30 review for The Folklore of Our Times

1. 

   4 out of 5

   Ankit Garg – Nov 04, 2019

   This one hits where it is supposed to, right at the heart. And that last line, although known tacitly, makes the impact much much stronger when actually stated. What a master Murakami is! "You close your eyes, and all that comes to mind are the mistakes of the past." "I recognized her voice immediately. That’s something you never forget." "I don’t know what it is, but sadness always seems to contain some strange little joke." This one hits where it is supposed to, right at the heart. And that last line, although known tacitly, makes the impact much much stronger when actually stated. What a master Murakami is! "You close your eyes, and all that comes to mind are the mistakes of the past." "I recognized her voice immediately. That’s something you never forget." "I don’t know what it is, but sadness always seems to contain some strange little joke."

2. 

   5 out of 5

   Rakesh Raushan – Jan 19, 2013

   Beautiful Short story by Murakami Haruki. 60s of Japan resembles present India. People differ, values differ. That much is constant, no matter what the period. But the thing about the sixties that was totally unlike any other time is that we believed that those differences could be resolved. She shook her head. "You just don't understand. I'm a woman. I'm not like you. You don't know a thing about it. Not a thing." Nothing he could say did any good. She just kept on crying. And then she said the str Beautiful Short story by Murakami Haruki. 60s of Japan resembles present India. People differ, values differ. That much is constant, no matter what the period. But the thing about the sixties that was totally unlike any other time is that we believed that those differences could be resolved. She shook her head. "You just don't understand. I'm a woman. I'm not like you. You don't know a thing about it. Not a thing." Nothing he could say did any good. She just kept on crying. And then she said the strangest thing. "Listen, even if I break up with you, I'll still remember you for ever. Honestly. I'll never forget. You know how much I like you. You're the first person I've ever cared for, and it's made me so happy just to be with you. Please understand. If it's some kind of promise you want, I promise. I'll sleep with you. But not now. After I'm married I'll sleep with you. I promise." "What the hell was she saying? It boggled my mind," he said, gazing at the glowing hearth. The waiter brought our primi piatti and added another log to the fire, sending out crackling sparks. The middle-aged couple at the next table were deliberating over the dessert menu. "I just couldn't figure it out. I went home and her words kept playing over and over in my mind, but I simply could not follow her reasoning. Does it make any sense to you?" "I guess she meant that she was going to stay a virgin until her wedding night, but once she was married and her virginity wasn't an issue she'd be able to have an affair with you. Something like that." "Yeah, something along those lines. That's the only way I could read it." "Unique, I'll give her that. And logical, in a way." A mild smile played over his lips. "True enough. There was some logic to it." "A virgin bride, an adulterous wife. It's like a classic French novel. But with no ballrooms or foot servants." "And yet to her that was the only realistic solution," he said.

3. 

   5 out of 5

   Amropali – Apr 24, 2013

   "I don’t know what it is, but sadness always seems to contain some strange little joke.” "I don’t know what it is, but sadness always seems to contain some strange little joke.”

4. 

   4 out of 5

   Nour – Oct 28, 2017

   "You close your eyes, and all that comes to mind are the mistakes of the past." "You close your eyes, and all that comes to mind are the mistakes of the past."

5. 

   5 out of 5

   Seemita – Feb 22, 2015

   Time is a funny entity. Catch it when it calls for you and it remains a bright, quotable memory in future; decline its call at your peril and pile up aches for a later date. We often turn back time and cast a wide look at what went by, days ago, weeks ago, months ago and more frequently, years ago. An evening of gloom may work out well for a drama director's camera, but the reel of life that we develop pricks out choices and lost time, an eternally fatal mistake that all of us know but invariably Time is a funny entity. Catch it when it calls for you and it remains a bright, quotable memory in future; decline its call at your peril and pile up aches for a later date. We often turn back time and cast a wide look at what went by, days ago, weeks ago, months ago and more frequently, years ago. An evening of gloom may work out well for a drama director's camera, but the reel of life that we develop pricks out choices and lost time, an eternally fatal mistake that all of us know but invariably commit. Murakami weaves a relatable story of a successful entrepreneur, who, on accidentally bumping into a fellow classmate from high school and having sinking into a casual chat over an evening of conducive nostalgia, finds a gaping wound, still throbbing inside him. Seeing years of nursing going futile doesn't trouble him as much as fathoming the fact that time, indeed, cannot heal everything. For all the decisions we take and the choices we make, we let go of many of their alternatives and some of these very alternatives chase us for the rest of our lives, like faithful dogs. We cannot let them in but their sheer loyalty keeps us from severing ties altogether with them. Helpless, all we end up doing is dab the wounds with a potion of smile and keep walking; until the wounds open up again and demand our attention.

6. 

   5 out of 5

   farida – Dec 09, 2018

   “I don't know what it is, but sadness seems to contain some strange little joke.” “I don't know what it is, but sadness seems to contain some strange little joke.”

7. 

   4 out of 5

   Rihab – Apr 30, 2019

   “It’s impossible,” she said. “You and I will never get married. I’m going to marry someone a little older than me, and you’re going to marry someone a little younger. That’s just how it goes. Women mature earlier than men, and they age faster, too. Even if we did get married right after college, it wouldn’t last. Anyway, we can’t keep going like this. You know I like you, more than I’ve ever liked anyone else. But that’s that, and this is this” __ what the hell she was talking about ? okay let's f “It’s impossible,” she said. “You and I will never get married. I’m going to marry someone a little older than me, and you’re going to marry someone a little younger. That’s just how it goes. Women mature earlier than men, and they age faster, too. Even if we did get married right after college, it wouldn’t last. Anyway, we can’t keep going like this. You know I like you, more than I’ve ever liked anyone else. But that’s that, and this is this” __ what the hell she was talking about ? okay let's face it , a lot of people think the same , there's a bit of truth in it but : Yoshiko ! why would you care about a notional thing ? A man older than you doesn't mean he's gonna be mature and i know what i am talking about ! A man older than you doesn't mean you'll never go old , he still can cheat on you , it has nothing to do with age .. A man older than you doesn't mean your marriage will be soulful and will last forever . It's not mathematics ! __ After reading this story , which is from another culture , another place .. I give up .. i really no longer understand how this world works !

8. 

   4 out of 5

   Cathreen Shiucheng – Jun 01, 2014

   a short-story by this famous Japanese author. when i read tis, it makes me question about life, the purpose of it (as what Murakami questioned about in this short story). And it's hard to define life! Things doesn't happen to what we want or how we have plan it to happen! a short-story by this famous Japanese author. when i read tis, it makes me question about life, the purpose of it (as what Murakami questioned about in this short story). And it's hard to define life! Things doesn't happen to what we want or how we have plan it to happen!

9. 

   5 out of 5

   Lindsay – Jul 30, 2020

   I just realized I never typed up the review that I jotted down in my journal for this book. Before we hit the ground running with this write up. I accessed the short story for free from the Guardian. Link here: https://www.theguardian.com/books/200... The 60s pop culture references were lovely in how they were woven in. I must confess as an 18 year old I had to Google who the heck Jim Morrison was but I knew Bob Dylan and the Beatles! It really built nostalgia and sets the scene. The descriptors I just realized I never typed up the review that I jotted down in my journal for this book. Before we hit the ground running with this write up. I accessed the short story for free from the Guardian. Link here: https://www.theguardian.com/books/200... The 60s pop culture references were lovely in how they were woven in. I must confess as an 18 year old I had to Google who the heck Jim Morrison was but I knew Bob Dylan and the Beatles! It really built nostalgia and sets the scene. The descriptors are vibrant but somewhat stylistically subdued. I have to wonder if this was purposeful or a byproduct of the translation from Japanese. Either way it gave an air of lacking frivolity which contrasted the time nicely. Even when Murakami venters into more grandiose descriptors he highlight their normalcy in the context of the 60s. The narrator clings to the idea of "reporting the facts" in the context of emotional and sexual undertones. (view spoiler)[ I was quite weirded out by the virginity portion. I was lost about who was narrating the story. Was it Murakami himself? So the idea of the survey got kind of lost in the sauce for me. It was only a tiny portion of the overall narrative but it kind of came to dominate my thoughts. It is so odd about hearing about the same conflicts of today going on in my grandma's generation, but further the story was written about 17 years ago and the conflicts remain stagnant. How those that struggled then now took up the mantel of their parent's views. But I digress, the articulated notion of the 1960s view of compromise shocked me but honestly I need to read more older takes on things. The turn to the Cleans story was unexpected but ultimately became a vessel for the thematic narrative. The perfect couple with looks, intelligence, even kindness who are everything to each other. I am not going to elaborate for that would kill the suprise and premise but know they are not as they seem to each other. Overall nice story for free. Definitely for adults or mature teens as it forayed into some sexual experiences and beliefs over time. (hide spoiler)]

10. 

    4 out of 5

    Ayushi – Apr 03, 2020

    This short story hit me right in the feels, even though I don’t have the slightest inkling why :) “As I said at the beginning, there isn’t much here that you could call a moral. Nonetheless, it’s the story of his life, and it’s the story of all our lives. Which is why I couldn’t laugh when I heard it and why I still can’t.”

11. 

    4 out of 5

    Himali Kothari – Apr 19, 2020

    A folklore speaks of the times it belongs to...the culture, the practices and beliefs of the generation of that time. Murakami's folklore is set in Japan in the 60s and dwells on young love. For those who shy away from Murakami for the known complexity in his long reads, short works are a perfect way to marvel at his genius. A folklore speaks of the times it belongs to...the culture, the practices and beliefs of the generation of that time. Murakami's folklore is set in Japan in the 60s and dwells on young love. For those who shy away from Murakami for the known complexity in his long reads, short works are a perfect way to marvel at his genius.

12. 

    4 out of 5

    Maisays – Jun 14, 2020

    I don't think I really got it. I guess, it's that part of Haruki Murakami's prose that just doesn't click with me. Nevertheless, the style is gorgeous. And English translation - very good. I don't think I really got it. I guess, it's that part of Haruki Murakami's prose that just doesn't click with me. Nevertheless, the style is gorgeous. And English translation - very good.

13. 

    4 out of 5

    Roma – Dec 16, 2017

    Sad.

14. 

    5 out of 5

    Soumya Prasad (she_booked_it) – Jun 14, 2019

    I loved this one. Something so innocent and cute about the whole thing.

15. 

    5 out of 5

    Yudha Setyawan – Sep 25, 2012

    Well, I should say this is the time I’ve got hard punch on my heart. The material of these thing, the story, the character, I can’t deny about it. Maybe it reached millions of readers who feel the same about perfect youth love story, when the thing much easier to live through in it. Then as time get rollin’ day after day after day it shattered everybody’s perfect union. And finally, we just remember good time and memories in those old days.

16. 

    5 out of 5

    Ha Tran – Jun 12, 2016

    I like this book, honestly, especially how it far exceeded my initial expectation. The story is so sad and relevant to what I experienced in the past. There used to be someone that I craved for, maybe even now and further in the future, yet the sheer memories of hers imprison me in lament and despair. Much as it wrenched my heart, at the same time it calmed me to think that I'm not the only one who have known such pain. I like this book, honestly, especially how it far exceeded my initial expectation. The story is so sad and relevant to what I experienced in the past. There used to be someone that I craved for, maybe even now and further in the future, yet the sheer memories of hers imprison me in lament and despair. Much as it wrenched my heart, at the same time it calmed me to think that I'm not the only one who have known such pain.

17. 

    5 out of 5

    Tsering – Jul 16, 2015

    Relationships and how it affects individual's decision making. Young and foolish but nonetheless innocent too. Its a story where we all will be the hero and the heroines. Just the same, more or less. Relationships and how it affects individual's decision making. Young and foolish but nonetheless innocent too. Its a story where we all will be the hero and the heroines. Just the same, more or less.

18. 

    4 out of 5

    Ashish Gourav – Oct 28, 2014

    One of the most impactful stories you would ever come across. Murakami pleases you by whispering the right emotions into your ears.

19. 

    4 out of 5

    Vaiva Sapetkaitė – May 25, 2016

    It's a very simple short novel but I stil liked it. It has that Haruki Murakami's elegance and existencial deepness in it. It's a very simple short novel but I stil liked it. It has that Haruki Murakami's elegance and existencial deepness in it.

20. 

    4 out of 5

    Siddhi B –

21. 

    5 out of 5

    Nocturnal –

22. 

    4 out of 5

    Adam Auder –

23. 

    5 out of 5

    starmist –

24. 

    4 out of 5

    Man Li –

25. 

    5 out of 5

    Bhuvanesh Manivannan –

26. 

    4 out of 5

    Manas –

27. 

    4 out of 5

    Min –

28. 

    5 out of 5

    Anh Thư – Apr 10, 2018

    Quite a sad story from the sixties of Japanese society ; about the two people who loves each other but can't come together just because people hold different values. And yes, what I can see here is women are framed to love and live up to what the society expects. That's sad! Quite a sad story from the sixties of Japanese society ; about the two people who loves each other but can't come together just because people hold different values. And yes, what I can see here is women are framed to love and live up to what the society expects. That's sad!

29. 

    5 out of 5

    Avery –

30. 

    5 out of 5

    X –