Top Story: 25. June 2008
Will Murakami get Nobel Prize?
By Editor in Chief, Jaakko Saari
Author of Norwegian Wood and recent bestseller Kafka on the Shore, Haruki Murakami (59) was recently awarded an honorary degree by Princeton University. Last year Murakami was awarded by prestigious Kafka prize.
Critics love Haruki Murakami's unique and fresh novels. He has created his own world. Although there is no officially admitted link between Kafka prize and Nobel prize, it seems to be that most who've admitted Kafka will eventually get Nobel Prize.
I belong to those who love Haruki Murakami's early works most. Especially Norwegian Wood, and Sputnik Sweetheart. These two are a pair that are most unique and simple of his works. I believe many agree with me when I say they are masterpieces like no other.
Later came complicated Wind Up Bird Chronicle, and Dance Dance Dance, and almost something of a scientific experiment such as "Hard Boiled Wonderland and The End of the World". Wonderful, lyrical books. His latest work appearing in English "Afterdark" sported a wholly different style to his writing. But some reason, I realize I haven't even opened Afterdark since I read it through. Norwegian Wood, I sample almost every week. And I always find something new.
Nobel Prize winners must also be humble, and they must not appear in common media too much. In fact, it would seem that nobel prize winners must almost be allergic to media appearances. Take Kenzaburo Oe, for example. He does not appear in public media. Although most Japanese people know Haruki Murakami, few of them know how he looks like, except from the picture in the sleeve of Norwegian Wood. In Kafka nomination, he wore sneakers. When asked why he came, he said he wanted to join the ceremony from mere curiosity, and to appreciate the great Franz Kafka.
Also Nobel Prize winners should have done a work that has changed their craft somehow. Norwegian Wood, as well as Wild Sheep Chase for example, were novels that truly changed the Japanese Literature. They were milestones, books that literature connoisseurs as well as casual readers love.
It is hard to think another writer more suitable for Nobel Prize.
I just hope that Murakami will keep to his style and spirit - and wear sneakers in the Nobel Prize ceremony too.
Now, what do you think? Would you like to see him getting the award?
pi?? bello della rete?
Last year the winner was deserving in my opinion
But then, I think Murakami has done something no other novelist has - depicted the change of Japan from 70's to present day, and presented Japanese culture to the world in unique, but simple way.
That said, I was honestly little bit disappointed to his latest work Afterdark, but then, today Yamato Kuroneko delivery guy brought me one of Murakami's older book, South of the Border, West from the Sun. I have read this book several times, but I never owned one, until I ordered one from Amazon, yesterday.
There simply is some magic to his older works.
I cannot think another Japanese novelist alive who I would like to give Nobel prize. Kaori Ekuni and Banana Yoshimoto are great, and their works really deserve nobel prize, but well, then we have Haruki Murakami, so what to do.
Ryu Murakami's novels in my opinion is too much popular culture. His books will always sell well, but I don't care buying them. I have read "In the Miso Soup" and "Coin Locker Babies". The latter was better, but even that didn't really move me. Maybe I'm narrow minded in that way.
She is one of these "young" writers..
Well.
I just borrowed Norwegian Wood.
My teacher likes Yamada Eimi books a lot.
So isn't she one of those "young" Japanese writers?
The nobel committee likes surprise, don't they?! Maybe Murakami has already won his best prizes.
Yes, it might be that Nobel committee likes to surprise, to show that they actually read the books of the novelists they award.
I'd like to share your optimism, but sadly even Nobel prize committee are just human beings. I believe the connection between Kafka Prize and Nobel Prize is more than a theory. Of course, if it's so, it's big problem. Actually, to tell truth, I don't like Nobel prize of literature so much, although the original philosophy behind the institution is good. I think for example the inventor of AIV preservative solution in Finland was good choice, and why not.
But I never buy a book just because it's awarded by nobel prize, and I feel the exclusive feeling behind the organization is problematic.
Oh yeah, actually your first posts will show up too. Before I got a lot of junk messages here, so I had to manually accept /reject all messages.
That's why it takes time for your messages to show up.
But now I could solve the problem of junk messages, so I think I will soon allow messages without moderation.
I'm glad to see your messages here!^^