He is one of the most successful contemporary writers and always appears by the pools to receive the Nobel Prize. As he awaits the long-awaited recognition from the Swedish Academy, it is in Asturias that a great moment of homage will be made to him. There his prose was valued. Haruki Murakami will receive the 2023 Princess of Asturias Literary Award at the Reconquista Theater in Oviedo next October.
After a six-year hiatus, the Japanese author returns to bookstores this April with ‘The city and its obscure walls’ (‘The city and its obscure walls’). Little is known about a novel that the rest of the world is still waiting for as it is currently only available for purchase in Japan. In fact, its English translation has not even been published.
Meanwhile, her extensive bibliography allows you to recreate and immerse yourself again and again in the world created by the Japanese novelist, who garnered almost as much fanfare as the critics. As has happened to many other geniuses throughout history, You either love Murakami or you hate him..
it’s a choice five of his most famous booksit is suitable for both those who want to give a chance to this very special universe that makes use of magical realism (this is only in some titles) and those who have come into contact with it for the first time before.
1- ‘Tokyo Blues’
Published in 1987, it was adapted for the big screen and is the book responsible for Murakami’s time becoming a massive idol among teenagers in Japan. A novel about suicide, youth, sexuality and drinking from Tokyo in the late seventies. Watanabe, Naoko, and Midori will sneak into the reader’s heart and then tear it apart.
2- ‘1Q84’
It was published in three volumes between 2009 and 2010. It was such a success that one million copies were sold in bookstores in its first month. Since the number 9 and the letter Q are pronounced the same in Japanese, its title is a clear reference to George Orwell’s masterpiece. This subtle change is the basis of one of Murakami’s most successful works.
3- ‘Kafka on the Shore’
It appeared in 2002, and after a while, New York Times critics awarded it the honor of being the best novel of the year. It is a clear example of intertwined stories: the odd-numbered chapters recount the life of Kafka Tamura, a character inspired by Franz Kafka, while the even-numbered chapters are part of World War II. He is dedicated to searching for lost cats.
4- ‘Diary of the bird that went around the world’
A prime example of how Murakami played the magical realism that taught Latin American writers to his will. But this time, his special Macondo is in Japan. For nearly a thousand pages, the fine line between reality and dream has been crossed in both directions.
5- ‘What am I talking about when I talk about running’
Murakami also devoted time and literature to the article. Specifically, he talks about his two great passions: jazz and running. This memoir is about this last topic, which is far more hilarious than any of his other publications on his participation in long-distance races.