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Aug 2022
10:34pm, 5 Aug 2022
51,611 posts
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McGoohan
Some regard this as Murakami's masterpiece. Here, from the plot summary on the back of my edition:
Howard is 27 years old and lives on Duckworld, a planet similar to Earth, but inhabited by anthropomorphic ducks and orbited by twin moons. As he is reading PlayDuck in his living room, his armchair suddenly propels him out of his apartment building and into outer space; Howard eventually lands on Earth, in Cleveland, Ohio. Upon arriving, Howard encounters a woman being attacked by thugs, whom he defeats using a unique style of martial arts. The woman introduces herself as Beverly Switzler, and decides to take Howard to her apartment and let him spend the night.
The following day, Beverly takes Howard to Phil Blumburtt, a scientist who Beverly hopes can help Howard return to his world. After Phil is revealed to be only a janitor, Howard resigns himself to life on Earth and rejects Beverly's aid. He soon applies for a job as a janitor at a local romance spa, but eventually quits and returns to Beverly, who plays in a band called Cherry Bomb. At the club where Cherry Bomb is performing, Howard comes across their manager and confronts him when he insults the band. A fight breaks out, in which Howard wins.
Now read on....
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Aug 2022
10:37pm, 5 Aug 2022
51,612 posts
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McGoohan
It has been brought to my attention that I have mixed up Haruki Murakami's classic novel The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle with a DVD of George Lucas's greatest work, Howard the Duck. The packaging is so similar, you see.
Anyway, give your opinion on this bird-centred tome in the spaces below.
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Aug 2022
4:01pm, 11 Aug 2022
72,030 posts
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Diogenes
I read this about 20 years ago. I enjoyed it at the time, but remember very little about it, I will attempt to write about what I do recall here and see what comes back.
The protagonist, whose name eludes me has a strange lifestyle which involves visits to the dry cleaners, unsuccessful ones, mainly, I seem to think, and folding laundry. His wife is usually at work. He takes hot journeys on the Tokyo underground, visits shops selling jazz records (as do all of Murakami's heroes). It is hot. A neighbour's daughter sunbathes on a lounger, and engages him in conversation, sparking existential thoughts. He plays with a small boy. There is a dry well. He goes down to the bottom of the well and spends a long time sitting there. It seems days, maybe even weeks. When I was reading the book I felt like I was stuck down that well with him for months. Eventually he emerges to find... what does he find? I don't know. How does the book end? It ends with me putting it down, thinking that I was glad that I had read it, and then never reading another book by him again until I read the one about what he talks about when he talks about running, about which I felt much the same.
7.5/10
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Aug 2022
4:10pm, 11 Aug 2022
36,501 posts
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LazyDaisy
I think I'd prefer McG's version.
Does not remotely appeal and there are so many books out there, I won't be picking this one up.
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Aug 2022
4:24pm, 11 Aug 2022
17,352 posts
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Cerrertonia
I read it not long after it came out, like Murukami a lot, and think this is probably his best book. Trying to summarize the plot is tricky though. It starts with a missing cat.
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Aug 2022
4:26pm, 11 Aug 2022
72,031 posts
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Diogenes
I just picked it up and started reading from the beginning. How had I forgotten the cat and the phone calls? I then fell asleep. This was nothing to do with the book.
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Aug 2022
4:32pm, 11 Aug 2022
29,625 posts
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Maclennane
Dusting off my copy of this. Haven't read it in years, but loved it first time around
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Aug 2022
8:55pm, 22 Aug 2022
6,490 posts
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westmoors
Finished this today. On the whole I quite enjoyed it, although I did get a little lost at times keeping abreast of reality/dream/history! Gave it an 8.
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Aug 2022
6:53pm, 28 Aug 2022
26,487 posts
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Serendippily
I enjoyed this. It’s hard to believe he’s ever been near a functioning female but that’s no different to most murder mysteries and he’s very deft sliding between realities. I looked forward to picking it up and I read it in two sittings. Some of the turns of phrase and circumstance were very pleasing. And the last time he sees his wife was described beautifully, as was Creta wolfing through all the snacks. And I liked mr Honda too. So a 9 from me
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Aug 2022
6:57pm, 28 Aug 2022
26,488 posts
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Serendippily
I read Kafka on shore after wild sheep chase, a good fifteen years ago. Didn’t enjoy it much - the good bits were too similar to the bits I liked in the first and the annoying bits were more frequent. Not sure if time has made the difference or if this is a better book but I suspect a ten year gap each time would make me savour each one whereas more frequent would bore me
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Book Group
Dec 2024
