Blog Post 2 - My understanding of the "other world"

Reading Murakami’s writing always leaves the reader asking questions. In my experience with his writing, most of his works (short story or novel length) end with fantastical occurrences that could not occur in real life. Mentions of this other world can be implicit or explicit, depending on the needs of the story. In The Wild Sheep Chase, the events transpiring at the cabin after Boku’s girlfriend leaves are a good example of an implicit experience of the other world. In The Year of Spaghetti, there is an explicit example when Murakami writes “Sometimes I wonder what happened to the girl - the thought usually pops into my mind when I’m facing a steaming-hot plate of spaghetti. After she hung up, did she disappear forever, sucked into the four thirty p.m. shadows? Was I partly to blame?” This example shows the reader the narrators acknowledgement of the other world, while in The Wild Sheep Chase, Boku's finds himself interacting with the other world but does not acknowledge this fact. It is clear that in either case, the other world is a real occurrence that must be recognized. There are similarities between each mention - characteristics like darkness, cold, and physical response to the other world (like Boku getting sick) all accompany every interaction. Often, mirrors serve as a portal into (and out of)  this world, as in Where I’m Likely to Find It. In Sputnik Sweetheart, it seems it was the mirrors within the binoculars that opened up this other world.

The question I am always left with - what is the purpose of this other world? While it is undoubtedly good at keeping readers coming back for more, this seems to be a poor explanation for its existence. The consistent experiences throughout all of Murakami’s works make it seem real to dedicated readers. It presents itself as an intermediary between literature that is uncompromising real-world (Think To Kill a Mockingbird) , and complete fantasy (think LOTR). The omnipresent cloud hanging in the back of every story, the “other world” can be interpreted to mean many things. At times, it seems to be the deep part of every consciousness that is either too difficult or too painful to navigate and understand. At other times, it seems to resemble an alternate universe dictated by similar laws but inhabited by antithetical characters. It can even seem as a scapegoat for all inexplicable phenomena found in the natural world. It is nearly impossible to analyze it as a separate entity from the story it visits, and I cannot for the life of me comprehend its meaning. The most perplexing quality of the other world to me is that it maintains a similar composition, but impacts characters in wildly different ways. I am motivated to read more of Murakami’s works after the class is over, because I want to keep interacting with the other world. Despite the relatability of Boku and his toils in everyday life, it is the overarching theme of wonder that impressions me when reading Murakami’s work that I relate to most. I am still waiting for my letter from Hogwarts, and am perpetually confuddled by the world around me, so the other world is an entity whose existence I hope for. Reading Murakami’s works makes it seem discoverable. 

Andrew