Haruki Murakami

  I have no problem declaring Haruki Murakami the best writer to have ever graced the planet. This might seem like a pretty huge thing to say, but I have never read anything by the man that didn't surprise me, engage me, and change my outlook on live in some minor or even major way. 
  I fell head over heels in love with his work after picking up Norwegian Wood in a book shop for 99p. (I am all about the bargains.) For 99p, I thought to myself, even if I HATE it, I haven't really lost anything. Well I didn't hate it. In fact I couldn't put it down. For three days I read that book while cooking, hoovering, washing up, walking, bathing. I did try really hard to pace myself, I savoured every single word. Almost rolling it around in my mind before moving on to the next. I'd pause and let the scenes unfold behind my eyes before moving on. And I was so wrapped up in the characters I would think about them from the minute I woke up. I actually finished the book with the biggest smile and huge fat tears rolling down my face. I knew I had just been touched by genius.
  From that day I have avidly collected every book and collection of stories I could get my hands on. And I have never been let down. If you don't know where to start, Norwegian Wood is a pretty safe bet, then maybe Kafka On The Shore, and if your feeling REALLY brave The Wind-up Bird Chronicles is also brilliant. I will say again, everything Murakami has written is pure gold. 
  The books I enjoy the most are the ones translated by Jay Rubin. He seems to be able to take Murakami's words and breath live into them. I will put up full reviews after I have unpacked and re-read my copies. Oh! What a hardship that's going to be. 

The Shock of Moving.

  I guess you never know how much you've got until it comes time to put it all in boxes and lug it 90 miles away. And filling 9 HUGE boxes with books and clothes made me really think about my love of reading in a whole new light. So, I will try to record what I have been reading, what I liked, what I hated, and probably all emotions in between. Just to try to keep tabs of my ever expanding library.

  I realise I cant spell, and that my grammar is shoddy,but as this is manly a reference for myself alone, I do not see it as a problem. If, however it IS a problem for anyone who might happen to find these lonely posts, please just leave. It will save the endless, and frankly pointless arguments and mud slinging.

  That being over and done with, onto the books.OH!

  As I was trying to be organised with the impending move, I packed all my books, therefore leaving my self no reading material. This is not a good thing. Luckily my Mother has a bookshop fetish and as I followed her into a sparkly new, reduced price bookshop in the local shopping centre, there on a display table I caught a glimpse of a cover with the name "James Ellroy" underneath a little quote. Well anything James Ellroy feels the need to comment on has to be worth a read, right? Especially when it's in a reduced price bookshop.So, I picked up this lovely hardback Tokyo Year Zero by David Peace. It's just the right reading weight, after all who wants a book that is too heavy to carry around,or read in bed? It's no fun fighting to keep a book open. It also has a lovely feeling dust cover. I really hate shiny dust covers, and usually end up taking them off to read the book, then loosing or damaging them.

 Anyway, back to the book, and the brilliant quote from Mr Ellroy. After appreciating the weight, and the feel I read

"Part historical stunner, part Kurosawa crime film, an original all the way. David Peace's depiction of a war-torn metropolis both crumbling and ascendant is peerless, and the story itself is beautifully wrought."

James Ellroy

Well which self respecting crime novel/Japanese fiction loving reader is not going to want to pick this up after reading that? I read 28 pages in two buses journeys. And although I cant say I really get what's happening, I am really enjoying the strange use of thoughts within the narrative. And every time I pick it up I relish the weight and the dust cover. It's the small pleasures in life.