Number9Dream, what is a relatively administered star-rating system compared to the joy I experience while reading you? Faults and all.

I don't completely understand everything you revealed with my mind awake, but your echo resonates lucidly through my dreamtime. You say: "Time may be what stops everything happening at once, but rules are different asleep." How I know this to be true, yet could never prove.

Fantasies and dreams. Cause and effect. Repeated conclusions reveal nothing where conclusions don't exist. What we experience, day and night, happens, regardless of comprehensible explanations.

"Dreams are shores where the ocean of spirit meets the land of matter...where the yet-to-be, the once-were, the will-never-be may walk awhile with the still-are."

With eyes open or closed, meaning lurks everywhere amongst these pages, knowing no boundaries.

I want to say, "It was me, it wasn't you," to this novel. She and I just didn't click. She's obviously got a lot going for her besides her perfect neck, including a horribly pretentious style and a vividly dramatic penchant for detail, but while I had a very good time with some of his other novels all lined up in a row like some Voltron Robot of literature, this one just seemed to go on and on with rambling and disjointed plot-lines that EVENTUALLY, like, at the END wrapped up into the Matrix-Style "This Is Only A Dream" Science Fantasy extravaganza with immortal witches and people Outside Of Time that so punctuated his other novels.

Don't get me wrong. I really wanted to like her. The novel feels just as epic as a wandering and hopeless kid with a very, very late destiny can aspire to. Maybe I've just run out of patience after getting through so many of David Mitchell's novels. The glorious bits are glorious, the normal bits are strongly detailed and interesting in their way, and the density of ideas is sometimes an awesome pleasure to behold.

But the overall structure of these monstrosities?

I Just Don't Know. I feel like I'm trying to suck a fifth of Whisky from a bottle left unbroken. I want to love the insanity and I want to love sheer chutzpah. It's always a heavy mix of traditional literature, fascinating locations, interesting peoples, and OUT-THERE SF to tie it all together like a nightmare or a dream.

Indeed. A dream. *sigh*

I'm sorry, number9dream. It was me, not you.

About three years ago a friend gave me a copy of a novel written by an English teacher living in Hiroshima. I had expected not to like it and was pleasantly surprised and wrote a book review, which became my first professional journalistic piece (i.e. I was paid for it), it was a book review of David Mitchell's impressive debut, Ghostwritten.

It wasn't until recently that I read his follow up, number9dream (2001), I'm not sure why I waited so long, since, I, myself, had pointed out that he had enormous talent and was looking forward to what he'd write next. I think the reviews of the novel's content turned me off, however, I can't say exactly what it was. But now having read the acclaimed book, which was short listed for the Booker prize, I know exactly what it is that I don't like about it.

The previous novel was a collection of stories that interconnected to form a novel. One of those stories owed a heavy debt to Haruki Murakami, as does this novel. It is a sort of mystery (a boy searching for his father), which is one of Murakami's favorite genres. It features a female character praised for an atypical beauty point, in Murakami's case it was the ears, here it is her neck. There are elements of fantasy and science fiction, however, I can't see how they move the story along or add to it. I find it something that I usually overlooked in Murakami's work, because of all the other great qualities his novels possess. Early in the novel, the main character Eiji has several sci-fi fantasy sequences that do little other than introduce some characters and make you wonder what kind of book you've gotten yourself into. Later, there is a sequence where Eiji is hiding out reading fantastical stories by the occupant of the safe house, which almost seems like filler, and to be honest I skimmed most of those stories. And instead of naming his novel after a Beatles song like Murakami, "Norwegian Wood", he has named it after a John Lennon song, "number9dream."

Furthermore, I had trouble getting around the English slang. I know he was making an approximation of how Japanese in meaning and tone would sound in English. And he has had success with an idea that I've had as well, which is to write a typical literary story, but set it in Japan in order to distinguish it from the hundreds of other literary novels. And to Mitchell's credit, he has had a lot of success in doing so.

He seems to be dealing with some big issues like fate, the nature of evil, and man's role in society. But sometimes the story comes across like a manga (comic book) story, with every evil character being cartoonishly so over the top.

I know that Mitchell lives in Hiroshima, but must have spent extensive time in Tokyo, because he knows all the right stations and describes the city with an eye for detail. He chooses obscure areas in shita-machi (downtown) like Kita-Senju and Ueno station. That being said Mitchell is an impressive stylist. In professional terms this was a successful follow-up to his initial book. But in my eyes he is capable of more.

Schwieriger Fall für mich, ich mag die Story-Ideen von Mitchell wirklich sehr, ich wollte auch diesen Roman mögen …. Aber … ich hab es nicht geschafft reinzukommen, vielleicht ist mein Englisch zu schwach oder oder oder. Irgendwann hab ich’s nach der Hälfte aufgegeben. Sprachlich haben mich die vielen Sätze, oft 10 und mehr hintereinander, die mit He oder She oder I beginnen. Das ergibt dann so einen unangenehm hektischen Stakkato-Duktus, der kaum mal durch etwas kontemplativere, reflektierende Phasen kontrastiert wird. So fühle ich mich streckenweise als würde ich versuchen ein vernünftiges Gespräch mit einem manisch zappelnden Crack-Junkie zu machen, der gerade auf Trip ist.

Habe es dann über die Jahre immer wieder versucht aber nur noch querfeldein gelesen. Vielleicht beende ich es irgendwann noch auf regulärem Weg, fürchte aber dass es an meiner Bewertung nicht mehr viel ändern würde.

I'm not saying don't read it. Three stars is not a slam in my ranking system. Mitchell gets his bearings and it is worth reading for lots of reasons. If you're interested in Japan, for example, that interest may be your entry point or if you've enjoyed his other novels. I will probably read all of them eventually.

Strange coincidence. I started reading this novel about a week after finishing Norwegian Wood. They feel like conjoined cousins. Murakami's novel was a five star read for me. I liked how straightforward it was compared to the other Murakami I've read. Number9dream was a three star read. I liked it, but it was the least straightforward Mitchell novel I've read, to the point that I had a hard time following what was going on in parts.

No less than 5 amazing stars.

Originally posted here.

Nine things about n  number9dreamn

1. That was one helluva whirlwind read! Alternating between reality and fantasies-cum-dreams took me for a loop, but I'd gladly do it again. No one can do that to me and totally awe me like Mitchell just did.

2. Is this metafiction? Are there traces of metafiction in this novel? If the answer is yes to either question, then I think I could definitely get used to the genre.

3. "Maybe the meaning of life lies in looking for it."

4. Study of Tales. Story within a story. Within a story.

5. There is no question now about Mitchell's writing talent - to echo a buddy's observation, is there anything the guy couldn't do? He can write convincingly as a different person, all within a single novel. He jumbles and interjects the literal with the figurative. He's like a literary architect who combines various structural motifs to make a fabulous whole.

6. Notwithstanding the reading slump I endured while this book was on my currently-reading shelf, its appeal did not diminish the least bit. That tells a lot about how awesome this book is, doesn't it?

7. It made me curious about John Lennon's song, #9dream, from which the title is derived. Because of this, I'm set to make a playlist devoted solely to songs mentioned in books.

8. The number of references to the Philippines and its citizens brings hope that one of these days, Mitchell will pay a visit to Manila. Fangirl mode!

9. [blank]

n  
Music. You eat it, but it eats you too.

We don’t see things as they are, we see things as we are.

Time may be what prevents everything from happening at the same time in waking reality, but the rules are different in dreams.

Trust what you dream. Not what you think.

Dreams are shores where the ocean of spirit meets the land of matter. Beaches where the yet-to-be, the once-were, the will-never-be may walk amid the still-are.

A dream is a fusion of spirit and matter. Fusion releases energy – hence sleep, with dreams, refreshes. In fact, without dreams, you cannot hold on to your mind for more than a week.n

Това е поредната книга-игра на Мичъл и за да минеш нивото често пъти се налага да се върнеш назад.

Книгата е инспирирана от песента на Джон Ленън #9 dream и прави връзка с друга негова песен “Norwegian Wood”.

n  “#9dream” is a descendant of “Norwegian Wood”. Both are ghost stories. “She” in “Norwegian Wood” curses you with loneliness. The “Two spirits dancing so strange” in “#9dream” bless you with harmony. But people prefer loneliness to harmony.’
‘What does the title mean?’
‘The ninth dream begins after every ending.’n

Със сигурност има корелация с "Норвежка гора" на Мураками, но засъжаление не съм я чел и не мога да коментирам.
Към средата се споменава "Хроника на птицата с пружина" в един много кратък коментар на Ейджи.

Първоначално книгата изглеждаше да бъде със структура на една история. Това, разбира се, щеше да е прецедент за Мичъл. Впоследствие се случи точно обратното и на то��и етап ми се струва, че това е книгата му събрала най-много истории. Толкова образи се струпват в един момент, че започваш да изпускаш някои моменти. Но понеже е типично мичълско всяка от книгите му да има точки на пресичане с останалите, няма как да кажа, че някоя от тях е била излишна. Все пак, през цялото време върви една основна история с ужасно много разклонения и сънища. Към края на книгата сънищата зачестяват до такава степен, че реалност и сън се размиват в едно.

В романа се откроява една лична история на Kaiten - торпедо - камикадзе.

Краят. Хм, точно затова става дума, не може да бъдеш убеден, къде точно се случва този "край". Въобще нещо случило ли се е, особено ако някой притежава силата да се събуди от реалността.

Може и това да е идеята, а именно, ти да избереш случващото се и случилото се. Шантаво е.

Това за мен е най-неясната от книгите му.

И в този роман са засегнати анхоритите и хоролозите, но изключително завоалирано.

Още не мога да определя точно ролите им. Със сигурност в образа на анхоритите се вписват мафиотите, Mama-san - Queen of Spades’ , която играе двоен агент, евентуално и майката на Yuki Chiyo.
Докато за хоролозите имам само предположения: Buntaro, не ми е ясен Lao Tzu, Mrs Persimmon (Персимон - Райска ябълка) - бабата с плетката, която може и да е котката на Мияке ... :)

ПП. Интересна, отново книга-игра. Ще се повторя, Мичъл ми се струва уникален за тийнейджърите - съчетава фантастика, трилър, мистерия, история, крими, хорър ... Защо не го промотират у нас, защо книгите му в книжарниците все ги сбутват някъде? При това, изключително прецизно си изпипва историите.

Ултра-кратък синопсис:

Близнаци са изоставени от разделените си родители и са отгледани от тяхната баба. Когато момчето (Ейджи Мияке) е вече тийнейджър на 19 г. напуска селото на баба си и заминава за Токио, за да се опита да намери баща си. Неочаквано друг негов роднина открива Ейджи. През това време получава писмо от майка си и се случват всевъзможни неща ...

Mitchell's second offering dives into the age-old question of the meaning of life. For over four hundred pages, this novel takes us on a circular tale at a breakneck pace. It is easy to get caught up in the ironies, the coincidences and the over-the-top crime lord stuff, but Mitchell's gifted storytelling and imagination are really just there for our enjoyment. The real power of the novel comes from Mitchell's more sincere passages that typically deal with memories and relationships. It is not often that an author has an ability to go from bowling alley torture to introspective narrative so effortlessly. He is unique in that regard.

Thematically speaking, I kept thinking that this chaotic storyline, while a fun read, was somewhat misleading. Life can seem hectic and overwhelming, but sometimes we need to consider the larger picture. And the larger picture here is this; the purpose of life is not just to be a dreamer, but to evolve into someone who actively pursues their dreams. No spoilers here, but the ending of the novel is perfect for the thematic focus of the novel. Our daydreaming protagonist has finally uncovered the meaning of life for himself, and the ninth act will involve a man who takes his destiny in his own hands. As John Lennon explains to us; "the ninth dream begins after every ending." I have never read a novel where the ending seemed like a beginning, and it kind of blew me away.

Set in Japan in the present or perhaps the near future, with several versions of early bits of the plot. Is it real or is it a computer game - certainly he plays computer games?

Some wonderful metaphors and some ludicrously contrived and awkward ones. Too much organised crime and mindless violence for my taste, with little of the beauty of his other books to provide balance or contrast. (Number 9 Dream is a Beatles song that plays at a disco in Black Swan Green, which I reviewed HERE.)


See also Murakami's Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World, which I reviewed HERE. Mitchell acknowledges Murakami as an inspiration in general, and there are some similarities between this and one of the two threads in Hard-Boiled Wonderland.

This was the second novel in my year end David Mitchell readathon and is the second novel he published. I went into it having read no reviews of it, therefore having no preconceived notions except excited anticipation because of how much I admired Ghostwritten.

Eiji Miyake is a young man who has left the tiny Japanese village where he grew up to go in search of the father he has never met. He is 20 years old but seems younger, probably due to his limited experience of city life. The reader soon learns that he is a twin, that he lost his twin sister in a tragedy, and that his mother was never married but is in fact an alcoholic who left the twins to be raised by their grandmother. Eiji may not have worldly experience but most of his life so far has been full of deep sorrows.

Now that is a perfect set up for a coming-of-age story built around a quest for a missing parent. Eiji is also a budding guitarist with a lively imagination. His first stake-out, across from an office tower where his father's business is located is so riddled with imaginative scenes but is such a failed enterprise, I feared for his safety and his mind.

But Eiji is a plucky if hapless lad, he is consumed by his quest, and pretty soon I realized his underlying strength was going to see him through all the horrific things that happen to him. He is a combination of Holden Caufield, David Copperfield, Murikami's Kafka, and almost every one of Neal Stephenson's early heroes.

One additional but crucial plot point is Eiji's love of music: jazz and John Lennon to be exact. This is where the dreams come in. The novel's title is also the name of a John Lennon song. There are nine chapters. There are countless dreams.

Though this novel is centered on one character, as opposed to the many protagonists of Ghostwritten, though it follows a start to finish narrative arc, it is still an elaborate puzzle covering philosophical and societal themes, not to mention a poignant love story.

I was captivated on every page. Some parts were confusing but the story never sagged and I felt securely in the hands of a trustworthy spinner of tales. I finished the book eager to begin my rereading of Mitchell's third novel, Cloud Atlas.

The devil has all the best tunes, and the fiendish Mr Mitchell is in cahoots with Old Nick for the best stories too. What worries me is what the deal involves? Selling your soul to Mephistopheles is a risky manoeuvre for sure. This, Mitchell's second novel and the last one that I had not read, is the story of one who is punished by the God of Thunder, by being given exactly what he asked for. Beware of what you wish for, as it may be granted. Having lost his twin sister in that deal, bereft of a mother too, his quest to find the father he never knew becomes a compulsion that drives him into another perilous bargain with the Prince of Darkness himself, the head of one of the warring Yakuza gangs of Tokyo. What follows is the kind of heady mix that previous work of Michell's has led me to expect: pulp fiction type action, cyberwars, video games, city life, history, dreams, family, love, music, all blended to a fairground ride that has the pace of a thriller. Reality, fantasy, dream, jumps in time: keeping up with where you are is challenging; the rewards are more than compensation enough.