Writing Challenge:
I had some free time before my kids came home and thought it was a good time for a blog post! So, I set myself a challenge: write a post as my phone charges—51 minutes to full battery. I opened my laptop, navigated to my blog, and started typing. But just a few lines in, my kids burst in, full of energy and excitement. Suddenly, I didn't feel like writing anymore.
This made me wonder if the real reason I don't write as much as I'd like is the constant interruptions and demands from my kids. It seemed likely. But a challenge is a challenge, so here I am, racing against time to share my thoughts properly.
Back Story:
I've always enjoyed reading and writing and have wanted to share my thoughts on books after finishing them. That's why I've tried joining book clubs, though my last attempt was a disaster. So, I took a break from reading because I often felt I had no time, no incentive, and no idea what to dive into next.
Last week, while shopping, I wandered into Rawazen bookshop. None of the books I had at home were calling to me, and I needed something gripping. I remembered how much I used to enjoy Dostoevsky novels, so I thought, "Maybe Japanese this time?" That's when I spotted Haruki Murakami’s "1Q84". I remembered someone I trust reviewed it, though I couldn't recall their exact words. I decided to give it a try and picked up the first book out of three.
Book Review:
"1Q84" is 557 pages. Murakami's writing was indeed captivating, and I managed about 70 pages a day. Despite this, I won't be buying the next two parts. The book, filled with explicit adult themes, was too much. The plot is well written and intricate, but the graphic content was disturbing.
I believe that respecting oneself begins with setting clear personal principles. This book made me reflect on my decency and moral integrity values, especially regarding explicit sexual content. and there I were, reading a novel with excessive explicit sexual content and portrayal of women that made me uncomfortable.
When I was younger, I always thought that there must be a reason that I didn't comprehend—that authors wrote graphic sexual content, and I thought I was too young or naïve to understand. Now, I can say that often there is no reason, aside from the author's lack of morality and a need to sell.
In "1Q84," Haruki Murakami touches on the idea that authors sometimes incorporate sexual content into their books as a strategy to increase sales, hinting at the publishing industry's dynamics and the motivations behind content choices in literature. This also brings into question whether the wide success of the book is commercial or artistic. possibly both.
Murakami also pointed out that it is a writer's responsibility to bring to life scenes that ordinary people might not encounter in their everyday lives, and that literature extends the reader's vision beyond the mundane, allowing them to explore the hidden aspects of life, thereby enriching the reader's perspective into diverse human emotions, which might otherwise remain inaccessible, and at the same time, challenging readers' perceptions of the human stories.
Writing this review, and reflecting on these 2 points, I'm somewhat more understanding of the author's intention. Understanding, yet not approving.
Despite "1Q84’s" popularity, I wouldn't recommend it. I read to enjoy, expand my horizons and challenge my mind, not to compromise my values. While "1Q84" offers an engaging narrative, the explicit content diminishes its overall appeal for me.
All the reviews I read and watched after I finished the first book didn’t touch on the explicit content, and I felt the responsibility to share this view with you. I hope you too would choose a better book and share better book recommendations.
Note: this post was intended to be a quick one-hour write-up, it took an hour and thirty minutes. Challenge not quite met, but mission joyfully accomplished!
I had some free time before my kids came home and thought it was a good time for a blog post! So, I set myself a challenge: write a post as my phone charges—51 minutes to full battery. I opened my laptop, navigated to my blog, and started typing. But just a few lines in, my kids burst in, full of energy and excitement. Suddenly, I didn't feel like writing anymore.
This made me wonder if the real reason I don't write as much as I'd like is the constant interruptions and demands from my kids. It seemed likely. But a challenge is a challenge, so here I am, racing against time to share my thoughts properly.
Back Story:
I've always enjoyed reading and writing and have wanted to share my thoughts on books after finishing them. That's why I've tried joining book clubs, though my last attempt was a disaster. So, I took a break from reading because I often felt I had no time, no incentive, and no idea what to dive into next.
Last week, while shopping, I wandered into Rawazen bookshop. None of the books I had at home were calling to me, and I needed something gripping. I remembered how much I used to enjoy Dostoevsky novels, so I thought, "Maybe Japanese this time?" That's when I spotted Haruki Murakami’s "1Q84". I remembered someone I trust reviewed it, though I couldn't recall their exact words. I decided to give it a try and picked up the first book out of three.
Book Review:
"1Q84" is 557 pages. Murakami's writing was indeed captivating, and I managed about 70 pages a day. Despite this, I won't be buying the next two parts. The book, filled with explicit adult themes, was too much. The plot is well written and intricate, but the graphic content was disturbing.
I believe that respecting oneself begins with setting clear personal principles. This book made me reflect on my decency and moral integrity values, especially regarding explicit sexual content. and there I were, reading a novel with excessive explicit sexual content and portrayal of women that made me uncomfortable.
When I was younger, I always thought that there must be a reason that I didn't comprehend—that authors wrote graphic sexual content, and I thought I was too young or naïve to understand. Now, I can say that often there is no reason, aside from the author's lack of morality and a need to sell.
In "1Q84," Haruki Murakami touches on the idea that authors sometimes incorporate sexual content into their books as a strategy to increase sales, hinting at the publishing industry's dynamics and the motivations behind content choices in literature. This also brings into question whether the wide success of the book is commercial or artistic. possibly both.
Murakami also pointed out that it is a writer's responsibility to bring to life scenes that ordinary people might not encounter in their everyday lives, and that literature extends the reader's vision beyond the mundane, allowing them to explore the hidden aspects of life, thereby enriching the reader's perspective into diverse human emotions, which might otherwise remain inaccessible, and at the same time, challenging readers' perceptions of the human stories.
Writing this review, and reflecting on these 2 points, I'm somewhat more understanding of the author's intention. Understanding, yet not approving.
Despite "1Q84’s" popularity, I wouldn't recommend it. I read to enjoy, expand my horizons and challenge my mind, not to compromise my values. While "1Q84" offers an engaging narrative, the explicit content diminishes its overall appeal for me.
All the reviews I read and watched after I finished the first book didn’t touch on the explicit content, and I felt the responsibility to share this view with you. I hope you too would choose a better book and share better book recommendations.
Note: this post was intended to be a quick one-hour write-up, it took an hour and thirty minutes. Challenge not quite met, but mission joyfully accomplished!