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JASPER FFORDE IS A ELOQUENT AUTHOR.

are you kidding with the bird sounds?

good, expressive review. but that it haunted and continues to haunt you (as it did/does me)-is that not the highest praise?

Emptiness is also seen as beautiful in Buddhism. It's interesting that Murakami's characters seem so western in terms of their culture.

It's Chronicle, not "Chronicles" come on

yes i agree, after reading it, i was also into complete oblivion state, don know what it was. i just was waiting pondering, flipping the characters in mind, judging why were so extreme in case of emotions, toru for the fact has no emotion towards his disappeared wife but wets his pant with some imaginary encounters .how absurd was that? i think it is murakami's forte to make us taste what is bizarre in general. i have also gone through Norwegian wood, the taste is same; you just keep pondering after you complete. good job on review.

"Kinda Spoiler" I think the 'empty' feeling is a result of 'looking' for something that isn't there. I enjoyed this book immensely due to having read a number of his books and seeing how he uses his protagonists at blank slates that the ensemble of the novels 'paint on'. He creates motifs that transcend a single novel so wide reading of his works adds to the enjoymemt of pieces like Wind-up Bird. If I had to descide this book concisely I'd say it is a spiritual and physical journy of a man trying to save his wife whilst facing the issues of a modern Japan and it's cultural heritage.

This book is an agonizing read in some ways, especially the graphic Manchuria scenes, but the final chapters make up for everything. Noburu Wataya is an amazing villain and his weirdness only confirms his evil. Reading it I sympathized with Toru because he is a simple and trusting man, and this is an accurate representation of good vs. evil. Toru has doubts about himself and he has few friends, but by trusting others and trying to live a dignified life, he takes on heroic status. Wataya, on the other hand, has all the material success one could want but is ultimately just a hollow TV image with nothing but darkness underneath. Regarding this book as an allegory for good vs. evil really redeems it. Getting through it, like you, I had doubts about what Murakami was trying to say, but when you consider morality and conscience his message is profound.

I love your teeth!

I agree regarding this book in many ways, in so much as it doesn't really at any point give any closure to many of the issues faced by Toru. The Kumiko situation, the menacing and looming but distant presence of Noburu Wataya (actually only present with dialogue in one scene), the relevance of Lieutenant Mamiya and his story, the origins and purpose of the blue mark, the ultimate fate of Malta and Creta Kano (though Creta is briefly covered at the end). But for me, this theme of ambiguity is both it's biggest weakness and it's greatest strength, throughout there seems to be a theme running through the book of 'waiting for something to happen' that ultimately never gives up anything of note.. I can appreciate that for many this may be frustrating but for me I forgive this lack of clarity because of the fabulously detailed and intricate way in which it is woven together. Its characters, though many, are memorable and interesting. You mention not being familiar with Japanese culture and in some ways I think that to western readers the passivity of the Toru character seems so alien to become almost enraging to observe, but in many ways I think that this may be a commentary on Japanese sociology by Murakami. Anyway, great review and I can see many of your points :)

i' ve watched 3 reviews on Murakami's books and for christ sake,if you don't like the books..then don't do a review.

Exactly I am on the same phase and I am in the well with him after May Kasahara shuts the other half of the well. I was continuously reading for 3 days on a row while the point came that asked me myself to stop awhile And thinking to complete it,I am again starting to read it. Heard about Haruki Murakami,I was interested to go though some of his nobles,and Wind-up Bird is the pretty much unfamiliar story for me too. Thanks for sharing your video though.Hope u get some other good ones of Haruki's. Thank you!

Amazing! Thanks for the vid! :)

Thank you very much for this video, I just finished it and feel a bit similar to you but it was especially emotionally frightening for me the idea of losing oneself and replacing it in the same container which is our bodies, I always lived with an idea that you must fight to not lose yourself by avoiding doing harm and wrong to anyone including myself, exploring that in a violating way really scared me but also made me more accepting of everything in the end similar to how the protagonist was afraid of darkness in the beginning but came to accept and blend with it accepting his unknown horrors that might come.

A very Strange Book.But,one thing is sure i will never forget about this book.

A very good book

I really recommend sputnik sweetheart to you. It was my first murakami and completely stole my mind. Its definitely not as surreal but extremely powerful.

Watching this made me smile just to remember how wonderful that day was! I think I've mentioned how none of my friends IRL like books, so it felt so fulfilling and gratifying to talk books and laugh with a bunch of ladies who are just as lovely (or more so, actually) offline as they are online! I can't wait to do it again.

The journal cover looks so pretty..I need to try an independent book store I am not sure that we have many of those around my town..I am going to need to check it out...BTW I love Toronto..I was there in November awhile back ,it was super cold. I need to visit when it is not so cold...

With my library we have an online thing where you can make a list to keep track of books you want to check out at some point. For myself, I do that and therefore if they don't have it at my library I can request it. Makes it easier to deal with and also, I limit myself to two books out at a time. I find it is easier that way because it is a balance and it is in my reach to finish those in the time I have. :)

Oh, I added Culpeper's Color Herbal to my wishlist, it looks so interesting and the cover is beautiful! I love listening to you talk, lol, you have a very soothing voice. It sounds like you ladies had an awesome time :)

I met up with some fellow book bloggers in Amsterdam a while ago, we went book shopping in every bookstore we could find. There's a Waterstones, which we obviously went to because you can't just walk past it... and then there's the American Book Center, which is, I guess, our local independent bookstore. They have this huge manga section and it was awesome to get excited over books with people who actually know what you're talking about.

I'm jealous of your meetup but excited that it went so well for you ladies. When Susheela mentioned this to me, I kind of wanted to drive up there just to meet you all :)

There's a store here called Murder by the Book, which specializes in mysteries. It has a lot of autographed books there, a lot of new writers come there and talk about their books. I even ran into a Joe Hill autograph in his typical simple manner. Right now, I can't seem to just read one book and keep to it. I was supposed to be reading Shawshank at night but now I'm just reading poetry, on the other hand I am still reading the Indifferents during the day, I love that book :)

Ah! "The Flavour Thesaurus" is such a great book! I've been wanting this book for awhile but I'm so glad you picked it up. Also, "Thinking about Type" is another book I need. I realized I got zero books that day, which is crazy pants.

I definitely think it's worth it to shop at the independent stores, you find the best stuff and it's true - the staff really want to talk books with you. I have become friends with the bookstore staff as I'm in there a lot for the library as well, and they are excited to help me choose what's new and exciting. I get the best of both worlds because even when my personal budget wants me to not buy for myself, I can go in and pick out a heap of books with library money. :)

Journals, records, typography, and independent bookstores! I wish I lived in TO too so we could hang out, we like many of the same things. :) My local bookshop is Westminster, and they are so good! Indie shops are smaller but their stock is very well selected, you find the most unique and interesting books, along with your bestsellers, at chapters it's heaping shelves and more an illusion of choice, so much of the same to choose from.

I love independent book shops but my town only has a Waterstones and I think we're lucky to still have that as the area is so rundown. I love my second hand independent though and I like to split my book spending between the two!

I agree: it feels good to pay a little extra for the books at independent bookstores. One often finds the most interesting books there, and the atmosphere in the shop rooms is at most times refreshingly individual. I love that! I have Cupeper's Completed Herbal (without illustrations) and I find it really fascinating. Sadly, my copy doesn't have any "modern usage", but his descriptions of plants are wonderful to read anyhow. The flavour thesaurus sounds genious!

Sounds like a great day! Are any of you ladies going to Word On The Street do you think?

hi I am so jealous I have to do most of my book buying online the nears bookstore about 40 mile away your trip sounded like good fun

Oh my god, spending the day wandering through a city I've never been to before, searching independent bookstores really sounds like heaven. I love the typeface book, I just watched the Helvetica documentary on Netflix, it's totally worth a watch if you haven't seen it!

it's a website that let you request rare (?) books. If one of the book shop affiliated has it, they will put it on hold for you and if you wish they'll ship it. its usedbookcircle(.)com I think it's only Canadian book shops. May be worth a shot!

What is that! No, I have not done that! Explaaaaaiiiiin!

They really are the best :D Have you tried sending a request for them through usedbookcircle? You probably have but just in case!

I buy most of my books used, so I go to a lot of used book stores. I love Cheap Thrills (they also sell records) and Welsh. There's also one on St-Laurent I can't remember the name but the owner is SO SWEET. He really loves books and he can be open til midnight! He also has cats wandering around the shelves. I love it! I do go to Chapters sometimes, but not as much anymore.

Thank you! I will check them both out! And thanks for trying to compile a list for me, I cannot wait to see what you guys read!!! Like I said, I'd love to do a winter/ice skating get-together. But if we can figure out a time that works in the fall (mmm, sweaters, and Soma hot chocolate and crunch park leaves) we should totally do that! I wonder if we can do some videos together??

I was so SHOCKED when I walked in a few months ago and saw they were selling jewelry. My first reaction was "if I wanted to go to Forever21 I would have". I think it's ridiculous. My brother wanted to give me a book for Christmas and not a gift card, so he asked a girl and she told him straight up that she wasn't a reader and to just get me a gift card if he didn't know what to pick. Customer service: zero.

Ah! I love used bookstores! I am trying to hunt down Elizabeth Smart's journals, it's frustrating that I'll have to get them off eBay or a rare online shop ;(

We do have the "quebec" sticker on books which I think is cool but why not for canadian authors as well... It really annoys me. Anyway, not a lot I can do about it. I requested it from the library so hopefully it gets here soon! :)

Hahaha, speed racing boathead! That's meeeee!

I'm guessing with the online Indigo store, there will probably be less and less need to staff the Indigo/Chapters book stores as they are now. I just hate that they're sales people, and not necessarily book lovers. And for those that are, they're selling little trinkets and gift cards and chocolates and baubles instead of, you know, BOOKS. What book shops do you go to in Montreal? I'm hoping to visit there soon!

Wow! Oh Miss Clavel, how we worship you! Good on Jordan for supporting your local book shop! Next time maybe we can FaceTime you in there! I hope we get together in the fall :D

Oh! And I forgot to mention that one of my favourite independent book store here in Montreal is welchbooks(.)com/. It's a used book shop though but I can find what I'm looking for most of the time! :)

I have had the same experience when going to Chapters/Indigo here in Montreal. I HATE IT. I never ask for anything anymore. If I can't find it on my own, I just go somewhere else. Interesting haul!

It sounds like such a wonderful day and I am so glad you had a great experience! I wish I could have joined in - I would have been the Miss Clavel to your orphan French girls. So glad you are encouraging support for local bookstores. So important! One of my favourites is simply called The Edmonton Book Store, and they have so many great rare books and TONS of CanLit. Jordan got me an autographed book of poetry by Elizabeth Smart from there! Long live the independent bookstores! Great video!

It's true, the CanLit is just shuffled in with the rest of them. At my Chapters, I demanded that we dedicate one of the bays on the back wall to CanLit. It's worked very well! People do want to know, and it's good to have a space that they can go.

Thank you! I did consider doing just that, but I was able to spend the evening flying through the rest of the book! I feel like I should make my video (at the very least synthesize my notes) ASAP so as not to forget anything! I can't believe the take-out limit is 25 items. I don't know who can read 25 books in 21 days, honestly! A book a day? Crazy.

I can't wait to hear some responses from you! It's such a classic book, it seems that everyone's at least read Fifth Business. It's so great that none of us in Hello Hemlock had read it before! So far his narrative style has really resonated with me as well. He seems very classic, very Canadian, but in a rural and colonial kind of way. I can't wait to read FYEA, now! <3

Ohhh, are you an Agatha fan? I grew up watching Hercult Poirot mysteries! Never read any of her stuff, though. How are you liking Alias Grace!