Today I'm posting my thoughts about this book as part of a discussion occurring over at DolceBelezza. Feel free to join in. The questions were posted by Random House, and we're just selecting some questions we wanted to work with. I'm responding to Q's 1 & 2 primarily, however I have a feeling I'll post another review (perhaps part 2) in a couple of days with some more thoughts.
Q1. What is the significance of the
name of the novel, Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage? Why is
Tsukuru branded “colorless”? Would you say that this an accurate description of
him? Is this how Tsukuru sees himself or is it how he is seen by others? What
kind of pilgrimage does Tsukuru embark upon and how does he change as a result
of this pilgrimage? What causes these changes?
I propose that Tsukuru is not so
colourless, but more pastel. I felt that he identified as ‘colourless’ in
contrast to his friends, whom he held in high esteem for their individual
‘colours’ or strengths. While I was struck by the concept that your name could
have such a powerful influence on your character, I don’t believe Tsukuru was
actually without character. He presented to me as a caring, compassionate and
concerned person, even in his youth. As part of the group, they played with
children while Shiro (Yuzuki) taught piano classes, and they did other community minded
activities. I don’t think he participated in this out of mindless following, I
think he saw that as important.
I don’t think that it was
inappropriate to call the book ‘Colourless Tsukuru’ because the concept did
influence how I read the book. I think the title made me think more about who
Tsukuru was and how he felt he was what his name meant.
The pilgrimage he undertakes is both a personal
journey of self discovery, and a journey in the physical sense to different
cities, which represent his willingness to see
things differently. His friends never travelled far, which to me
indicates their need to feel safe and secure, while Tsukuru was prepared to
travel to uni and work. The when he was the one to make the pilgrimage to
discover what happened in the past, he was the one to travel. The others
didn’t.
Q2. Why does Tsukuru wait so many
years before attempting to find out why he was banished from the group? How
does he handle the deep depression he feels as a result of this rejection and
how is he changed by this period of suffering? Is Tsukuru the only character
who suffers in this way? If not, who else suffers at what is the cause? Do you
believe that their distress could have been avoided? If so, how?
I think he accepted the
‘banishment’ in the first place because he had faith that his friends knew what
they were doing, but his reaction to it then was out of fear – he didn’t want
to know why it happened. I think he ‘lived’ with the pain because he didn’t
know any other way to react (not surprising given he was an adolescent male). Eventually
he just moved on with his routine ways as a way of avoiding the pain. In true
Murakami style, routine is an important strategy for coping. So many of his
novels have the main character living a
simple routine. (perhaps that’s why I like his books, I like simple routines
too). Other iconic Murakami characteristics appear here too – swimming, a glass
of Cuttey Stark, listening to classical music, and sex – help Tsukuru to regain
his personal meaning.
Sara appeared to play a pivotal
role in encouraging Tsukuru to take on the journey of discovery. I think it was
a timely encounter, serendipitous, meeting Sara. She was a facilitator of
healing because she was prepared to look at the story from a different point of
view. She was bold in her assertion that she would not let this lie if it were
her, and bold in her encouragement that this would be a significant thing for
Tsukuru. I believe the serendipity of the moment for Tsukuru was that Sara was
bold enough to say what she thought, and Tsukuru was interested enough in pursuing
Sara as more than a friend, that he was motivated to do the journey, for her.
He soon found the journey was for him.
I think that each individual in
the group of 5 was personally affected by what transpired. I think each one
suffered following the decision to cut off Tsukuru. The boys did what boys do –
plough on, forging out their existence, but not so boldly as to leave the town.
The girls dealt with what they were facing. Eri (Kuro) felt obliged to carry on in the
caring role. Shiro (Yuzuki) was also suffering, but perhaps she suffered all
along. I think Eri had an extreme burden and experienced great suffering.
Murakami captured in Eri’s story, something that many women the world around
experience – responsibility and guilt. Eri’s story turned out positively, but
it was a difficult journey for her. She suffered because she cared too much for
her friend Shiro, but also because she lost her love, Tsukuru.
I’m not sure the pain was
avoidable. I think they group made the only choices they knew how to make then.
We’ve all made similar decisions, and sometimes there’s no clear way of
reversing the events that happened. Sometimes it takes a very bold person to
actually identify and act on a wrong.
This book was not a typical
Murakami novel, not surreal by Murakami standards. I felt an affinity with the
story because this has happened in my life (and I suspect many others can
relate to it too). Friends who share alot of their lives together, drift apart
or suddenly part, with no further contact. I still have friends that I feel
‘dropped me’ and I don’t know why.
One of the
most powerful quotes in the book for me is this;
The past
became a long, razor-sharp skewer that stabbed right through his heart. Silent
silver pain shot through him, transforming his spine to a pillar of ice. The pain
remained, unabated. He held his breath, shut his eyes tight, enduring the
agony. Alfred Brendel’s graceful playing continued. The CD shifted to the
second suite, ‘Second Year: Italy’.
And in that
moment, he finally able to accept it all. In the deepest recesses of his soul,
Tsukuru Tazaki understood. One heart is not connected to another through
harmony alone. They are, instead, linked deeply through their wounds. Pain linked
to pain, fragility to fragility. There is no silence without a cry of grief, no
forgiveness without bloodshed, no acceptance without a passage through acute
loss. That is what lies at the root of true harmony. (near the end of chapter
16).
What was your favourite quote?
