My fiction-writing professor told me this is the most acclaimed writer of our day and that he is coming here to Oahu on the 10th of April. I have been stealing away time to read some of his short stories in hopes to get some idea why this Japanese fellow is 'most acclaimed'. I can't put my finger on it, really. Maybe literary fiction is as abstract as poetry in terms of what makes it good? Maybe good literary fiction is all a matter of opinion (or any fiction!)?
I suppose it would be difficult to write good fiction if you couldn't tell good fiction from bad. Or maybe it isn't. Maybe spotting good fiction is someone else's job? A writer writes, he doesn't judge, he just writes. And if he's lucky...
Between writing and school and worrying about bills, I'm over-taxing myself. My brain is turning to mush and I just need some sleep! I have been in school since January 2011 without a break and I am, after spring semester, going right back in. I can't afford a break; literally. Going to school is paying my bills!
Oh well, that which does not kill us...
-D. Gage
sometimes you can get a better grasp of what a writer is about if you read the works that influenced them. In Murakami's case try reading some Raymond Chandler, Philip K Dick and Kafka.
ReplyDeleteMurakami's short story Tony Takitani is a good, slightly less odd than his other stuff, piece to read if you're unfamiliar with his work. You can find it online.
regards,
mood
Ah, a Murakami fan! Yeah, I have read a little bit of Kafka, and Philip K Dick but not Raymond Chandler. I would like to read a novel or two of Murakami but I don't have the time right now. So, short stories are all I can squeeze in. Anyhow, thanks for the comment.
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