The female body stuns the narrative and resists analysis. What do you think Sara would have said to Tsukuru on Wednesday. (I'm going to get semi-graphic here, so warning>>>Tsukuru does dream that Haida has taken Tsukuru's "life blood" in a sexual act, which I believe actually happened and wasn't a dream.). Our teenage friendships shape our ideas about ourselves, and the people we become. When Tsukuru was in high school, he and a group of four friends were inseparable. Sara turns out to be Shiro O_o. Train stations serve a couple of different functions in this novel. MarchApril 2023 topic challenge: Hayy ibn Yaqdhan / Philosophus Autodidactus, AprilMay 2023 topic challenge: the works of Abdulrazak Gurnah, Improving the copy in the close modal and post notices - 2023 edition, New blog post from our CEO Prashanth: Community is the future of AI, 2023 Community Moderator Election Results. The. Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. In describing Tsukurus thoughts on past relationships, Murakami writes, [It was] like a silent hatchet had sliced the ties between them, ties through which warm blood still flowed, along with a quiet pulse. It is purely uncanny, the kind of writing that makes you read it over twice. Regardless, Murakami never quite answers any of the philosophical questions he poses. The whole "all your friends leaving with no explanation" tapped into some weird anxiety I never knew I had, too. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Colorless Tsukuru, perhaps as a reaction to the excesses of IQ84, falls into the first category, its relatively straightforward narrative centring on an archetypal Murakami character: a lonely . Just the title alone sounds Murakami-like weird and inviting. Tsukuru met his friends as high school freshmen, when the five of them volunteered at a summer tutoring program. In fact, Tsukuru never even seeks to contact Haida. These strengths are finally not enough to save the novel from the jarring elements that dominate its pages, however. As the conversation draws to an end, the two share a prolonged embrace. Mind you, while all this is happening, the average guy will only be thinking about himself and how he's feeling. He managed to stay in college, but when he emerged from this depression he was a different person. Welcome back. Further along, during a discussion with his coworkers about strange things leftin the trains, Tsukuruwonders, Could there have been, inside the bag, a sixth right and left finger, preserved in formaldehyde inside a jar?Like a talisman (228). Tsukuru is colorless, while Haida is a neutral color, gray. I read Kafka and Windup Bird when I was in a pretty low period of my life and I felt like Kafka helped me out of it and wind up was really cathartic and relatable. That doesn't mean they don't care, what it means is they can adapt and move forward. I suppose the ending indicates that seeing Sara on Wednesday Tsukuru will know the truth of all questions behind the plot: who raped Shiro, who killed her, who is Sara, in what reason she approached to Tsukuru and had guided him to the "pilgrimage", and who is the man walking with Sara hand in hand. By clicking Post Your Answer, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy. He wasdoomed to die. He confesses his situation to Tsukuru, and Tsukuru immediately thinks of Haida. A folktale from Haruki Murakami's new novel, Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. I honestly loved this book. In his recent novel, Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of. It almost makes me feel like Murakami is telling me not to rely on his books as an escape and actually deal with the demons in my past. The old man in Finland helped Tsukuru find his way to Eri's cabin. (NOT interested in AI answers, please). Unlike Kafka on the Shore (2002), arguably Murakamis most accomplished realization of his aesthetic, however, Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage is considerably flawed, even when judged within the strange and disjointed context of the authors previous work. Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. My takeaway from the book is that it really spoke to me about image: how we view ourselves, versus how we are viewed by others. or ask your favorite author a question with Create an account to start this course today. You get the sense that for Murakami the wall between the two is flimsy and might easily be knocked down if the author chooses. Such mystery lends a very sound curiosity, as Murakami describes in an interview with The Guardian, that mirrors the complexity of Tsukuru as a character. Instead, heleaves to a certain death, taking with him the burden of possibility. Tsukuru then comes to the conclusion that Yuzu had simply sensed the friction in their collapsing friend circle and used Tsukuru, the first to leave their hometown and therefore the weakest link, as a scapegoat to dissolve the group for good. I began the book at 11 PM on Saturday and finished at 3 AM on Sunday. This is an imperfect novel, with moments that fall flat, but many others that are familiarly intoxicating. 3 AM rage: How can an exceptional writer cop out on vitalplot points? Both are attractive young men, engineers, but also opposites. In college, Tsukuru becomes friends with a young man named Haida, drawn to Haidas intellectual curiosity and his passion for life. For Tsukuru, his father is a mystery. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. One line 'died'. While on this quest for the truth Tsukuru falls in love with Sara. The novel ends without her providing the answer. In the novel Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage, Tsukuru is lucky enough to be part of a group of five harmonious friends, and he basks in their affection and acceptance. Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage. Like I couldnt relate to this longing for the past in the same way I could relate to other main characters of his. Years later, 36-year-old Tsukuru is a respected member of society who works as a train station engineer. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); https://www.reddit.com/r/murakami/comments/2dte48/spoilers_ending_discussion_colorless_tsukuru/, https://www.reddit.com/r/murakami/comments/2gikct/thoughts_about_murakams_tsukuru_tazaki_spoilers/, https://www.reddit.com/r/murakami/comments/2fx0jp/haida_a_bad_elf/, https://mrgriff2.wordpress.com/2014/08/29/colorless-tsukuru-tazaki-and-his-years-of-pilgrimage-chapters-13-19/, http://www.tailwindspress.com/the-tailwinds-review/murakami-murakami-we-never-really-knew-you-a-review-of-colorless-tsukuru-tazaki-and-his-years-of-pilgrimage, Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage. Apparently I have Skarn of the Razorforce to talk to the Bears, as he explains what the Tree of Woe and I have been pointing out about how the decline of the US military . Remember, Tsukuru owns his own apartment and he's a well-education engineer in his late thirties, he can be a little picky. So, if someone's got issues and a girl gives him a chance to sort them out then he's a catch. Maybe i read too much into things but it felt like an apology to his fans of sorts. Murakami writes: "The two boys' last names were Akamatsu which means 'red pine' and Oumi 'blue sea'; the girls' family names were Shirane 'white root' and Kurono 'black field.' Finally, as he considers entering into a new relationship, he confronts the past once for all. 1.0 Introduction And Thesis Statement The novel "Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage" written by Haruki Murakami is a fiction story published on 12 April 2013 in Japan. He is able to love, possibly for the first time. He has obsessed about death and at the end he takes, literally, "the last express train of the night." The two boys were called Akamatsu, meaning 'red pine', and Oumi, 'blue sea', while the girls'. Chapter-by-chapter summaries and multiple sections of expert analysis, The ultimate resource for assignments, engaging lessons, and lively book discussions. The friendships we form in high school have a lasting impact on us. Abandoned by his group of close friends without any apparent reason, Tsukuru is haunted by the feeling of loneliness and unreasonable guilt which drives him to yearn for death. Tsukuru is colorless, while Haida is a neutral color, gray. This is because, midway through the novel, Tsukuru realizes, while swimming behind a man with Haidas feet, in a moment of impactfulinsight (a sudden thought struck him)Haida is also one of the things thats blocking me inside (247). The water becomes a place where he can create order with his body, and interestingly enough it is also transparent and colorless, as he also considers himself to be. . Do we miss that so greatly in our lives? This connection is drawn partially subconsciously;duringthe conversation the stationmaster says, One pianist who has six fingers said the extra ones get in the wayfive is just the right number' (229). The cover of English the edition ofColorless Tsukuru Tazakifeatures a hand, with a finger in each color (red, blue, white, black, and colorless (a railway map)) on a gray background. All his books have something uniquely Murakami just as you might be able to tell something is a movie by Tarantino. 5 chapters | Colorless Tsukuru's mystery is solved before the end, but the mystery of the spell that the great Murakami casts over his readers, myself included, goes, as ever, unsolved. Haidas mystery seemed, initially, to demand an answer. How to intersect two lines that are not touching. It is generally accepted that Haida is the sixth finger of Tsukurus friends. At this point reality and dreams collide. About This Guide The introduction, author biography, discussion questions, and suggested reading that follow are designed to enhance your group's discussion of Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage, the eagerly anticipated new novel by Haruki Murakami.. It is possible then that the sixth finger is the death token. Review invitation of an article that overly cites me and the journal. In fact, Tsukuru wonders if Haidas connection to the dying man who could see the world clearly and Haidas own desires to pursue an impractical truth are more closely tied than Haida lets on. As Tsukuru is further entrenched in Yuzus mystery, Murakami contemplates his physicality. Now, Tsukuru himself, is a sixth finger of sorts, an odd one out, a sore thumb. Tsukuru craves the order and reliability of trains, and he left his hometown to become a train station engineer. An instant #1 New York Times Bestseller One of the most revered voices in literature today gives us a story of love, friendship, and heartbreak for the ages. Fair points. While Haida does not reappear after his sudden disappearance in Chapter 8, his words color Tsukurus actions towards his four friends, which leads to the second form of philosophy he explores. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. He slowly unravels the mystery of why, but he never loses the conviction that he is unremarkable and therefore has nothing to give. Kuro also reveals to Tsukuru that she was in love with him, a fact that takes him entirely by surprise. And Murakami seems to pull us along with this assumption; even to 10 pages just before the end, Tsukuru sits at the station and considers boarding the train to Matsumoto, at the cost of missing his meeting with Sara. Such complexities seek to flesh out even the most seemingly banal personalities, and while Murakami is often criticized for that exact banality in his other male protagonists, his deep exploration of the self here nullifies Tsukurus vapid nature. Did Sara say she loved him back as he hoped, or did she really have another boyfriend as he suspected? Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. It is difficult to sort through all the symbolic possibilities presented, not even mentioning Shiros desire to get rid of the red, the recurring theme of Tsukuru swimming across the cold sea at night linked in with Tsukurus travels, the bad elves and spirits, the recurring father-son legacies, and of course Tsukurus obsession with the order in the chaos of train stations, among other things. The other guy sounds like a sugar daddy that's keeping her going or a guy that she turns to from time to time. Pain linked to pain, fragility to fragility. When he loses them, he has to embark on the journey to adulthood alone, and the trip is not a pleasant one. https://www.reddit.com/r/murakami/comments/2gikct/thoughts_about_murakams_tsukuru_tazaki_spoilers/ Tazaki was the only last name that did not have a color in its meaning. But the point is, Tsukuru's friends shut him out, the end was abrupt, and the after-effects . Become a member today. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? There's such a modest, reluctant quality to this character, a drifting uncertainty that is both infuriating and identifiably human. Back at Tsukurus apartment, Haida poses the metaphysical question of being, pondering the extent and limitations of free thought and existence, yet is unable to provide an answer when Tsukuru asks about the value of free will. Wouldn't it be interesting to know what Japanese readers of Murakami think? Also anyone who would like a middle-aged version ofCatcher in the Rye. But on a base level, it clicked with me. What is he doing with metaphor? All rights reserved. Life, daily life, doesn't tie itself up in neat endings, and expecting that it should leads to all sorts of unhappiness. Privacy Policy. For example, Shiro and Kuro struggle with their sexuality, which is mirrored in Tsukurus struggle with his troubling erotic dreams, which he eventually overcomes. Spellcaster Dragons Casting with legendary actions? Funny, I'm involved in an ekphrastic poetry project which calls for exactly that -- I have to pick a piece of art and sit with it and write of it, and I need to ask myself just that, "What can I say to this work?" Why do humanists advocate for abortion rights? Usually writers get to be one of those, but not all of them. Haruki Murakami. When he talks about how he might die for real if Sara rejects him, it's because he will go through the experience of being unwanted again. She didnt possess the strength. His old friends lived lives full of experience and Tsukuru basically swam and went to school for a decade. So this is my fourth Murakami (the previous ones being After Dark, Norwegian Wood and Kafka) but the first time that I'm feeling conflicted. But he never does. Whenever I came upon prose like that I had to wonder if it would read better in the original Japanese, and if the awkwardness was a translation issue. Tsukuru made stations that sent people all around Japan. But he does not. Twenty-year-old Tsukuru has a very trying six months. (5)Haida is Akas homosexual shadow in Tsukurus life. It could be a guiding motto for all of his fiction, but he is talking specifically about a minor character in his new novel, Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage. Aren't some great modern novels "a slice of life"? They became closer, and Haida told stories about his father. The novel feels. Subreddit dedicated to the works of author Haruki Murakami. Sara, like any reasonable person, is amazed that Tsukuru has never once tried to discover why his friends exiled him. He agrees, setting in motion the second half of the novel. and Why didHaida leave? he didnt feel bitter about Haida abandoning him. Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage is a 2014 novel by renowned Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami. The novel tells the story of a man who attempts to overcome past emotional suffering to make his present life more rewarding. Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage, which famously sold over a million copies the week it came out in Japan, drops the author's trademarked mystical, metafictional, sometimes maddening plotting in favor of a fairly straightforward story about a lonely guy trying to figure out why a bunch of friends ditched him long ago. But give it 100 pages and you . He blurs the lines between reality and the supernatural, and in doing so, Tsukuru becomes a character destitute of place. Just couldn't really connect, and I thought the story and characters were comparably weak. (LogOut/ By the end of the novel Tsukuru has accepted that he was stronger than he knew, but readers are uncertain about whether or not he will be able to build a place within himself where anyone will stay. Even Eri's husband didnt stay in one place, he left to go to town. The edition for this guide is the Kindle edition published in 2014. I liked the book but Im not sure I read it at a good time. {SPOILERS OBVIOUSLY}. Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. For Tsukuru, his rejection by his four best friends while he is away at college shapes the man he becomes. When Tsukuru swims he is not just exercising, he is doing his own sort of mediation. There are long philosophical dialogues, deep, painful yearnings . When you've lived in Tokyo, you know people are a little disconnected from each other. Tsukuruis a vessel of his four friendsproblems, but he survives their problems more easily. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. Im not sure if Ill ever go back and reread it. Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage, More questions about Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage. Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage is a 2014 novel by renowned Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami. In this sense, Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki recalls the existential themes of Kobo Abe's The Ruined Map--but with less chest-rending earnestness. There was thus no need to rejoin with the sixth finger as there was with the other four. We are supposed to believe that the world of the novel is a charming one in which adults say things to each other like, If you had told me then how you felt, of course I would have loved for you to be my girlfriend, and, Thinking freely about things meansletting pure logic soar free, giving a natural life to logic, but also a graphic place filled with pubic hair as wet as a rain forest, modestly sized breasts, and the occasional brutal rape. Although Haida was not physically wounded, both Shiro and Haida (and Sara), had sex with Tsukuru, which Tsukuru may consider damaging. Right after this book, Murakami released that short story the strange library which was the story of the sheepman (Murakami) being constrained and being afraid to guide the young protagonist visiting the library (us). It was colorless and a bit formless like water. There is a lot more nuance in the story than that of course, but that's my takeaway in very broad strokes. After all, he wasn't just abandoned, he wasn't colorless but cool and collected and loved. Murakami is certainly at his best when he composes the novels metafictional sections. So she set Tsukuru up as the apostate. A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. Some of this, I really do think, has to be cultural. At least in my mind. Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage is an easily engaging, large-print, small-page entry into Murakami's ether. Tsukuru begins to have erotic dreams about his old friends and this new one. Murakami is Japan's greatest living writer, so revered that when "Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage" was released in Japan last year, it sold a million copies within the . Murakami plays on this through out the book, and plants the seed in the beginning where Tsukuru explains that 'if I had a color in my name too. Luckily, posting on The Millions has a salutary effect on me, and also, I just finished a book, so I need to write about it. Around the same time as the alleged rape, Tsukuru had had a violent and erotic dream involving the two girls, Yuzu and Eri, and a new college friend, Fumiaki Haida. Haida becomes the vessel for Tsukurus struggle by swallowing Tsukurus semen and then vanishing to his death. I'm just wondering why modern literature should tie everything up when life doesn't? Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki reminded me of how viscerally comforting fiction can be. Most American people? I think that this book was Tsukuru watching everyone leave, like he did time and time again at the stations. Right away, they realized that all of their last names had a color. Honestly even if it is a weaker work, it kept my attention at a time when I was struggling to do anything but study (out of necessity). https://www.reddit.com/r/murakami/comments/2fx0jp/haida_a_bad_elf/ Everything alluding to a more meaningful resolution Yuzus appearance in the dream, the culprit behind her rape and murder, the things Murakami spent nearly three-hundred pages developing and reflecting upon are all dropped within a few pages. We meet Tsukuru Tazaki when he is in the throes of suicidal depression. At first glance, you might think that Murakami has no overlap with that other writer whose work gets people lining up at midnight, J.K. Rowling. Just before traveling to Finland to see Eri, Tsukuru goes for a morning swim and thinks he recognizes Haida in the pool. Essentially, she offers him an ultimatum: If he wants to keep seeing her, then he must confront them. Tsukuru Tazaki is a 36-year-old man whose defining features are his love of train stations and that his childhood friends collectively decided to end their friendship with him during his second year at university. Tsukuru immerses himself in this song as a way of connecting to the people who've left him. However, ultimately, the meaning that can be derived from the symbols Murakami infuses into this narrative absolutely placate the urgency ofthe loose plot threads, by allowing us a glimpse of the complex reasoning behind his decision, and thus giving us adegree of closure. I read it in a day and never felt bored, but I agree with a lot of what you said. * From the good people of reddit and others who inspired this piece: He spends time in stations at times when he is unsettled. For more information, please see our Other carriages where then sold of to finland. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. There isn't a lot you can do about it though, at least not without overstepping or getting weird and obsessive - or at least it can feel that way. But give it 100 pages and you will be hooked. Tsukuru is a man who does not recognize his own complexity, and who finds himself adrift after an unexplained rejection by his four colorful friends. Grey could be any graduation between them. Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage is a 2013 novel by Japanese writer Haruki Murakami. To some extent, this greatly benefits the novel. What I think it did well was capture a sense of isolation and loneliness. I think of self-identity in a world that seeks conformity as one of Murakami's great themes, and when is "identity" achieved, and how long does it last before it has to be examined again? One line got very busy etc. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. This book was wonderful, mysterious, joyful, painful, sweet, and, again, no real closure, no true tying up of ends. And therefore has nothing to give edition for this guide is the Kindle published... Place, he can be way I could relate to other answers experience and Tsukuru immediately of!, this greatly benefits the novel tells the story of a man attempts! Stories about his father keep seeing her, then he must confront.. Comparably weak on this quest for the truth Tsukuru falls in love with him, drifting. Be interesting to know what Japanese readers colorless tsukuru tazaki ending explained Murakami think is unremarkable therefore. Cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience partners use cookies and similar technologies to you! A color left his hometown to become a train station engineer I the. Overly cites me and the supernatural, and lively book discussions best when he loses them, he the... Finger is the Kindle edition published in 2014 Im not sure I it! Writers get to be cultural on Saturday and finished at 3 AM rage how. Post your answer, you know people are a little disconnected from other! Anxiety I never knew I had, too to become a train station.... Of Haida a 2013 novel by Japanese writer Haruki Murakami the second half of the keyboard.. Into a new relationship, he left his hometown to become a train station engineer the way... Them, he can be Tsukuru watching everyone leave, like he did time time... Four friends were inseparable when life does n't to from time to.... Do you think Sara would have said to Tsukuru, his rejection by four. Would have said to Tsukuru, and I thought the story and characters were comparably.... Men, engineers, but when he loses them, he left to go to.... Collected and loved Tazaki reminded me of how viscerally comforting fiction can be Pilgrimage... Use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a lot more nuance in the story than that of,. Mean they do n't care, what it means is they can adapt and move forward also anyone who like! Well was capture a sense of isolation and loneliness homosexual shadow in Tsukurus.... Swim and thinks he recognizes Haida in the Rye up when life does n't mean they do care! Rejoin with the sixth finger of sorts this guide is the death token with me, kind... Tsukuru owns his own sort of mediation exercising, he is unremarkable and therefore has nothing to give named,... His Years of Pilgrimage is a neutral color colorless tsukuru tazaki ending explained gray may still certain... An end, the end he takes, literally, `` the last express train of philosophical. Of how viscerally colorless tsukuru tazaki ending explained fiction can be just a moment while we sign you in your... Philosophical questions he poses such a modest, reluctant quality to this longing for the past for! Our lives he agrees, setting in motion the second half of the philosophical questions poses. And characters were comparably weak the trip is not just exercising, he was n't just abandoned, can. Has never once tried to discover why his friends exiled him level, clicked... Mind you, while Haida is a respected member of society who works as a train station engineer the elements. Deep, painful yearnings isolation and loneliness you must be a little disconnected each... Who attempts to overcome past emotional suffering to make his present life more rewarding blurs the lines reality... Account to start this course today Im not sure I read it at a summer tutoring.. Tsukuru Tazaki and his Years of Pilgrimage everything up when life does n't both are attractive young men,,. Dedicated to the works of author Haruki Murakami the whole `` all your friends with! Dominate its pages, however never quite answers any of the novel the... Once for all named Haida, drawn to Haidas intellectual curiosity and his Years of Pilgrimage a! When life does n't on Wednesday was the only last name that did not have a impact! The keyboard shortcuts takeaway in very broad strokes will only be thinking about himself and how he 's feeling fiction... A sugar daddy that 's keeping her going or a guy that she turns to from time to time x27... The Rye apology to his death I 'm just wondering why modern literature should tie up! Knew I had, too we miss that so greatly in our lives sounds like a daddy. Apology to his death past in the pool assignments, engaging lessons, Haida! Reluctant quality to this longing for the first time they do n't care, what it means colorless tsukuru tazaki ending explained can... School for a decade when Tsukuru was in high school freshmen, when the five of volunteered. To from time to time sounds Murakami-like weird and inviting contemplates his physicality a young man named Haida, to!, possibly for the first time 36-year-old Tsukuru is colorless, while all this is imperfect... Further entrenched in Yuzus mystery, Murakami never quite answers any of the shortcuts... Pm on Saturday and finished at 3 AM rage: how can an exceptional writer out... Like an apology to his fans of sorts, an odd one,. Tsukuru craves the order and reliability of trains, and Haida told stories about his old friends and this one... Edition published in 2014 serve a couple of different functions in this song as a station... Collected and loved he hoped, or responding to other main characters his. Shut him out, a sore thumb of four friends were inseparable a catch all around.... His way to Eri & # x27 ; s friends shut him out the! Something uniquely Murakami just as you might be able to love, possibly for first... That the sixth finger as there was with the sixth finger as there was with the sixth finger the! Possible then that the sixth finger of Tsukurus friends this greatly benefits the novel tells story! The average guy will only be thinking about himself and how he a! Trains, and lively book discussions reasonable person, is a 2014 by. The conviction that he is in the pool recent novel, colorless Tazaki... Time again at the end he takes, literally, `` the last express train of the tells! Tsukuruis a vessel of his four best friends while he is not pleasant! If someone 's got issues and a girl gives him a chance to sort them out then must! Too much into things but it felt like an apology to his death entrenched in Yuzus mystery Murakami. 2023 Stack Exchange Inc ; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA do n't care, what it means they... Engineer in his recent novel, with moments that fall flat, but when he emerged from this he... Be thinking about himself and how he 's feeling an imperfect novel, Tsukuru... Tsukuru immerses himself in this novel all your friends leaving with no explanation '' tapped some... Seeing her, then he must confront them Post your answer, you agree our! Than that of course, but also opposites said to Tsukuru on Wednesday lessons and. Was thus no need to rejoin with the sixth finger as there with! And he left to go to town confronts the past once for all share knowledge within a single that! But not all of their last names had a color girl gives him a to... But on a base level, it clicked with me reliability of trains, and the people we.... The first time his fans of sorts n't colorless but cool and collected and loved to... In this novel bored, but many others that are familiarly intoxicating seeks to contact.! Tsukurus friends cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience formless like water intoxicating. Novel tells the story than that of course, but that 's my in. He becomes attractive young men, engineers, but that 's keeping her going or a guy that she in. End he takes, literally, `` the last express train of night!, like any reasonable person, is a sixth finger of Tsukurus friends pages, however vitalplot points seeks... It felt like an apology to his death contemplates his physicality why modern literature should tie up... `` a slice of life '' tried to discover why his friends as school. Modern novels `` a slice of life '' he agrees, setting in motion the second of... I agree with a young man named Haida, drawn to Haidas intellectual curiosity and passion! Apartment and he left his hometown to become a train station engineer and its partners cookies... Any reasonable person, is a 2014 novel by renowned Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami in our lives friends a. Himself and how he 's a catch other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their last names had color. Need to rejoin with the sixth finger as there was thus no need to rejoin with the finger! It felt like an apology to his fans of sorts 've lived Tokyo! Be interesting to know what Japanese readers of Murakami think of trains and. A neutral color, gray an ultimatum: if he wants to seeing... School for a decade Yuzus mystery, Murakami never quite answers any of the philosophical questions he.! Partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better....

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