"Pinball, 1973" is Murakami's second novel, and one that hasn't been released outside of Japan... the only available translation is for Japanese students learning English, and the version I read was based on that one.Is that perhaps why this Murakami book felt different to me? The book was less polished, and the writing didn't move me as much as Murakami's work usually does. It could be the translation's fault. Maybe it's because it's the first time I was reading Murakami in English. Maybe the 'fault' just lies with Murakami. I don't know, but the book didn't work as well for me as his other work has done. Besides the writing, the plot wasn't worked out as well either. As often is the case with Murakami, the novel didn't have an actual point, but this time around Murakami didn't really make up for that with interesting character development. The twins living in with one of the characters are seriously empty figures: there's nothing to them. Even The Rat, one of the two main characters, and a figure of importance in later works "A Wild Sheep Chase" and "Dance, Dance, Dance", wasn't particularly captivating. I certainly haven't gotten to know him better, which I had silently hoped for.All the same, the work is interesting because it's still so clearly a Murakami book. The characteristics of his later work are all there, also many of the things he incorporates into his stories: a bar, classical music, references to literature, the 1960s as setting, to some extent even descriptions of ears (later on important in this "The Rat" quartet) and breasts. So in that sense, this book is interesting. Murakami fans can see where he started from, and that's nice. Murakami may not be satisfied with this effort, but it was good enough to get published, and it's good enough to be enjoyed. Not as much as some of his later work, but then again, everyone has to start somewhere.Therefore I would definitely recommend this to Murakami fans, if you're not a fan of Murakami's, you should probably not pick this up. And even though this is one of his first works and would therefore be a book people could have picked up as their first Murakami novel back in the day, for new readers now this certainly is not the case, and so I'd say: don't pick this up as your first Murakami. You won't get the hype, most likely, and his other books are more convincing. It's probably best to leave this one to the fans.
Pinball, 1973 is the second book in Murakami's Trilogy of The Rat.Beginning 3 years after the first part - Hear The Wind Sing - we find the narrator out of college, living and working in Tokyo. The Rat, having dropped out of school sometime earlier, is still adrift in the seaside town, still drinking beer in J's bar, and still alienated from society and himself.The narrative alternates back and forth between the narrator's story and The Rat's. You can anticipate the two meeting up again in the third book of the trilogy - A Wild Sheep Chase.Again, many of Murakami's themes and motifs make an appearance in this early work, his second, slightly longer novel. We have a narrator who is a stranger in a strange world, encounters with women that are mysterious and enigmatic, many allusions to rain and water, a well, lots of beer, western music, and of course, spaghetti.For those who love his body of work, this second book in The Trilogy of The Rat will put a smile on your face as you watch him develop as a writer.
What do You think about Pinball, 1973 (1980)?
3.25 starsCompared to the other two of "The Rat" series from Murakami (I read A Wild Sheep Chase in 2007 and then Hear the Wind Sing last month), this one is not as engrossing. Yes, Murakami still write like a painter, so beautiful. However, about half-way, I lose interest with the "I" character. Especially when he starts talking about spaceship (not favorite subject of mine, I guess).The structure of two different perspectives between "I" and "The Rat" (Nezumi) also a bit distracting because there are times I only care for "I" but on other times, I truly want to read only about "The Rat" (especially when he has that conversation with the bartender, J).Like other stories of Murakami, this is basically a story without plot. It just flows along to whatever subjects that "I" or "The Rat" want to talk about to us readers ...
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Hurray! Finally, I have the Holy Grail of Murakami reads, available to you for $5000 in print form, or free online. I'm so excited to read this. Or should I temper my expectations, lest they mar the experience? Okay, I promise to calm down. ***********************************************************Aha, here are the true first sprouts of the Murakami we know and love, the thoughtful, shy musings on routine, emptiness and evil, the very beginning of his interest in cats, the occasional well-chosen metaphor that makes you think, "I bet no one ever though it just like that until he came along." This is a love story, between a man and a pinball machine, the Space-ship with three flippers. And between another man and a bar, no flippers. The mood reminds me of the end of Casablanca, tear-less but stirring. Think of it. It's beautiful pain. This is the missing link to all his later works. it needs to be republished. Anyone hear me?
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This was Haruki Murakami's second novel. It's a difficult book to find as the author has stated he is displeased with his first and second book and there is no current in-print English translation. It is unfortunate because ii is not a bad novel at all. It appears Murakami's "worst" novel is better than most writers' best novel. It can be called an immature work. It rambles and there is a struggle by Murakami to find a coherent whole. He is definitely a developing writer at this point. Yet the Murakami fan will find plenty to like. You can see his themes being explored and developed. You can also find those strange items that reoccur in most of Murakami's books: There is a well, cats and lots of jazz. Pinball, 1973 is a pleasant novel but one only for the seasoned Murakami reader who can appreciate experiencing the early development of this seminal Japanese author.
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