I am still quite new to book blogging which means I am still quite new to challenges. However I know already what type of challenge would put me under pressure and which one most likely not.
Since I wanted to dedicate some of this year’s reading to the Japanese authors I have on my TBR pile and Murakami is one of them, I decided to join the challenge hosted by Tanabata from In Spring it is the Dawn.
Please read what Tanabata says:
For a list of the books available in English, visit the Books Page.
Things to keep in mind:
*The goal is simply to read something/ANYthing by Haruki Murakami.
*Whether you’re a complete newbie, or already a huge Murakami fan, everyone is welcome to join in.
*You can join in anytime.
*Feel free to grab either of the buttons but please save them to your own computer first.
*There is no need to list your books in advance, and even if you do, you can change them any time.
*You can also change your level of participation at any time because sometimes life just gets in the way.
*You don’t have to have a blog to participate. You can also share your thoughts on Goodreads, LibraryThing, etc.
*Crossovers with other challenges are allowed. (Don’t forget that anything you read for this challenge also counts for Bellezza’s Japanese Literature Challenge).
*Books should be read between January 1st and December 31st, 2011.
(However, I welcome you to submit reviews to any of Murakami’s books or stories that you have read and reviewed previously. More on the ‘Submit a review‘ page.)
*Books can be in any format: paper, ebooks, audio.
*Rereads are allowed, and encouraged.
*There will be quarterly prizes (details to be decided).
*And most importantly, have fun!
As far as I am concerned, I will certainly read one but am not sure if I will read more.
These are the books on my TBR pile. The first two are the ones I am most likely to read.
The Elephant Vanishes (short stories)
I am really looking forward to this challenge as it seems stressfree, fun and a good way to discover more books of this wonderful writer.
Beauty is a Sleeping Cat 
Welcome to the challenge Caroline 🙂
I hope you will enjoy the wonderful world of Murakami. His world is always surreal.
I really want to read Norwegian Wood,my friend told me that the movie was as great as the book.
Thanks. I am looking forward to it. Especially since you wrote that South of the Border… isn’t even his best one but it’s the only one I know so far. The new one 1Q84 is already out in German and people are raving… Too long for me or I would have been the first in the challenge to review it…
Some people thinks South of The Border is really good and one of his best, maybe you’ll be one of those people.
I won’t be reading 1Q84 anytime soon too, but I do hope I can read it this year
I did like it a lot… And I am very curious to see how I like the others.
I’ve already got too many reading plans, but I will be watching for your reviews of the books you’ve chosen. I don’t read many Japanese authors–perhaps I can squeeze at least one in this year. The last Japanese author I read was Natsuo Kirino–I read her crime novel, Out. Have you read it? You might like it–a bit graphic but very good. I’d like to read more of her work.
Novroz did recommend Out. I got it but haven’t read it. She says it is her best. I am reading Japanese short stories at the moment and will probably read more Japanese authors this year… There is something very enchanted about them. We have a greater choice in Geman. One of the best, Hiromi Kawakami, has been translated for the first time into English.
Looking forward to read your review on those short stories. The book is so not famous I have to take a picture of the book cover my self.
I haven’t heard of Hiromi kawakami before, but I am open to ALL Japanese authors. I have borrowed Norwegian Wood but currently reading Short stories by Naoya Shiga which probably the oldest short stories I have ever read…it went back to 1904. And a children book called Yowamushi Obake (a coward ghost)
You must be a mind reader… I was just on your blog to get the link to your review… I hope I will post on Friday… I have an ugly picture of the book… If I wanted another one I would have to take yours… They will see it, when they click on the link… I liked Kawakami… But there is only one out in English… “Manazuru”. I haven’t read it yet.
Welcome to the challenge! South of the Border, West of the Sun is one of the few Murakami books I haven’t read yet but I’m looking forward to finally doing so this year. I’m re-reading Norwegian Wood right now as I’d love to try and see the film. I hope you enjoy your further ventures into Murakami’s worlds. Happy reading!
Thanks for visiting. I’m looking forward to reading more of his novels. I hope you won’t be disappointed by South of the Border… Some Murakami fans really were, they think it is the least typical. Norwegian Wood and Sputnik Sweetheart are the ones I am most interested in but I love short stories. I’m sure I will read The Elephnat Vanishes.