Bloodless Coup

Murakami, Burroughs and Dick

It occurs to me that I haven't posted in quite some time on the fiction I've been reading lately, so here are a few brief thoughts on three novels.

Haruki Murakami's The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle is excellent and I recommend it. But I don't think I can really describe it. A cat goes missing, and then ... well, the man at the center of the book finds himself in the center of an emotional storm, surrounded by family members with secrets, dire stories of World War II and its aftermath, psychic sisters, a remarkably handsome man who doesn't speak, a sun-bathing teenaged girl who works for a wig company, and a well that may not be what it seems. It's dreamy, imaginative, colorful, and menacing, yet touched with moments of calm and sweetness.

Being a huge fan of Blade Runner, I thought I should finally read Do Androids Dream of Electic Sheep by Philip K. Dick, the story that inspired the film. I was at first taken aback. That was due to the fact that 1) I expected Dick's prose to be rather more interesting (detailed, elaborate, unexpected) than it is and 2) the book is very different from the film. Still, once I adjusted my expectations, I found it to be a rewarding read. Dick is a fine storyteller, and one is actually able to surprise his readers.

I was less pleased with Running With Scissors by Augusten Burroughs. The starts off hilariously. And Burroughs has a knack for grabbing every comic bit you possible can out of a certain type of 1970's lifestyle and certain family cultures. Still, while the first section of the book is extremely well-written and funny, it does start to drag, and seems a joke that is taking a rather long time to wrap itself up. My advice, read the first few dozen pages, and then pick up Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris. That has a similar sensibility and comic style, and I've never heard of it disappointing anyone, though I have found Sedaris fans to be somewhat divided over the story "Seasons Greetings to Our Friends and Family".