This was confusing, not so much in 'oh, wait, what happened?'   No, this was confusing as in 'why?   Why did that all happen?'

 

The last page is especially dreary, depressing, and confusing.   I was drawn to this book due to the use of illustrations, and the fact that I tend to love this author's work.   I figured it was great for the magical realism slot in Halloween bingo!

 

The best I can say about this is that it was short.   And well written.  I mean, technically, all the sentences were fine.   It was smooth, an easy read, but I just really was left floundering in trying to discover the point of it all  at the end. 

 

Sadly, I gave this to my father for a trip, I believe, and he warned me it wasn't great.  Still, I figured, maybe I'd like it?

 

Nope.   I did not.   Still, I have two bingo squares, so yay me?

The Strange Library -- Haruki Murakami

 

 

If there was an underlying meaning to the short story portrayed about a boy getting lost in the weird underground labyrinthine horror of a common city library where old men eat brains full of knowledge, sheep men get thrown into a jar with caterpillars as punishment, and a mysterious, voiceless girl appears from nowhere... I likely didn't catch it.

Oh yes, also some things to do with a starling and leather shoes.

I've never read a Haruki Murakami book before, and this book, even though it is akin to a childrens' picture book, is very much outside of my comfort genre. It's just that, between the title, the cover illustration, and the unique summary, I couldn't help but be curious. And then, when I picked up the book, it was also an interestingly strange format that I hadn't expected--a neat way to illustrate the story of The Strange Library, that's for sure.

 

 

Anyway, strange book is strange, but unique and interesting nonetheless. I'm just not sure I really understood what was going on here, though it DOES remind me vaguely of some of those Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark type books I've read before as a child.

***

2016 Reading Challenges:
• Goodreads Reading Challenge
• BookLikes Reading Challenge
• Bookish Resolutions Challenge -- New to Me Author #3

 

 

 

I read this book tonight because I was looking for something short and quick to try and help me shake this reading slump.

 

I don't know what I was expecting, but this wasn't it. The ending threw me. I liked the illustrations. And the magic realism of the story. This is definitely one I'll be revisiting in the future. It seems like a book that will probably change with each reading.

The Strange Library has all of (or almost all of) the elements of a Murakami story that I love, distilled into one quick read. The illustrations and the recurrence of familiar Murakami themes and characters/character-types serve to elevate the story's dreamlike atmosphere. It was made both familiar and strange, as the best/worst dreams often feel. That said, those unfamiliar with his work will probably finish this with a sense of "what the f did I just read". It would be unfair to compare this to his novels. It's an experiment and a way for Murakami to play with new formats and new methods of expression. I for one really enjoyed it and hope he takes the experiment further next time.

I haven't quite worked out exactly what he's saying, I only just finished it 20 minutes ago. But I suspect that as with any other parable, or any other Murakami story for that matter, its meaning will become clear (and change and evolve) the longer I sit with it. What I do know is that I had an immediate emotional response and that's usually the first phase in understanding Murakami for me. I think those writing The Strange Library off as a failed attempt at scaring children into behaving are missing the point - taking it too seriously and too literally. I think it was originally published for adolescents, but being familiar with Murakami's decidedly NOT kid-friendly work makes this of interest to adults too.

Two days later (and more at the time of this post) and I'm still mulling over this short but bewilderingly provoking book. This is, I'll admit, my first attempt at a Murakami story and I can say I'm impressed. Though short, there is a definite plot, you learn to like or dislike characters, and he still has plenty of time to set the scene and confound you.

 

A young boy returns his library books and is looking for some new ones to read. An unfamiliar librarian at the front desk directs him to the basement and a frightening old man in Room 107. Like so many readers here can attest, a stray thought sends him after information, in this case taxes in the Ottoman Empire. But these books can not leave the library and he might not either!