Carousel Combat Chronicle -- Murakami Haruki Essay Series

Author: (Japanese) Murakami Haruki, translated by Lin Shaohua
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-09-01
Features: This is a collection of nine short stories, most of which have not been published in mainland China before. Two of them are included in "The Disappearance of the Elephant" by Lijiang Publishing House. The book is based on real-life stories that the author personally encountered, with themes focusing on the exhaustion, lack of choice, and psychological distortion of urban life. The content includes stories about a couple divorcing over a minor issue, the hesitation of someone in the middle of their life, the awakening of love in a proud young lady's heart, the youthful impulses of a teenager, the inner struggle of a disabled person, and humorous tales. Each story is different, but they all share a humorous and interesting style, with strong philosophical and narrative qualities. It reflects the author's consistent writing style and is also one of his early works. "The Spinning Carousel," Murakami Haruki's definition of life—when you're fighting, it seems like a life-or-death battle, but looking back, you've just come full circle. Isn't that right? She travels all the way from abroad to buy her husband a pair of well-fitting shorts and T-shirt, but upon returning, she decides to divorce. She painstakingly finds a painting that catches her eye, only to set it on fire with kerosene before leaving. The beautiful and proud princess is so intimidating that no one dares to look up at her, yet in the middle of the night during a snowstorm, she "accidentally" crawls into "my" blanket. She falls in love with a woman and moves to spy on her for three whole months through a telescope, yet when they meet again, she feels completely indifferent toward her after just a few words. But Murakami Haruki says: "This isn't a novel—it's his personal experiences."