Inner Earthquake

The words "It's time for you to start preparing to face death gently. If you continue to invest too much energy only in living, you won't be able to die well. Little by little, this change must be made. In a sense, living and dying are equivalent, doctor." echoed in Satsuki's mind that night as she lay in her large immaculate bed and cried. She recognized the fact that she was gently moving towards death. She recognized that there was a hard white stone inside her body. She recognized that somewhere in the darkness, a green snake covered in scales was hiding. She thought of the child who was never born. She had gotten rid of it and thrown it into a bottomless well. And she had continued to hate a man for thirty years. She had wished him to die in horrible pain. In a sense, she told herself, it was I who caused that earthquake. He had turned her heart and body into a stone. The ash-colored monkeys in that distant mountain had watched her in silence. In a sense, living and dying are equivalent, doctor.

In the first half, Murakami wanders fearfully among dreamlike derailments and unspoken words that have more the appearance of indecision about the developments to be attributed to the narrated events; in the second part, contrary to any expectation, one witnesses a dizzying rebirth.

A UFO lands in Kushiro ★★. The deeply Carverian image of immobility in front of the television is beautiful - external dramas become palpable when private life ceases in stimuli, a very bitter truth - and overall the intentions are good, but the sting is lost with a story that stands on stilts and extinguishes the little narrative tension with some notable kitsch peaks.

Landscape with Iron ★★. The attachment to life turns into a slow wait for death, escaped and above all not accepted. It's a pity that the story is embroidered on such a cryptic symbolism as to subtract drama from what would also be an interesting story.

All God's Children Dance ★1/2. An indescribable mess that clumsily tries to link the theme of sin with a subtle disturbing atmosphere; but the worst comes with the cheesy final resolution that flounders between Shinto catarsis and moments of conscience with a huge shadowy figure as a spectator (a vaguely nice idea, but really, it can't be read without wide-eyed astonishment).

Thailand ★★★★1/2. Saint Augustine of Hippo said that "living in hatred is the equivalent of drinking poison and hoping that it is the other who dies." The attachment to the previous life is the antechamber of inner death; the death of the past is the most painful and necessary choice to be reborn into another existence and accept that, sometimes, things change along with us; and perhaps regardless of us. A wonderful story that adopts the strong metaphor of the earthquake to overflow into a limbo of consciousness.

Frog Saves Tokyo ★★★★★. Living an average, silent and not very stimulating life does not downsize the small inner struggles that one has to face every day. And perhaps one is never really ready for a greater cause that looms over us and, at the same time, calls for a redemption; it's better to do what one can and see the half-failure as a half-success: there is no end to the struggle and balance is the maximum one can aspire to. The final landing is beautiful, with a surreal atmosphere to temper the bitter disillusionment behind the story.

Honey Pies ★★★★. A moving story about love as an individual necessity and friendship as a mutual necessity (where is the difference?). The distinction between the two feelings passes through courage and honesty towards oneself. A small note: I fully share Murakami's melancholy in seeing the form of the story so mistreated in the editorial market.

Haruki Murakami's fantasy is about being wrapped in cellophane and placed in a chocolate showcase. Each of these six fantastic packages has its own taste and color. Whether you will like them depends on you, but he will serve them to you in his characteristic style.

The earthquake in the city of Kobe in 1995 was devastating, and Haruki Murakami writes about what is in us and what always remains there after the disaster.

Murakami's imagination takes us on a journey through his unique world, where the ordinary becomes extraordinary. His stories are filled with vivid descriptions and strange characters that keep us engaged from beginning to end.

In this particular piece, he combines the idea of fantasy with the reality of a natural disaster, creating a powerful and thought-provoking narrative.

We are left to wonder what lies within us and how we would respond in the face of such destruction.

Murakami's writing style is both beautiful and mysterious, making his works a joy to read and a source of inspiration for many.

On January 17, 1995 at 05:46 AM, a massive 6.9 earthquake struck the city of Kobe, Japan.

Tragically, 6,434 people lost their lives.

Haruki Murakami, with his remarkable talent, takes this tragic event that serves as a powerful reminder of the precariousness of life and skillfully interweaves it through six different short stories.

Each story has its own distinct arc, unfolding in unique ways.

Moreover, Murakami manages to incorporate several different genres such as romance, magical reality, comedy, and more into this ensemble that beautifully portrays loss and perseverance.

This is my second foray into the mind of Murakami and I am completely hooked.

I understand that his meandering narratives may not be to everyone's taste.

However, for me, he is like a proverbial breath of fresh air, offering a unique and captivating literary experience that keeps me engaged and enthralled.

His ability to blend different elements and create a world that is both strange and familiar is truly remarkable.

I look forward to exploring more of his works and delving deeper into his imaginative and thought-provoking mind.

Okay yeah, so I'm really on a Murakami kick here. As I write this, I'm also in the opening throes of his Norwegian Wood. In any case, After the Quake did nothing to halt my appreciation for his work. Despite the fact that many of his themes are here regurgitated. It's true, the flow of love for Haruki Murakami continues unabated.

That's not to say that there aren't high and low points in this collection of short stories. In fact, a couple of the stories are merely good.

In any case, in the wake of the Kobe Earthquake and Sarin gas attacks in 1995 and drafting on the slipstream of the amazing Wind-Up Bird Chronicle , Murakami penned each of the shorts in the volume as some sort of response to the titular disaster. Each story is written in the third person (an uncommon POV for Murakami) and deals with the lives and souls of characters in the days and months succeeding the destruction of the city.

The book's opener, "UFO in Kushiro," offers up a vignette that belongs thematically right next to works like Wind-Up Bird and Sputnik Sweetheart . An empty man, a shell since before his wife left him, runs an errand that takes him to far away Hokkaido, where he may or may not just happen to run into his soul. Being familiar with Murakami by this point, the story felt comfortable and lived-in, but I have to imagine that it would be rather abrupt for first-time Murakami readers.

The second piece, "Landscape with Flatiron," presents another level of tension (as the first story leaves the reader perhaps slightly on edge) and continues to draw the reader into the hollow lives of people who seem to see just beyond the world we inhabit. "All God's Children Can Dance" was my least favourite of the tales and features a man deeply unsure of his place in the world, struggling with his own genetic fallacy, having been told that he was the Son of God from his youth and having a tremendous penis as his only evidence of this supposition. "Thailand" was enjoyable and follows a woman vacationing in Thailand around as she finds answers to spiritual questions she did not know she had.

Unquestionably my favourites in the collection are the final two offerings: "Super Frog Saves Tokyo" and "Honey Pie." The former opens with a bank employee coming home to find a man-sized frog waiting to speak with him about important matters—the prevention of imminent doom to the city of Tokyo. This was absolutely a joy to read. The latter is utterly pleasant and, in a way, in so doing defies expectations. Murakami is many things and his genius is sometimes unpredictable, but I was shocked by how pleasant this tale was.

When all is done, said, and forgotten, Murakami's book will still be about men and women in this cold world who are shaken from their stupor and confronted with the opportunity to fill their hollowed-out lives with that undetected mass that had been missing from them the entire time. The Kobe earthquake acts as a catalyst for each of them, forcing self-evaluation, even when it comes in forms that cannot be recognized as self-evaluation.

This is an awesome little book. It's a collection that showcases Murakami's unique style and ability to explore the human condition in the face of disaster and uncertainty. The stories are engaging, thought-provoking, and at times, even a little bit magical. Whether you're a long-time fan of Murakami or a newcomer to his work, After the Quake is definitely worth a read.

"After the Earthquake" is a collection of six short stories.

The work focuses on the emotional and psychological consequences of the devastating 1995 Kobe earthquake in Japan. Although the characters in these stories are not directly affected by the earthquake, their lives are profoundly altered by the event and its aftermath, exploring how the catastrophe reverberates in their personal and existential experiences.

Murakami's descriptions are detailed and vivid. In these stories, he uses a minimalist approach that allows the pain and reflection of the characters to develop naturally and touchingly. In "After the Earthquake," existentialist literature can be seen reflected, particularly in the way the characters deal with the absurdity and fragility of life. Authors such as Franz Kafka and Albert Camus seem to have influenced the way Murakami approaches themes of alienation and the search for meaning. Additionally, the influence of magical realism is palpable in the way the supernatural is intertwined with the everyday.

The earthquake itself is a symbol of the fragility and unpredictability of life. The characters often face personal crises that reflect the instability and chaos of the earthquake. Natural elements, such as water and fire, also play symbolic roles, representing purification, destruction, and renewal. The presence of everyday objects that acquire deeper and more personal meanings is a recurring technique of Murakami, which is used here to emphasize the dissonance between the inner reality of the characters and the external world.

The stories in "After the Earthquake" resonate deeply in the current world, where natural disasters and global crises are becoming increasingly frequent. The narratives reflect how individuals and societies try to find meaning and continuity in the midst of chaos and uncertainty.

Komura, in the story "A UFO Lands in Kushiro," is an electronics salesman who faces the disappearance of his wife after the earthquake. Komura represents the struggle with emptiness and emotional disconnection in his life, and his journey to Hokkaido becomes a search for meaning and understanding.

Junko, in the story “Landscape with Ironing Board,” is a young woman who has fled her home and develops a relationship with an older man, Miyake, who has an obsession with bonfires. Junko is a complex character, marked by desperation and the search for freedom, and her interaction with Miyake reveals the depths of her disillusionment and hope.

Yoshiya, in the story "All God's Children Can Dance," is a young man who believes he is the illegitimate son of God, raised by his extremely religious mother. Yoshiya faces an identity and faith crisis, and his story explores the struggle between devotion and doubt, and the search for his true origin.

The collection demonstrates how fiction can explore and reflect human experiences in the face of tragedy, offering deep perspectives on resilience, the search for meaning, and human connection. The work reaffirms Murakami's talent for combining realism and surrealism, creating narratives that are both fantastic and profoundly human.

Full review without spoilers on my YouTube channel ➡ Maponto Lee

This is the first time we are satisfied with Murakami's short stories!

Murakami's short stories have always had a unique charm. They are filled with strange and wonderful plots that draw readers in and keep them engaged.

In this particular collection, we were especially impressed by the vivid characters and the thought-provoking themes. Each story seemed to explore a different aspect of human nature, from love and loss to hope and despair.

The writing style was also very engaging, with Murakami's signature use of simple yet powerful language. We found ourselves easily immersed in the worlds he created, and we were sad to see each story come to an end.

Overall, we would highly recommend this collection of short stories to anyone who enjoys reading. It's a great introduction to Murakami's work, and it's sure to leave you wanting more. 3.5⭐️

It's truly strange that for the last two books I've read, or rather, attempted to read, I simply can't find the energy to pen a full-length review. How on earth could the man who is capable of churning out masterpieces such as The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle produce something like this?

It's not that the stories lack readability. However, the sole reason I persisted until the end was to get to the last story, Honey Pie, which was the only halfway decent one among the lot. The female characters are absurd, and the connections to an earthquake are obscure and uninterestingly so. Murakami probably woke up one day with the idea of ripping off the concept behind Joyce's Dubliners and came up with this. No wonder this particular work isn't popular. And there I was, foolish enough to think I could label this as an underrated collection by him.

A collection of short stories that all share the commonality of people in the Kobe earthquake and in solitude.

This book took me back eleven years ago. The NHK network, which was always full of documentaries and television programs from a Japanese perspective, had suddenly turned into the devastation of the Tohoku earthquake. An earthquake that was not just an earthquake but also had a tsunami accompanying it. The scenes that NHK was showing were beyond imagination.

I was thinking to myself that Japan has faced a crisis in every era that has caused a part of it to be completely leveled with the ground, but it won't be long before it is rebuilt again. It can perhaps be said that this characteristic of the Japanese, that they are a people full of effort, is due to this land that is constantly subject to earthquakes and tsunamis and the area of its agricultural land and soil is extremely small.

In February and March of my #tbrexplode project, I embarked on a journey through my "want to read" list in Goodreads from 2009. The goal was to determine whether I still had the desire to read those books. However, I soon hit a wall when it came to Murakami's works.

This particular book of short stories managed to make the cut. All of the stories were slightly related to the Great Hanshin, or Kobe, Earthquake that took place in 1995. While I didn't quite understand the Frog story, I was deeply moved by the one titled Thailand.

Interestingly, when I googled the name of the earthquake earlier in March, I discovered that there was an earthquake in Japan just as I finished this collection. It was a very Murakami-esque thing to happen. Additionally, I even dreamed about another short story collection by the author called "After the Next Earthquake." Murakami truly has a unique way of getting inside your head and making you experience his fictional worlds in the most unexpected ways.

Surrealism at its finest manifestation.

It is a collection of stories, with a common axis being the destruction after the 1995 earthquake, having motifs that recur and run through all of his works, both in terms of the characters and the plot itself.

The language is as always, sharp, original, full of vitality, and stories that balance between realism and the fantastic - Murakami once again holds the unwavering interest and proves to be a master of the short form.

His ability to create a unique world that blurs the boundaries between the real and the imagined is truly remarkable. Each story in this collection takes the reader on a journey filled with unexpected twists and turns, leaving them in awe of his creative genius.

Whether it's the description of the post-earthquake landscape or the complex emotions of the characters, Murakami's writing is both vivid and deeply moving.

This collection is a must-read for anyone who appreciates great literature and wants to explore the fascinating world of surrealism.

Date of Completion: 30/1/1401

I heard it audibly

Although it was short.. but it was very beautiful and its characterization>>>>>>> and I can say that I fell in love with the pen of Murakami but I think that for the start, one should not start with a short story

If it weren't for the Super Frog in the middle who saves Tokyo and Melopita, I'm sorry Haruki, but I would put a star and that too for something ingenious from here and there. However, the last two stories were original, smart and interesting! Bravo!

The Super Frog plays a crucial role in this narrative. His presence brings a sense of hope and salvation to the otherwise endangered Tokyo and Melopita. Without him, the fate of these two might have been quite different.

Haruki's work is known for its unique and imaginative storytelling. In this case, the concept of the Super Frog and the events that unfold around him add an element of mystery and excitement. The originality of the last two stories is truly remarkable. They展示了 Haruki's ability to think outside the box and create engaging and thought-provoking tales.

Overall, despite the absence of a certain element that might have earned an additional star, the stories are still highly enjoyable and值得称赞. Haruki's talent as a writer shines through, and readers are sure to be captivated by his unique vision and storytelling skills.