Brian Evenson on 6 novels that justify making you sick to your stomach

[symbolique]

nil

[Justin Isis]

I might be hanging out with Ryu Murakami soon - have a mutual acquaintance who met him through, of all things, a salsa dance circle.

[symbolique]

nil

[Justin Isis]

I think it was post-film yeah. Ryu is generally underrated - overshadowed by the (to my mind at least) greatly inferior and overrated Haruki. I think if people want a fast taste of Ryu then they should check out Popular Hits of the Showa Era. Apart from being brief, hilarious and very violent, this book has one of the best endings I've ever read.

Quote Originally Posted by Justin Isis

I might be hanging out with Ryu Murakami soon - have a mutual acquaintance who met him through, of all things, a salsa dance circle.

That's so exciting, Justin!
And I agree with you on Haruki being incredibly overrated. I can't even stomach his short stories.

[ramonoski]

Somewhat pointless anecdote: one time I was introduced to this girl who "is a reader, just like you" (apparently that's a defining trait and not part of everyone's cultural diet, but I digress). We made conversation and she asked me if I'd read Murakami. "Yes, I really liked 'In the Miso Soup", " oh, I haven't read that one... but I just read X and loved it", "ah, I haven't read that" and so forth. Took me about five minutes to realize she was talking about Haruki, while I had Ryu in my mind. Odd little moment. I'm only faintly acquainted with H.M. but the little I've read doesn't strike me as something I'd spend time and money on... Ryu, on the other hand, very interesting, even if at times I feel culturally lost. Which didn't happen with H. but that's probably because H. writes from a very bland Western perspective. Makes him accessible (and perhaps that's part of why he's so popular?) but also, well, bland.

Lest this thread turn into H. bashing, let's go back to the OP for a while. Blood Meridian is a book I love and its passages of violence can be quite disturbing. The first Indians attack scene makes the opening of The Revenant movie look like a Power Rangers episode.

Bought Blood Meridian earlier today along with Child of God. I'll probably start Blood Meridian after I finish The Temple of the Golden Pavilion

[symbolique]

nil

[miguel1984]

I will probably get into Ryu soon, then, probably just to piss my family off a little more, since all of my family members, or at least some of them, love Haruki. I have to finish my Gormenghast trilogy reread, though.

Better Than Food: Book Reviews - Ryu Murakami's Coin Locker Babies

Ryū Murakami - Coin Locker Babies BOOK REVIEW - YouTube