I've meant to get around to reading Murakami for some time now. I typically don't like reading translations of languages I can't read, but what with the buzz this lad gets, I can't really resist. I'm very interested in seeing the ideas a Japanese POV will add to literary post-structuralism.
I believe I previously read that The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle is his best, but no bookstores around here had it. I saw a bunch of copies of other books (Norwegian Wood, Hard-Boiled Wonderland, etc), but I didn't want to sour my opinion of the author by picking a book at random and potentially picking a dud.
Anyway, out of frustration, I picked up The Club Dumas. . .for like the 3rd time in 5 years. People keep borrowing it without returning it. The book is infectious. Anyone that likes the current trend of historical thrillers should check it out if they already haven't. It's arguably the book that started the trend of pop historical thrillers.
My move to rebuy Club Dumas was likely sparked by my completion of Zafon's Shadow of the Wind, which is just a smidge short of being absolutely brilliant. Zafon's definitely presented an excellent page-turner, but he often trips when it comes to phrasing. Scenes designed to be emotional are spoiled by sour or awkward words and constructions. His characters are also as stock as anything from the ol' Commedia dell'Arte. But being that this is his first novel, we should be glad that the only major flaws are things that most young authors fall prey to once or twice. He'll get over this. As long as this isn't his fluke excellent book, he may be a major emerging literary talent. Of course, he's had a lot of success with this book (in Europe, at least). Let's hope he doesn't let it get to his head.
I believe I previously read that The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle is his best, but no bookstores around here had it. I saw a bunch of copies of other books (Norwegian Wood, Hard-Boiled Wonderland, etc), but I didn't want to sour my opinion of the author by picking a book at random and potentially picking a dud.
Anyway, out of frustration, I picked up The Club Dumas. . .for like the 3rd time in 5 years. People keep borrowing it without returning it. The book is infectious. Anyone that likes the current trend of historical thrillers should check it out if they already haven't. It's arguably the book that started the trend of pop historical thrillers.
My move to rebuy Club Dumas was likely sparked by my completion of Zafon's Shadow of the Wind, which is just a smidge short of being absolutely brilliant. Zafon's definitely presented an excellent page-turner, but he often trips when it comes to phrasing. Scenes designed to be emotional are spoiled by sour or awkward words and constructions. His characters are also as stock as anything from the ol' Commedia dell'Arte. But being that this is his first novel, we should be glad that the only major flaws are things that most young authors fall prey to once or twice. He'll get over this. As long as this isn't his fluke excellent book, he may be a major emerging literary talent. Of course, he's had a lot of success with this book (in Europe, at least). Let's hope he doesn't let it get to his head.
