Haruki Murakami

The new novel—a book that sold more than a million copies the first week it went on sale in Japan—from the internationally acclaimed author, his first since IQ84

Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage

A mesmerising mystery story about friendship from the internationally bestselling author of Norwegian Wood and 1Q84 Tsukuru Tazaki had four best friends at school. By chance all of their names contained a colour. The two boys were called Akamatsu, meaning ‘red pine’, and Oumi, ‘blue sea’, while the girls’ names were Shirane, ‘white root’, and Kurono, ‘black field’. Tazaki was the only last name with no colour in it. One day Tsukuru Tazaki’s friends announced that they didn't want to see him, or talk to him, ever again. Since that day Tsukuru has been floating through life, unable to form intimate connections with anyone. But then he meets Sara, who tells him that the time has come to find out what happened all those years ago.

"Maybe you needed to talk with somebody. More than you ever imagined."

The pain he felt was, if anything, more intense, and weighed down on him even more greatly because of the physical distance. Alienation and loneliness became a cable that stretched hundreds of miles long, pulled to the breaking point by a gigantic winch.

If there had been a door within reach that led straight to death, he wouldn’t have hesitated to push it open, without a second thought, as if it were just a part of ordinary life. 

Crossing that threshold between life and death would have been easier than swallowing down a slick, raw egg.

Renksiz Tsukuru Tazakinin Hac Yillari

Cemrenur Solakoğlu

Yaşam karmaşık notalar bütünü gibi, diye düşünüyordu Tsukuru. 16lık ölçü, 32lik ölçü, bir sürü garip simge ve anlamı belirsiz yazılarla dolu. Bunu doğru okuyabilmek bir hayli güç bir iş, doğru okunsa ve doğru bir şekilde seslere dönüştürülse bile, orada var olan anlamı insanların doğru şekliyle anlayıp, değerlendirebilecekleri kesin değil. Bu sonucun insanları mutlu etme garantisi yok. Insanın hayatındaki meseleler neden bu kadar karmaşık olmak zorunda acaba?

Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and his years of pilgrimage

se eu tivesse tempo eu terminava esse hoje mesmo pra matar a duvida que tá me consumindo a respeito do que foi que aconteceu 

victor

É bom você se lembrar disso. A história não pode ser apagada nem refeita. Isso equivale a matar a sua própria existência.

Imzy

Quite a nice quick read. The story was interesting, but was never truly captivating. I often felt sympathy for the protagonist, but at other times lost it through a lack of understanding his motivations. It was also difficult to understand the rationale of some of the other characters as the story developed.

The story is far more explicit and based in reality than other Murakami novels. I felt it lacked the 'other-worldly' themes and lack of certainty of his other works which I enjoy. Any sense of mystery in the story is lost after the first half of the book. 

Harry Allum

Quite a nice quick read. The story was interesting, but was never truly captivating. I often felt sympathy for the protagonist, but at other times lost it through a lack of understanding his motivations. It was also difficult to understand the rationale of some of the other characters as the story developed.

The story is far more explicit and based in reality than other Murakami novels. I felt it lacked the 'other-worldly' themes and lack of certainty of his other works which I enjoy. Any sense of mystery in the story is lost after the first half of the book. 

Maureen

“Our lives are like a complex musical score, … It's next to impossible to correctly interpret these, and even if you could, … there's no guarantee that people would correctly understand, or appreciate, the meaning therein…. Why must the workings of people's lives be so convoluted?”

***

My first book for 2024! It’s classic Murakami where you have this lonely male protagonist and a woman he finds himself obsessed with. Tsukuru’s introspection takes the fore as Murakami carefully weaves his feelings of loss and trauma together with the inner workings of classical music. It is a journey of friendship, healing— but mostly the protagonist’s mundane life and how he comes to terms with his past. I thought the reference to the title was apt and cleverly introduced in the book.

Jujur gatau apa maksud dari bagian mistik di buku ini, tapi masalah utamanya selesai dengan baik sih, tAPI (lagi) KENAPA ENDINGNYA AGAK NGEGANTUNG PLSSSSS apa yang terjadi hari Rabu? Gua beneran penasaran mampus sama jawaban Sara. ಥ_ಥ

Ghofran Mustafa 

When he grew tired of his room, 
he wandered aimlessly around the neighborhood or went to the station, where he sat on a bench and watched the trains arriving and departing, over and over again.

It's hardly Murakami's best work.But! I was very moved by it, and I will think about it for a very long time.

We keep up with Tsukuru's life, How he enjoys watching the movement of trains.
And the loneliness he felt after his four buddies abandoned him, without providing a reason And how he fell into a depressive spiral that lasted for several months.

As time goes on, you will feel sympathy for Tsukuru. Because you have encountered the same circumstances and emotions at some point in your life, you will sense a connection.

As usual with Murakami
The novel is full of sorrow and endless questions.
and lost souls looking for meaning in everything that happens.

Questions remain after the end of the story. And I believe that this is the message Murakami intended for us to take away—that you are not always destined to understand the reasons.

this the book Richie was talking abt in s2 of The Bear 

amari

Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki And His Years Of Pilgrimage A Novel

Paula Plaza Ponte 

"One heart is not connected to another through harmony alone. They are, instead, linked deeply through their wounds. Pain linked to pain, fragility to fragility. There is no silence without a cry of grief, no forgiveness without bloodshed, no acceptance without a passage through acute loss."

Gosh. 

Murakami is truly a master storyteller. I loved the way he weaved stories within stories with this one; how he developed his complex and colorful characters; how he withheld pieces of information at just the right time to the way he made all the details unexpectedly unravel. I still have questions. But that's okay. I just want Tsukuru to be happy. Something tells me, he will be.

Sarah Sammis

𓆨

i don't really know how to describe it but murakami's books are just “shallow” even if a book has potential it's just shallow, they always leave me with a sense of uneasiness and i feel like i've wasted my time on nothing

I loved it, as always Murakami always will find a way in my heart.

In many ways, Tazaki's journey mirrors my own, striking a chord that resonates deeply within the recesses of the heart; though, that's what the book is about I think... one must get over past events in life and continue to live in the present, because the present is what’s real. 

Life is full of indispensable lessons that usher us towards growth. The people who enter our paths often serve as conduits for these transformative experiences, as displayed by Sara's role in Tsukuru's life. Her presence becomes symbolic of those invaluable lessons.

Initially, Tsukuru is impatient to know the answer during those days until Wednesday. However, the narrative slowly shifts toward an epiphany of acceptance, manifested when he plays the music and enjoys the time in between. The deliberate act of not answering the phone becomes a metaphorical embodiment of embracing the unknown, illuminating one of life's most important lessons — acceptance.

This book skillfully delves into the nuances of solitude and isolation; delineating the chronic numbness that often accompanies these states. Murakami's portrayal of those states always transcends literature and words, he offers a mirror to the complex chains of human emotions.

I believe Tsukuru underwent significant growth as the narrative unfolded. He reached a meaningful milestone in discovering himself and embracing the realization that some things are beyond control — they cannot be as meticulously calculated as train stations.

As always, thank you, Murakami, I shall do my best to put aside the weird sex in every book^^;

laila

Murakami Murakami... 

I loved it, as always Murakami always will find a way in my heart.

In many ways, Tazaki's journey mirrors my own, striking a chord that resonates deeply within the recesses of the heart; though, that's what the book is about I think... one must get over past events in life and continue to live in the present, because the present is what’s real. 

Life is full of indispensable lessons that usher us towards growth. The people who enter our paths often serve as conduits for these transformative experiences, as displayed by Sara's role in Tsukuru's life. Her presence becomes symbolic of those invaluable lessons.

Initially, Tsukuru is impatient to know the answer during those days until Wednesday. However, the narrative slowly shifts toward an epiphany of acceptance, manifested when he plays the music and enjoys the time in between. The deliberate act of not answering the phone becomes a metaphorical embodiment of embracing the unknown, illuminating one of life's most important lessons — acceptance.

This book skillfully delves into the nuances of solitude and isolation; delineating the chronic numbness that often accompanies these states. Murakami's portrayal of those states always transcends literature and words, he offers a mirror to the complex chains of human emotions.

I believe Tsukuru underwent significant growth as the narrative unfolded. He reached a meaningful milestone in discovering himself and embracing the realization that some things are beyond control — they cannot be as meticulously calculated as train stations.

As always, thank you, Murakami, I shall do my best to put aside the weird sex in every book^^;



Kendall McClain

I love the beginning and I thought it was setting up an enthralling story but it fell quite flat.

Ayla Hawthorne

This book was flat where the other books I've read by Murakami were carbonated, fizzy.

I really enjoyed the first half but as the novel went on the metaphors got clunky and the plot didn't go anywhere. His writing style is lovely, and I don't think I'll ever tire of the classic Murakami detours on music or exercise or art, but frankly this wasn't a moving story.

100% preferred Hard-Boiled Wonderland.

A mesmerising mystery story about friendship from the internationally bestselling author of Norwegian Wood and 1Q84 Tsukuru Tazaki had four best friends at school. By chance all of their names contained a colour. The two boys were called Akamatsu, meaning 'red pine', and Oumi, 'blue sea', while the girls' names were Shirane, 'white root', and Kurono, 'black field'. Tazaki was the only last name with no colour in it. One day Tsukuru Tazaki's friends announced that they didn't want to see him, or talk to him, ever again. Since that day Tsukuru has been floating through life, unable to form intimate connections with anyone. But then he meets Sara, who tells him that the time has come to find out what happened all those years ago.

Ryan 

as of 5/8/22: i still enjoy it quite the same, 4 stars

4.25-4.5 stars

Kristy Donasco

** spoiler alert **
           I remember enjoying this in a depressing way. The story gripped me immediately since I read the first sentence of the first chapter in some bookstore years ago,

[spoilers] "From July of his sophomore year in college until the following January, all Tsukuru Tazaki could think about was dying."

I wondered why is that so, and reading page after page, there are some parts that resonated with me and others parts, I sympathized with.

It is about the people from Tsukuru's past, the chasm of wounds they left him, the aftereffects of that as he grew older, and in the end, it's about searching for answers.

There were many parts that I doubt I understood in this story, but maybe that's for another re-read. The ending can be deemed flat to others, meanwhile, I saw it as being like real life, it goes on and on, even beyond what's written in this book.

Tazaki is a fictional character but even so, I wish him luck as he perseveres in life.

equal parts disappointingly sexual and eye-openingly real…the message is good when it’s just the message alone if u get what i mean

shels

The exploration of loneliness and rejection is what drew me to this book but it’s really the insistent mentioning of boobs throughout that kept me interested /j

daniela

Hannah Swithinbank

More loose threads than usual for Murakami, but the last 100 pages in particular are beautiful.

In this book, Murakami describes the important issue of feeling isolated and rejected in the form of a simple and straightforward story. I loved it.

Shidehdeishidi

altlovesbooks

The book started out with a premise I could understand; namely, good friends turned strangers, and the coping one has to go through to put things into perspective. I felt like this book took a sudden turn after the first half or so, and turned into something less identifiable and interesting. The main character becomes fixated, almost whiny in places. His inability to move forward grates on my nerves. Side characters end up moving in and out of focus, with no resolution. I don't really know if Tsukuru finds the peace of mind he was seeking throughout the entire book, and maybe that was my biggest gripe. Your mileage may vary.

A mesmerising mystery story about friendship from the internationally bestselling author of Norwegian Wood and 1Q84 Tsukuru Tazaki had four best friends at school. By chance all of their names contained a colour. The two boys were called Akamatsu, meaning âe~red pineâe(tm), and Oumi, âe~blue seaâe(tm), while the girlsâe(tm) names were Shirane, âe~white rootâe(tm), and Kurono, âe~black fieldâe(tm). Tazaki was the only last name with no colour in it. One day Tsukuru Tazakiâe(tm)s friends announced that they didn't want to see him, or talk to him, ever again. Since that day Tsukuru has been floating through life, unable to form intimate connections with anyone. But then he meets Sara, who tells him that the time has come to find out what happened all those years ago.

Ayesha ahmed

Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage is a story about loss, death and unsolved problems. I really am a fan of Murakami's poetic writing, but I'll have to admit that I hate it when he goes into details about those "wild dreams". This is the second novel I've read by him, and both novels have that kind of magical, illusional feeling to it, which I admire.

It grew on me gradually, but something was just slightly off (aside from the record-breaking times boobs were mentioned for no reason)

Francesca

charisa

solidly 4.5 for me! 

i’ve never been too fond of murakami, ever since my first introduction to norwegian wood in freshman year of college (lmao). i think he unabashedly caters to the male gaze and writes his protagonists as overly self-abasing, which can cheapen and undermine the emotion of his writing. (please! when depicting a sorrowful embrace, do not fixate on the shape of the woman’s breasts!!)

granted, colorless tsukuru still stumbles in this way, but i was more moved by the central focus on the currents and complexities of friendship. murakami raises some interesting questions about forgiveness, especially from a secular perspective. it seems like common grace manifests through a universal, aching need for forgiveness to soothe consciences and bring about closure. reconciliation is powerful, even if to mainly mollify the whispers of one’s own heart. (—how much more to emulate the Father’s example?) 

finished this book thinking about those relationships in my life where i’m still seeking out a path forward, whether through a final goodbye or a greeting as if for the first time. 

“One heart is not connected to another through harmony alone. They are, instead, linked deeply through their wounds. Pain linked to pain, fragility to fragility. There is no silence without a cry of grief, no forgiveness without bloodshed, no acceptance without a passage through acute loss. That is what lies at the root of true harmony.”

Wynter

Sometimes people exit your life without explanation. You learn to live with that. Until you can't anymore.

"The cook hates the waiter, and they both hate the customer," Haida said. "A line from the Arnold Wesker play The Kitchen. People whose freedom is taken away always end up hating somebody. Right? I know I don't want to live like that."

"People came to him, but in the end they always left. They came, seeking something, but either they couldn't find it, or were unhappy with what they found (or else they were disappointed or angry), and then they left. One day, without warning, they vanished, with no explanation, no word of farewell. Like a silent hatchet had sliced the ties between them, ties through which warm blood still flowed, along with a quiet pulse."

"There is no silence without a cry of grief, no forgiveness without bloodshed, no acceptance without a passage through acute loss. That is what lies at the root of true harmony."

MaiAbdelhamed

(One heart is not connected to another through harmony alone. They are, instead, linked deeply through their wounds. Pain linked to pain, fragility to fragility. There is no silence without a cry of grief, no forgiveness without bloodshed, no acceptance without a passage through acute loss. That is what lies at the root of true harmony).

رواية تشبه موراكامي ، حزينة ودافئة و تتركك بدون إجابات كالعادة ، ولكن لا يزال يبهرني تفكيك و تحليل موراكامي لشخصيات رواياته ، بنظرة مختلفة ولطيفة ، لا أقول إنه يتعمق في النفس بالبشرية بقدر ما يمكن أن أقول إنه يحاول أن يظهر جانب غير مرئي منها ، جانب نجهلهه جميعاً.

jinni

3.5 ✳︎ it took a few moments for me to digest & figure out my own emotions, reading experience, resonance with tazaki, and what i ultimately took away from the novel.

the first thing i realized when i closed the book is this sense of helplessness the novel left with me. not the helplessness where i’m actually in a difficult situation and can’t find a proper solution, but this lack of control over life and how the world progress around me? i can’t describe it well. it’s not necessarily a bad thing (i guess helplessness’ connotation can come off pretty negative); it just means that there’s no definite answer or happy/sad endings to anything. this is a theme that prevails throughout the novel—loose-ends, unexplained departures and mysteries, uncertain reunions, etc. although it left quite a bit of bitterness in my mouth, i loved it because of how well it reflected the common experience.

this is certainly a novel i will return to when i become more mature and have seen more things the world has to offer. from my 19 year-old perspective, i still can’t grasp some aspects of 36 year-old tazaki’s prigrimage of bearing trauma, mending wounds, losing and meeting people, and finding answers, which is partially why i settled on 3.5 stars. it’s too distant from me right now. another thing that didn’t click with me was the incorporation of the classic murakami supernatural element. i personally didn’t like its purpose or think it mixed well with the rest.

Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage

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