Sputnik Sweetheart by Haruki Murakami Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Sputnik Sweetheart
Book Review: Disjointed
Summary: 4 Stars
Murakami's description does not falter, but I found this book more disjointed than 'Norwegian Wood' or 'South of the Border, West of the Sun'. It is gripping and beautiful and well worth a read, but make 'Norwegian Wood' your first if you've never before read Murakami.Book Review: Is love really impossible?
Summary: 3 Stars
`Sputnik Sweetheart' starts simply enough with the narrator telling us all about Sumire, an aspiring writer who wears a second hand herringbone coat and chain smokes. Sumire falls in love with Mui, a woman who is seventeen years her senior and who offers her a job. Sumire becomes unrecognisable to the narrator, K, as she is gripped by her feelings. Sumire follows Mui to a Greek Island and it is whilst they are there that K receives a phone call asking him to come to Sumire's aid...
Although there was nothing to particularly dislike about this novel, there wasn't anything I found particularly engaging either. I didn't believe that Sumire would fall in love with Mui and the relationships seemed a bit flimsy. There are about ten amazing pages somewhere near the middle that deal with Mui's past but it wasn't enough to carry the whole novel. The overall message seems a little depressing too; K loves Sumire but she doesn't love him, Sumire loves Mui but she doesn't love her and Mui seems incapable of love. Is love really that impossible?
Not one for me.
Book Review: Good Murakami, though not among his best
Summary: 3 Stars
This good novel by Japan's Haruki Murakami has essentially three characters: the narrator, a teacher in his late twenties (a Murakami alter ego, one supposes); the object of his affections, Sumire, an erratic writer in her early twenties; and the object of Sumire's affections: Miu, a married businesswoman in her late thirties with a secret past, that takes Sumire as an assistant and as the companion in an eventful trip to a Greek island. The novel finishes with too many loose ends (at least, I did not understand them), but for most of the times the mixture of existentialism and minimalism, along with Murakami's good grip as a narrator makes one interest hold. Not among the author's best, but still a good novel about the loneliness and despair of modern urban life. Book Review: Keep reading - it gets better
Summary: 4 Stars
I didn't like the subject matter of this novel, as affirmed by the cover design, and thought it was too feminine. Although it does include lesbianism, it veers away from this as the story progresses.
It gets better after halfway when it becomes more familiar Murakami territory, that is, surreal tales described in fine prose. I especially liked the bit about the ferris wheel, excellent description of time, place and person.
I overcame my initial reservations and persisted with the book, to find it engaging, and a little different.
Book Review: Plot not fully developed
Summary: 3 Stars
I've loved the books I've read by Murakami so far (Norwegian Wood, The Wild Sheep Chase, Dance, Dance, Dance and Kafka on the Shore), so my expectations were very high.
Although I love the poetic style of writing with lots of philosophical insight this book didn't quite do it for me.
The story line seemed simple: The male narrator K is in love with his best friend Sumire who is in love with Miu (a married woman) who's not in love with her. A lot of unrequited love in other words, but very strong friendships.
I like the first part of the book best when we're still in "the real world". It's amusing and original the way Sumire meets Miu and befriends her. It adds tension when Sumire discusses her love with K. There's also an interesting subplot dealing with K's casual relationship with a mother to one of his students. I would've liked to stay with the story and see what would've have happened if it had developed naturally. An exploration of friendship sex jealousy etc.
Now Sumire disappears "to the other side" and that isn't a satisfying solution to me. I did like the supernatural element in the previous Murakami novels that I've read, but this was too vague and not fully developed.
It also fails a bit when it comes to the narrative structure. K tells the story, but fragments of Sumire's writing is thrown in as well. Her style seems very similar to K's style. What also disturbs me is the way K describes a sex scene between Sumire and Miu. How is he supposed to know what they got up to? There's no indication that Sumire or Miu told him the details about what happened in the bedroom. Unless they are extremely outspoken, which seems unlikely.
I would say this is a quick poetic read that leaves the reader with lots of questions. It might be a good thing. Perhaps I'd like it better if it was made into a film.