The Strange Library

There are constant parallels to the \”House of Leaves\” by Mark Z. Danielewski (2000). This book by Murakami was published in 2014 so I have no doubt but to wonder/suspect if he were either extremely inspired by the original, or actually took upon himself to copy almost every aspect of the original but dumb it down to a child\’s reading level in hopes that no one notices. I HIGHLY recommend reading \”House of Leaves\”, the original novel of this knockoff. If I had never read House of Leaves, I would have found Murakami\’s \”Strange Library\” much more pleasant to read. And I powered through it since it was so short, and am still able to enjoy the mystery of the book. HOWEVER, there are WAY too many parallels that point to the \”House of Leaves\” that I cannot see this book as no more than a copycat, and I will appreciate it as such, not as Murakami\’s own creation.

If all they did was lend out knowledge for free, what would the payoff be for them? But that doesnt give them the right to saw off the tops of peoples heads and eat their brains. Dont you think thats going a bit too far? If you havent ever read a story by Murakami before, hes odd. Very odd. Im trying my best to review this without giving away any spoilers at all for those who just want to read the story and for those who like to dig for the deeper meanings. That being said, The Strange Library is a short story presented in a lone book. The book itself is odd, the cover has to be flipped open and has very strange vintage Japanese illustrations to match the story. Everything about the story seems simple and straightforward- not digging deep into characters or plots- adding a richness and dreamlike quality to the story. But, if you take it to the true Murakami level of reading (were talking deep philosophy here) then the reader just might see that the story really revolves around the boy, his pet bird, his mother, and death. <<<>>> visit blog for original review with details (contains spoiler) Overall The Strange Library was a fabulously odd short short story wether youre just looking for a quick read or something you can sink your teeth into. Id suggest getting a hardcopy instead of an ebook for this one just because the Chip Kidd design does add a lot to the story.

The Strange Library by Haruki Murakami is an illustrated novelette with emphasis on the \”ette\”; it\’s really just the 1982 short story, \”Toshokan kitan\” translated into English (it hasn\’t appeared in any of Murakami\’s English-language short-story collections) with illustrations by Chip Kidd. It is of interest to careful Murakami readers because it has references to other Murakami works. The Sheep Man makes an appearance, and one cannot help but notice the \”other worldliness\” of The Strange Library in comparison to the \”other world\” of The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle. So, is it worth the $7.99 the book costs on Kindle? Or the $10 it costs for hard copy? I would say, \”yes,\” at least to me. It took me half an hour to read, but at the same time, reading manga volumes rarely takes much longer, and they cost around the same amount. I really think that if you truly love a genre, you should support it, and I love illustrated novelettes and graphic novels. ****1/2

This short and sweet little book (it is quite short, hardly 100 pages, a very quick and easy read) is the epitome of what makes Murakami\’s work enjoyable. An average, slightly dorky protagonist enters a dream-like world that blurs the lines of fantasy and reality. This bite-sized work is great for a Murakami fan looking to devour more of his work, or for a new reader to get a taste of Murakami\’s world – but it definitely isn\’t as in depth or satisfying as some of his better known works (Kafka on the Shore, 1Q84, Wind Up Bird Chronicles, etc). The interesting and original thing about this novel comes with the beautiful artwork interspersed throughout the book, that accompanies the story. It\’s like having pieces of amazing cover art spread throughout the story, and complementing the story as you read it. Highly recommended!

It\’s Murakami, and if you\’ve read him before you know what to expect. Wit and magical realism presented in a deceivingly unassuming manner. Sometimes, maybe many times, where he takes you does not make sense, but then it doesn\’t need to and the trip is worth the time.

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