Before this course, I had only read a few pages of 1Q84 and didn't really know what kind of author Haruki Murakami is; however, through reading his various works I've been thoroughly surprised, engaged and informed on why Murakami is such a renown author. I initially approached Murakami with a realistic lens but in turn, I was surprised to find mystical elements combined with a deeper metaphorical narrative. It was interesting to see the various sources Murakami was influenced by and makes me wonder how much of literature itself is interconnected.
I found myself quite engaged since much of Murakami's work takes you on an unexpected journey. I especially enjoyed The Strange Library and found the surrealism captivating--seemingly streams of imagination representing truths about life. It also made me wonder how much of Murakami's own personal life struggles were placed in these works, does Boku reflect an aspect of Murakami? Also, the references to politics and Japanese history seem to suggest that Murakami is using literature as a platform for social commentary. The references to specific music and right-wing figures are all intricately laced into a magical story--I don't think I would have noticed it if we didn't go over it in class! Through studying Murakami as an author that is influenced by various works, I've gained a greater appreciation towards his literature and a greater interest towards foreign writers as well.
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