual that is unattainable and mysterious that can bring blessings.   These days, people visit pop concerts more than religious meetings and we worship celebrities in different ways.  He also talks about the celebrity syndrome some may have – abandoning what we believe in for fame, ego, and money.  We are suffocated by lies, encouraged to put our faith in science instead of spiritual values, and we feed our souls with what society tells us are important.  As a result, we are unable to give up all these for true happiness – that is family, nature, and love.

You really could feel a bit depressed by self-reflecting on what he says.  Fortunately, there are interesting observations he shares as well as what we could do better.  For example, the author mentioned that there are four forces that guide us to purify our souls: love, death, power, and time.  In short, we must love because we are loved by God while conscious of death, struggle to grow but not trapped by the power gained.   And our soul is bounded by the web of time with all opportunities as well as limitations.  On our current environmental crisis, he highlights that we are not saving the planet, but rather, saving ourselves from not being destroyed by the planet.  Because the planet is stronger than us.  He also raises my doubt on our “fittest survives” mentality in our day-to-day life when we, human beings, need care and protection especially from young as compared to other species (and hence, I gather, we shall continue to do so in our daily life).

The author also touches onto the topic of workaholic that I enjoy reading as I am a firm believer of the need of work life balance.  First he says all workaholics think they are happy doing what they are doing.  And it is not something society wants to fix because it helps human progression in the expense of the obvious.  Total power – as you advance in career – means total slavery.  You find it harder to let go as you gain power and you can’t even do the simple things in life.  To combat it, use work as a source of happiness but not compulsion.  I guess what he says (and what I practice) is by all means, be happy with work but know when to let go and enjoy the simple things in life.  Seek for true happiness in family, nature, and love – something work does not provide you with.

There is one parable that I very much enjoy reading, got me into thinking.  This is what I have internalized: One day a sea gull saw a mouse on the ground.  Not able to communicate as they spoke in different languages, the sea gull took pity on the creature that has lost its wings.  So the sea gull took the mouse onto its back, took flight to the sky thinking that the mouse must have been missing what it was like flying in the air.  The mouse had a time of its life and when it was brought back to the ground, as it saw the sea gull took off and disappeared, the mouse began to feel sad, not to be able to experienced that form of freedom again.  As days went by, the mouse looked into this miracle thinking that it was just a dream instead.

I think, we often fail to acknowledge the little miracles in life.  I can relate to that parable.

To round up this book summary without giving out the plot, there is one constant theme that appears as I read the book.  It is the voice of the Devil.  In our daily lives, we have encountered many decision points.  And at each juncture, there is a little voice in our head to help us decide.  Is that the voice of the Angel?  Or indeed the voice of the Devil that conditions us in believing that all that we do is for the better even if it comes with a price, knowing something is wrong but yet we create justifications, and failing to see through the obvious or normalcy when everyone is doing it.

You won’t like it when you read “The Winner Stands Alone”.  But you will certainly benefit from it and may become or wanting to become a better person.  That’s what an inspiration book, not a thriller, is for – for “Winner” does not entertain.  Be warned.

PS. Finished this book on a plane heading to Barcelona.

Categories
Book Reviews Fiction

After Dark by Haruki Murakami – A Dark Beauty of Novelette Filled With Dualism

After reading the short story collection of “Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman“, I was left with the feeling of wanting more.  The synopsis of “After Dark” (paperback 201 pages) intrigues me.  It is midnight hour when Mari sips coffee, a young musician walks in, and they have a conversation.  Later, as Mari is alone again, a girl from a love hotel walks in, and they both head to the hotel.  A Chinese prostitute is hurt badly by her client.  Meanwhile, parallel to the main story, Mari’s sister Eri is at home, sleeping so perfectly pure.  Something is subtly wrong with this picture.  The world of imagery meets with the world of reality and how these two concepts morph into something so beautifully, something so surreal, and something so dark in the ending chapter.

Each chapter begins with a clock that tells the time spinning a story that lasts from 11:56pm to 6:52am.  The main story of Mari is engaging and the side story of Eri is surreal.  I mention dualism because if carefully observed, most characters have a two-side.  The story has the light and the dark running side by side too.  The dialogues are lively and when it comes to words that describe the vision.  They are beautiful.  An excerpt as follows (the beginning chapter).

Eyes mark the shape of the city.

Through the eyes of a high-flying night bird, we take in the scene from midair.  In our broad sweep, the city looks like a single gigantic creature – or more like a single collective entity created by many intertwining organisms.  Countless arteries stretch to the ends of its elusive body, circulating a continuous supply of fresh blood cells, sending out new data and collecting the old, sending out new consumables and collecting the old, sending out new contradictions and collecting the old.  To the rhythm of its pulsing, all parts of the body flicker and flare up and squirm.  Midnight is approaching, and while the peak of the activity has passed, the basal metabolism that maintains life continues undiminished, producing the basso continuo of the city’s moan, a monotonous sound that neither rises nor falls but is pregnant with foreboding.

The influence of the Western culture, particularly Western music and literature, continues to exhibit in Haruki Murakami’s work.  It is full of vision and sound and a worthwhile book to read if you enjoy stories that are dark and artistic.  At times, you will find yourself living inside the story, short of interacting with the characters.  Almost read like watching a short film.  For best result, start reading “After Dark” at 11:56pm – the exact time when the story begins.