After the Quake
24 journalers for this copy...
The economy was booming. People had more money than they knew what to do with. And then, the earthquake struck. Komura's wife follows the TV reports from morning to night, without eating or sleeping. The same images appear again and again: flames, smoke, buildings turned to rubble, their inhabitants dead, cracks in the streets, derailments, crashes, collapsed expressways, crushed subways, fires everywhere. Pure hell. Suddenly, a city seems a fragile thing. And life too. Tomorrow anything could happen. For the characters in Murakami's latest short story collection, the Kobe earthquake is an echo from a past they buried long ago. Satsuki has spent 30 years hating one man: a lover who destroyed her chances of having children, and who now lives in Kobe. Did her desire for revenge cause the earthquake? Junpei's estranged parents also live in Kobe. Should he contact them? Miyake left his family in Kobe to make midnight bonfires on a beach hundreds of miles away. Four-year-old Sala has nightmares that the Eathquake man is trying to stuff her inside a little box. Katagiri returns home to find a giant frog in his apartment on a mission to save Tokyo from a massive worm burrowing under the Tokyo Security Trust Bank. "When he gets angry, he causes earthquakes" says Frog. "And right now he is very, very angry."
Journal Entry
2 by
Caro1 at
to a fellow bookcrosser in by Post, A RABCK -- Controlled Releases on Saturday, June 9, 2007
Released 16 yrs ago (6/9/2007 UTC) at to a fellow bookcrosser in by Post, A RABCK -- Controlled Releases
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Part of a RABCK for my birtday buddy.
Thank you so much! I love the presents!! (apron, leather bookmark and bookplates)
#64 "1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die"
This is the first book I've read by Murakami and I'm impressed. Sometimes I find it hard to read short stories, but these are really good. I like that the stories are linked by the eartquake-theme. My favourite of the stories is Super-Frog saves Tokyo, because it reminds me of Godzilla and Mothra.
Dear participants of the ring!
I'm glad you've joined this book-ring! Please write a JE when you recieve the book and when you've read it. PM the next person on the list to get the address. Try not to keep the book for too long to keep it moving. Happy reading!
ThursdayN
hingrald
Deepswamp
shimi
ragsrobin
Haugtussa
juhturo Hungary (EU)
Marsala (Netherlands)
bibounde (France) (ship: EU)
chich (France) (ship: int)
tagesmann (UK) (ship: int) (asked to be skipped)
Moonwolf (Portugal)(ship: int) (asked to be skipped)
pazyryk (Portugal) (ship: int)
Elsita (Portugal) (ship: int)(asked to be skipped)
msjoanna (USA) (ship: USA)(asked to be skipped)
literarylover (USA) (ship: USA)
UnwrittenLibra (USA)(ship: int)
ChiBoiler (USA) (ship: int)
angela861 (USA) (ship: int)
ealasaidmae (USA) (ship: int)
Joanthro (USA/China) (ship: int)
cat207 (Australia) (ship: aus/int)
AgdaAgulina + misterpip (Czechia) (ship: int)
Tubereader (UK) (ship: int)
stormon (Sweden)(asked to be skipped)
BAMP (Sweden)
...and back to me
The book is safe home again. Thank you all for participating! =)
Journal Entry
6 by
Panzeranzi at
BookRing in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, August 30, 2007
Released 16 yrs ago (8/28/2007 UTC) at BookRing in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
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To Thursday N the Sheeptosser...
Got it on tuesday over a cup of tea, thank you!
I have already started reading it and it's looking promising!
I have only read 1 of his books before this one, it was Norwegian Wood, and I found that one rather boring. This one, however, I enjoyed greatly! I think it was the fact that all the stories wre linked with the earthquake that made it an interesting and good read!
I think that I will try some more of his books.
Journal Entry
9 by
ThursdayN at on Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Released 16 yrs ago (9/19/2007 UTC) at
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Now it's finally on its way! Sorry for the delay!
Låg i min brevlåda idag. Tack ThursdayN!
Was in my mailbox today. Thanks ThursdayN!
Spännande möte med Haruki Murakami som ger mersmak. Beställde genast en bok på svenska "Kafka på stranden" Båda ingår i "1001-listan" (nr 28 och 64).
"After the quake" skickas idag vidare till nästa läsare i bokringen.
Exciting meeting with Haruki Murakami gives longing for more. Immediately ordered a book in Swedish "Kafka on the beach" Both are part of "1001 list" (No 28 and 64).
"After the Quake" sent today to the next reader in this bookring.
Arrived safe today! Looking forward to read!
My first book of Murakami, enjoyed it very much! Easy to read and complex storys! Liked the theme too! My favorite is Thailand! Thanks!
Haruki Murakami is one of the authors on the list for the Nobelprize..
Book arrived safely today! Thanks for sharing! :)
I have mixed feelings about this book. I really like the connection of the stories through the aftermath of the 1995 Kobe earthquake, and some of the stories are very intriguing. Others I didn't really like that much, and I can't help being left with the feeling that I like novel-Murakami better than short story-Murakami. Will keep on reading his books, though, and I think I want to reread this one some day, so see if my view changes.
Finished last week, and mailed to ragsrobin 24.12.07.
Arrived safe and sound a couple of days ago, and I'm already half-way through, so I'll go ask for the next person's address right away.
The book arrived safely today. I'm looking forward to this one.
Gah! Haugtussa beat me to it, so now the entries will be in the wrong order. Well, it's my own fault for being so slow...
Anyway. I don't like short stories (just when I start getting interested they end). This book did nothing to change my view on that score. However, I did like Murakami's way with words, so I think I need to check out his novels :)
Wll, I like both Murakami's way of writing and I do love to read short stories! So this book has everything to make it a great read for me!
Like previous readers I liked the way the short stories are connected by the Kobe earthquake. Unfortunally the first story UFO in Kushiro put me a bit off, I did not like this one at all. But after that the stories lifted in quality (at least for me) and I really enjoyed the stories. I can't really point to a favourite as they (the stories) are very different and therefore difficult to compare, although the underlying theme seems to be lonely people that can't really find they way through life.
Panzeranzi, thenaks a lot for sharing. I will get the book on the road again as soon as I have the next participants address.
the book arrived today, I can hardly wait to begin with it.
Journal Entry
21 by
juhturo at
Post office in Mail, Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Released 15 yrs ago (6/4/2008 UTC) at Post office in Mail, Bookring -- Controlled Releases
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Funny (?), interesting, good japanese style. I am happy that we don't live in an earthquake region.
Sorry for holding this so long.
Arrived here safely yesterday. Thanks juhturo for sending it and thanks Caro1 for making it a ring.
I'll start reading it a.s.a.p.
This is the first book I read by Murakami, and I most say that he might be one of my new favourite writers. What a nice book! I love the sort of fairy-tale like feel to the book. I think my favourite story is the one about the bonfires, I also loved the one with the giant frog. I definitely will read more by this writer.
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23 by
marsala at
Bookring, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- France on Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Released 15 yrs ago (6/18/2008 UTC) at Bookring, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- France
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On its way to bibounde
Received yesterday. Thank you Marsala.
Book received today, thanks for passing it on
bibounde and thanks for starting this ring
panzeranzi:)
I just finished reading these stories and I must say that, of all the Murakami books I've read, this is my least favourite. I was never able to get into the stories and found them quite boring. Murakami's writing style is still as impeccable as ever but it just wasn't enough...
Thanks again for sharing Panzeranzi :o)
Both tagesmann and Moonwoolf have asked to be skipped and I will be sending the book to pazyryk on Monday
Very good these short stories of Murakami. The same fantastic sytle and strange characters as on his novels. Definitely the most inspired Japanese writer I had the chance to read. Thank you very much for the oportunity of reading this book, Panzeranzi. Elsita and Msjoanna asked to be skiped and I'm still waiting for literarylover reply. As soon as I know where to send it, the book will go.
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sent today (January, 13) to UnwrittenLibra/USA.
Got it today here in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. Thanks!
An excellent sampling of Murakami's work. Each story was delightful in its own way.
Off to the Windy City of Chicago, IL via the Snowy Hinterland of Amherst, MA (60 yesterday, snowing today - Mother Nature is mad!) Happy travels book!
Received in the mail yesterday. Looking forward to reading. I have one book ahead of it but should be done with it shortly.
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33 by
ChiBoiler at
Chicago, Illinois USA on Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Released 15 yrs ago (3/17/2009 UTC) at Chicago, Illinois USA
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Passed this book off to angela861's brother for a speedy delivery to her. Happy reading!
I am not a huge fan of short stories, and I felt the same about this book. It just didn't hold my attention and I often found myself forgetting what had been happening if I put the book down for any period of time.
Thanks for starting this ring so I could cross another off the 1001 list!
I now have the book and will begin reading it tomorrow. It will be done within a month.
UPDATE: I've started the book and already requested the next reader's address. I hope to have this in the mail before I leave for vacation. If I do not have the address by Friday, I will send it along when I return.
I'm not a huge fan of short stories. I either find them hard to get into in such a short time or am mad they are done b/c I liked the story so much. I really liked the first story and wanted more... I was intrigued and couldn't wait to read the rest. Unfortunately, I didn't really like the other stories.
I'm glad I got to participate in the ring... another book off the 1001 list. Thank you for sharing!
Journal Entry
37 by
angela861 at
By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Friday, March 27, 2009
Released 15 yrs ago (3/27/2009 UTC) at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
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Off to the next reader... Enjoy!!
I have mixed feelings about these stories. I prefer Murakami's novels overall, because they're such a great vehicle for his character development. I missed that in these stories. Many of these had hanging endings and that didn't work well for me. They felt incomplete. On the other hand, I liked the shorter doses of surrealism. Sometimes that can get a bit heavy in the novels. I think I've read "Super-Frog" before and it's been driving me crazy trying to figure out where! I'm off to do some research now.
Journal Entry
40 by
ealasaidmae at
St. Albans, West Virginia USA on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Released 14 yrs ago (4/15/2009 UTC) at St. Albans, West Virginia USA
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I'm sorry it's taken me so long to get this in the mail. I've had the address for several days but my week's been crazy. It's on its way to joanthro in China now.
The book has arrived safely in Tianshui! I am excited to be able to read this book and so happy to feel like part of the BookCrossing community again, even though I am so far away from home. Thank you so much for shipping this to me ealasaidmae!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book of short stories. The characters were all quite memorable and they were made more memorable by the circumstances they found themselves in. No matter where life had taken them and where they might go in the future, the Kobe earthquake is a silent fact laying in their pasts like a large black shadow. Murakami's characters all exist with that shadow behind them, pushing them in ways they don't expect or realize, even though Murakami doesn't explicitly make the quake the cause for actions or decisions. His light touch with the quake, limiting it to a shadowy past, really created the tension that allowed for the humanity of the characters to fully emerge.
Thanks for sharing Panzeranzi!
Shipped to cat207 today. The post office estimated about 15 days to reach you...
Journal Entry
43 by
cat207 on Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Arrived in today's mail. Thank you Joanthro, and Panzeranzi for sharing. X
Journal Entry
44 by
cat207 on Monday, June 22, 2009
While I enjoyed the short stories, the question remains - 'What makes a book a '1001...' book?
I've PMed AgdaAgulina for an address. Will mail on ASAP.
Journal Entry
45 by
cat207 on Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Heading off to AgdaAgulina in today's mail. Enjoy. X
This Murakami arrived to Prague today. Thank you for sending it so far away! Starting very soon...
This book beautifully fulfilled my every-summer need of Murakami - somehow it always hits me in July while spending summerdays in Finland.
I enjoyed all of these stories, little trips to the world of Murakami, some more than others. However, they were short also in their traces - I hardly remembered them anymore after few days. And that is not necessarily a bad thing. Some stories though (especially the last) had much more to them, and I would have prefered a longer story.
I also very much enjoyed the way I read and shared the book with misterpip, we each read one story at the time, and then passed it to another. The reading experience became somehow deeper and better. As it is with the bookrings too...
Journal Entry
48 by
misterpip on Sunday, August 2, 2009
When you're hungering for Murakami but not in the throes of one of his novels, here are some tasty little bites of his worlds.
As with many of the stories in Elephant Vanishes, Wind-up Bird as a perfect example, one gets the feeling that many of these stories are just one small picture of what could be a much richer story. Some of these characters are certainly worth elaboration...
And others, such as Super Frog, are great short stories, but please spare us the thought of a whole novel like that!
Murakami is always great, but I definitely prefer to be lost in his world for longer- I've got to start one of his novels soon!
As far as his short story collections go, I think I enjoyed the Elephant Vanishes more. But, hard to complain about such creative invention of story.
Enjoy!
Released 14 yrs ago (8/14/2009 UTC) at
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Now finally Murakami moves on, I am sorry for the late sending, I was out of the town and civilation for awhile...
Safe trip to Luxembourg!
The book arrived safely at the beginning of the week but just realised now that I had forgotten to journal it...
I have a couple of rings / rays ahead of it but it shouldn't take me too long to get to it. I will update this JE once I pick it up!
Thanks Panzeranzi for sharing and AgdaAgulina for posting it to me!
UPDATE 7TH SEPTEMBER: Quick note to let everybody know that I have started reading the book today.
UPDATE 8TH SEPTEMBER: This is proving to be a quick read. I am already more than half way through! I have PMed stormon for their address.
It must be one of the first short stories book that I have read so far and I must say I am not too fond of it. The stories are far too short, almost all of them left me wondering what happened next... it might also be because most (if not all) of them are left with an open ending... Another let down for me was that I thought that the earthquake would be much more present but it is not the case, it is really a secondary character just lurking in the background of the stories.
On the positive side, it has left me wanting to read more of Murakami, a writer that I had never read before. Also, it is very easy reading. Even if the stories talk about feelings and most of the characters ask themselves "existential" questions, the reading it quite light (maybe because they are short stories?).
I am very interested in Japan, therefore that might be another reason why I liked the book...
Thanks panzeranzi for sharing!
stormon has asked to be skipped and I am waiting for BAMP's address in order to post the book.
Journal Entry
52 by
Tubereader at
Luxembourg / Lëtzebuerg, Kanton Luxemburg Luxembourg on Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Released 14 yrs ago (9/29/2009 UTC) at Luxembourg / Lëtzebuerg, Kanton Luxemburg Luxembourg
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The book has finally been posted to BAMP. Apologies for the delay, I have move houses in between!
Happy reading
Thank you Tubereader, the book arrived today!
Haruki Murakami is one of the authors on the list for the Nobelprize.. Deepswamp wrote two years ago, and now I thought, as his book was by me, now he realy get it. But no! However I enjoyed every story in this book!
Thanks panzeranzi for sharing!
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55 by
BAMP at on Monday, October 12, 2009
Released 14 yrs ago (10/12/2009 UTC) at
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Ringen sluts!
The book is back home again! Thank you all for reading the book and sending it on. I've enjoyed it's journey around the world. Amazing that this book has seen so many more places than I have.
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57 by
Panzeranzi at
Göteborg, Västergötland Sweden on Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Released 10 yrs ago (4/18/2013 UTC) at Göteborg, Västergötland Sweden
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Saw on your wishlist that you want to read books by Murakami - I hope you haven´t read this one.
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58 by
Sobergirl at
Ravintola Karu in Turku, Varsinais-Suomi / Egentliga Finland Finland on Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Released 10 yrs ago (7/2/2013 UTC) at Ravintola Karu in Turku, Varsinais-Suomi / Egentliga Finland Finland
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