Men Without Women by Haruki Murakami

Review of the book “Men without Women” by Haruki Murakami

(Reports)

“Men without women”, by the Japanese writer Haruki Murakami. It is a collection of seven stories that explore the theme of loneliness and heartbreak from the male perspective. The protagonists are men who, for different reasons, have lost an important woman in their lives, or who have never managed to establish a deep connection with them. Through these stories, Murakami shows us the different ways in which men face the emotional void left by female absence, and how this absence influences their way of seeing the world and relating to others.

The title of the book is a tribute to the story “Men Without Women” by Ernest Hemingway, one of Murakami’s favorite authors. In this story, Hemingway tells the story of a boxer who commits suicide after his wife leaves him for another man. Murakami takes up this motif of suicide in some of his stories, such as in “Drive my car”, where an actor hires a young driver to take him to his dates with his late wife’s lovers, or in “Scheherazade”, where A married man has sexual encounters with a woman who tells him fascinating stories, in the style of One Thousand and One Nights. Another author to whom Murakami pays tribute is Franz Kafka, whose influence is evident in the story “Samsa in Love”, a retelling of the classic “The Metamorphosis”, where the protagonist is an insect who wakes up transformed into a man and falls in love with a woman. maid.

Murakami’s stories are full of cultural references, especially musical and literary, which give a sophisticated and cosmopolitan touch to his stories. Jazz, the Beatles, classic rock and classical music are some of the genres that set the scenes and the moods of the characters. Literature also plays an important role, whether as a source of inspiration, as an object of criticism or as a means of communication. For example, in the story “Kino”, the protagonist takes refuge in a bar where he reads books by Raymond Chandler and Dostoevsky, while in “The Independent Organ”, a plastic surgeon is dedicated to collecting books on musical organs and seducing married women. .

Murakami’s stories have a simple and fluid style, which combines realism with fantastic or surreal elements. The author creates enveloping and mysterious atmospheres, where the everyday is mixed with the extraordinary, and where the inexplicable is accepted naturally. The characters are complex and contradictory, capable of feeling love and hate, tenderness and cruelty, hope and despair. The endings are open and suggestive, leaving the reader with the feeling that there is something more behind what is told.

Murakami’s stories in “Men Without Women” are evocative and emotional, and his ability to create complex, believable characters makes for immersive reading. Through the lives of these men, Murakami reflects on the nature of loneliness and the importance of human connection in our lives.

One of the most interesting aspects of the collection is the exploration of masculinity and masculine identity. Through the male characters, Murakami questions gender stereotypes and social pressure to be “strong” and “successful.” Instead, Murakami’s characters seek authenticity and human connection, and find happiness in accepting their own vulnerability.

Murakami’s prose in “Men Without Women” is poetic and evocative, and his ability to create atmospheres and emotional landscapes makes reading a sensory experience. Despite the brevity of the stories, Murakami manages to develop complex and believable characters, whose emotions and experiences resonate with the reader.

“Men Without Women” is a collection of moving and profound stories that demonstrates Haruki Murakami’s talent for exploring human emotions and creating memorable characters. Through the lives of these men, the author invites us to reflect on the nature of loneliness, human connection, and masculine identity. This collection is a must-read for Murakami fans and those interested in the exploration of human psychology and contemporary Japanese literature.

In conclusion, “Men without Women” is a book that invites us to reflect on the human condition and the relationships between men and women. It is a book that shows us the beauty and sadness of love, loneliness and nostalgia. It is a book that makes us feel and think.