I came across ‘Colourless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage‘ by chance at an airport bookstore in Munich. The colourful concentric cover literally leaped out at me, and I felt very compelled to buy it; even though I had never heard of this author. Little did I know, I had stumbled upon a literary pot of gold.
Reading books about other cultures always fascinates me. Haruki Murakami’s use of descriptive language and elegant prose was engaging and addictive. The central character is far from colourless as the title indicates; I did not want to stop reading about his at times mundane but intriguing existence.

I felt so engaged with his story and so connected to his unique style of story telling; I tried to make the book last as long as possible. I wanted to remain spell bound by the plight of Tsukuru and his life in Tokyo Japan.

The plot takes many twists and turns. Unpredictable and suspenseful, I was engaged from beginning to end.

Surprisingly, Murakami writes about sex a few times. Expecting a more conservative read, I enjoyed reading about Tsukuros anguish and confusion with his sexuality, his repressed emotions, and pent up sexual energy. As a reader you are left wondering many answers to the fish hooks Murakami so elegantly dangles.

My only disappointment was the ending. An open ended style finish; a use your own imagination kind of ending, left me as frustrated as young virginal Tsukuru.

Like his lust for the alluring women around him, I wanted more. I wanted to be enveloped and comforted by his smooth story telling style, just a little longer. Instead we are pushed outside on a cold doorstep fairly abruptly, wondering what really just happened there?

My only consolable resolution is to read more of his books. I would love to read a sequel to this book, I still want to know more about this compelling and intriguing character named Tsukuru, how does the rest of his life evolve?

I hope you too get a chance to read about Tsukuru’s intriguing life story. How does he cope with his isolation? How does he find his way through his darkness and adversity? You will have to read it to find out. Let me know what you think if you have read Murakami before, he is apparently a very famous and popular author, I am so pleased his book crossed path that day in Munich. As they say, it was meant to be.

Happy reading,
Love Anita xx

What awesome book can you recommend I read next?