- Paperback: 182 pages
- Publisher: Vintage Books (1 Jan 2005)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1400033969
- ISBN-13: 978-1400033966
- Product Dimensions: 20.5 x 13.2 x 1.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 923,561 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
Vintage Readers are a perfect introduction to some of the greatest modern writers presented in attractive, accessible paperback editions.
“Murakami’s bold willingness to go straight over the top is a signal indication of his genius. . . . A world-class writer who has both eyes open and takes big risks.” —The Washington Post Book World
Not since Yukio Mishima and Yasunari Kawabata has a Japanese writer won the international acclaim enjoyed by Haruki Murakami. His genre-busting novels, short stories and reportage, which have been translated into 35 languages, meld the surreal and the hard-boiled, deadpan comedy and delicate introspection.
Vintage Murakami includes the opening chapter of the international bestseller Norwegian Wood; “Lieutenant Mamiya’s Long Story: Parts I and II” from his monumental novel The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle; “Shizuko Akashi” from Underground, his non-fiction book on the Toyko subway attack of 1995; and the short stories “Barn Burning,” “Honeypie.”
Also inclucded, for the first time in book form, the short story, “Ice Man.”
“Murakami’s bold willingness to go straight over the top is a signal indication of his genius. . . . A world-class writer who has both eyes open and takes big risks.” —The Washington Post Book World
Not since Yukio Mishima and Yasunari Kawabata has a Japanese writer won the international acclaim enjoyed by Haruki Murakami. His genre-busting novels, short stories and reportage, which have been translated into 35 languages, meld the surreal and the hard-boiled, deadpan comedy and delicate introspection.
Vintage Murakami includes the opening chapter of the international bestseller Norwegian Wood; “Lieutenant Mamiya’s Long Story: Parts I and II” from his monumental novel The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle; “Shizuko Akashi” from Underground, his non-fiction book on the Toyko subway attack of 1995; and the short stories “Barn Burning,” “Honeypie.”
Also inclucded, for the first time in book form, the short story, “Ice Man.”
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
46 of 46 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
If you've never read any Murakami then this book is a worthwhile introduction - containing a selection of exerpts from his other books, aswell as one new short story. Murakami is a superb writer, rooted in the 'magical realist' tradition - capable of very perceptive insights into human nature, leading one to strongly identify with his 'everyman' protagonist. All this presented with a uniquely Japanese twist, but in a very western style.
For the reader unfamiliar with Murakami, this is a 5 * book.
If you're a Murakami fan then this book can be missed. I bought from Amazon on the strength of no description - in the hope that 'vintage' implied that this would contain some of his older previously untranslated work. I was disappointed. This is one of a series from 'vintage' the publisher - and contains a selection from the previously published Wind-up-bird, Norwegian Wood etc.
26 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
My opinion wholeheartedly agrees with tarangere's, so I guess my addition will only add weight to that.
Vintage (implying the name of the US publisher) Murakami is essentially a short sampler of chapters or short stories from previously published works, plus one new short story.
It is a pretty good selection for those new to Murakami, although I think there are some better examples that could have been included. Alternatively The Elephant Vanishes collection is a good way to dip in too.
For the already fan, the only incentive is that if you haven't re-read his books, then maybe this pointed out selection will be enough to re-familiarise why you enjoy him so much. As for the short story Ice Man, well that can be (as I bothered trying to find out later) legimiately found online (it's the as printed here Richard L. Peterson translation you'll be looking for). It will probably even appear in print form in a future official UK publication. The relative hard-to-findness of this book is due to it being US geared.
It would've been nice, to support the title, if the book were a collection of lost rarities (maybe even combined with the current content). With a loyal readership such as Murakami's this could have been a killer book for both newbies and oldies. But it's not. Still, it's not bad for a marketing exercise.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
7 reviews
38 of 40 people found the following review helpful
Excellent Introduction/Anthology
8 Jan 2004
Format:Paperback
I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of this book in November so unlike the previous reviewer, I knew what was contained within. I would say that this is an excellent introduction to Haruki Murakami as well as a great anthology for any fan of Murakami's who is thinking of rereading his work or would just like to see something they already know in a new light (for example, Lt. Mamiya's Long Story I & II outside of the WIND-UP BIRD CHRONICLE). This book contains excerpts from two of his novels (NORWEGIAN WOOD and THE WIND-UP BIRD), as well as 3 short stories, and a piece from his non-fiction work UNDERGROUND about the poison gas attacks in the Tokyo subways.
The first novel I ever read by Murakami was THE WIND-UP BIRD CHRONICLE. After that, I was hooked and read every novel available in English (including HEAR THE WIND SING and PINBALL 1973). I attempted to read the short story collection, THE ELEPHANT VANISHES when I had run out of novels, but wasn't drawn into the stories the way I was the books. Writing wise, I had always felt that Murakami was more of a long distance runner than a sprinter (which I guess is ironic in light of the fact that he IS a runner). That was until I read "Barn Burning" and "The Ice Man", both in VINTAGE MURAKAMI. After that, I went and read every story in THE ELEPHANT VANISHES and now hope and pray that another collection of Murakami's short stories (most have been published in The New Yorker magazine) will see the light of day (are you listening VINTAGE?). After reading "Honey Pie", another short story in VINTAGE MURAKAMI, I went on to read the collection that that story came from, AFTER THE QUAKE, and wasn't disappointed. Now, I am rereading Murakami's THE WIND UP BIRD CHRONICLE after reading "Lt. Mamiya's Long Story Part I and II." Although this is a major part of THE WIND UP BIRD CHRONICLE, it also stands beautifully alone as a short story.
For those fans of Murakami who feel that they have been cheated by not seeing anything new in print here (keep in mind, this is the first time "The Ice Man" has appeared in book form), it should be noted that this book is a part of a series focusing on Vintage Publications writers (including Nabokov, V.S. Naipul, Oliver Sacks, and more) and each book is more or less an anthology of their respected works. Even though there is nothing really new here, VINTAGE MURAKAMI has given me even more appreciation for my favorite writer and is a welcome addition to my book shelf. This book opened me up to Murakami as a short story writer and to me, it's well worth the price (just $9.95!). I fully intend to give copies of this to my friends who are curious about Murakami but have yet to step into his world.
P.S. I too agree with the previous reviewer. As much as Murakami does not like either HEAR THE WIND SING and PINBALL 1973 (more for his own writing, not the translation), I would love to see it back in print. Both books are small enough and have the same characters, that they could easily be collected in one single volume.
39 of 43 people found the following review helpful
what could have been
7 Jan 2004
Format:Paperback
For the last few months I have been waiting for this book to be released by the publisher. I searched the web for specific information about its contents, but found nothing official. I've read just about every short story and book by Murakami translated in English and had hoped that Vintage somehow had obtained the rights to publish some of Murakami's earlier novels, Pinball 1973 or Hear the Wind Sing, or maybe even some short stories that we have never seen in English. I was wrong. Finally having the book in my hand and going to the index what I found was baffling. The book basically consists of sample chapters of Murakami's previously published books and a short story or two, also previously published. The book should have been called "A Murakami Sampler" and only that. The only person who would be interested in this is a person who is new to the writer, not the seasoned Murakami fan. I wish Vintage would have spent their efforts bringing something new into English or something back into print. There is a hole in the Murakami list and the gap needs to be filled. Pinball 1973, is out of print and was published by Kodansha. The book goes for about $400 on the web. I know Murakami didn't like the translation, but the answer should be retranslate it. The book is about 75 pages. With a price being so high, one can see there still remains interest in the book. Hear the Wind Sing, also published by Kodansha is even smaller, but one can still find it in Japan. The book goes for around $50 on e-bay $50. So my point, fill the gaps Vintage, not rehash things...What would have been a beautiful addition, therefore would have been these first two Murakami novellas (actual vintage Murakami) and a handful of short stories. This all would have fit into a mid-sized paperback.
12 of 15 people found the following review helpful
There once was a library...
12 Jun 2006
Format:Paperback
Honestly, if you buy this, you are wasting your time. In my opinion, the man is an absolute master; at the same time, clearly not for everybody. But why would you buy this sampler to find out? Go to the library and read some of his short stories - start with "The Elephant Vanishes." Or just pick up one of his novels. The excerpt of "Wind-Up" here is only slightly representative of the text as a whole.
If you buy this, you will either A) like his writing, buy some of his books, and never need this again, leaving it to mold on your shelf, or B) dislike his writing, and never need this again, leaving it to mold on your shelf.
And the "rarity" can easily be found online.
It gets two stars, instead of zero, because even a tiny amount of Murakami in your life is a good thing. But really - don't spend your money here.
If you buy this, you will either A) like his writing, buy some of his books, and never need this again, leaving it to mold on your shelf, or B) dislike his writing, and never need this again, leaving it to mold on your shelf.
And the "rarity" can easily be found online.
It gets two stars, instead of zero, because even a tiny amount of Murakami in your life is a good thing. But really - don't spend your money here.
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