DESIRE BY HARUKI MURAKAMI

TITLE- DESIRE
AUTHOR- HARUKI MURAKAMI
NUMBER OF PAGES- 109
GENRE- FICTION
PUBLISHERS- VINTAGE BOOKS
FORMAT- PAPERBACK

About the book-

You've just passed someone on the street who could be the love of your life, the person you're destined for-what do you do? In Murakami's world you tell them a story. The five weird and wonderful tales collected here each unlock the many- tongue language of desire, whether it takes the form of hunger, lust, sudden infatuation or the secret longings of the heart.

My rating- ★★★★.5☆

My review-

Desire is one of the most basic human emotions which has been present since the beginning of life- and it is this emotion that the author talks about in his compilation of short stories. 

This book contains five short stories namely-

1. The second bakery attack

2. On seeing the 100% perfect girl one beautiful April morning

3. Birthday girl

4. Samsa in love

5. A folklore for my generation: a prehistory of late- stage capitalism.

The first story talks about the desire for food, the second talks about infatuations, the third talks about the wish one would ask for if they were granted a single one, the fourth talks about lust and the fifth talks about unfulfilled desires and unrequited love.

Throughout the book the author has spoken of desires through different perspectives, stating facts in each story, almost every story here has an abrupt ending, leaving the reader wanting for more. In his typical style the author has left almost all the stories open ended whereby the readers can interpret them as they want.

He has explained what each desire feels like through different metaphors, to what extent the characters would go to, to fulfil their desires and how the intense desires readily take over human senses.

Through theses stories, he has explained the realities of life, of human wants as a whole and of a varied emotions humans go through.

The events are described very vividly and none of the characters have been named- thus the stories are applicable to all human beings, different characters depict a single aspect. The descriptions and the cryptic manner in which some parts are written can make this an exhausting read. 

Each story is different in it's own way but the underlying essence remains the same.

A very thoughtful read, with new angles and explanations of the word "desire".

Characters-

The characters as such are unnamed but each play a role in their respective stories.

The first story consists of a couple who teach the reader about the desire for food.

The second story consists of this perfect girl whom the author gets attracted to. 

The third story consists of the birthday girl and an old man- her employer who gives her the opportunity to ask for that one wish which she wants to be fulfilled.

The fourth story consists of Gregor Samsa and a hunchback woman, whom he lusts for.

The fifth story consists the author's friend and his high school sweetheart.

The characters are very specific and resemble the worldly humans to a great extent.

Writing style-

The writing style is typically Murakami's style- where he has used a lot of metaphors, in-depth descriptions and has left the stories to be interpreted according to the readers' wish. The stories are in fact, instances he has come across in his own life- that's what he narrates. 

A highly enjoyable and insightful read, making the readers aware of the different aspects of a single emotion.

Highly recommending it to everyone, give it a read, you might just fall in love with Murakami's writings, if not at least you will understand "desires" in a better way- more so in a positive way.

Purchase link-

https://www.amazon.in/Desire-Vintage-Minis-Haruki-Murakami/dp/1784872636/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1549559449&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX118_SY170_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=desire

About the author-

Haruki murakami was born in Kyoto in 1949,where his parents both taught Japanese literature. Growing up in post-war Japan, Murakami was drawn to Western influences. The notion of writing a novel first came to Murakami at the age of 29, while watching a baseball game in Tokyo Jingu stadium. He has written many novels as well as short stories and nonfiction including the books Norwegian wood, the wind up Bird Chronicle, Kafka on the Shore, 1q84 and others.