Three Generations of Murakami Readers, and What It Means to Support a Writer You Love

Some books are read once and shelved. Others get passed along a family like a favourite record. We love that three generations of Murakami readers now sit under some roofs, and it has made us think about what it really means to support a writer you love.

Grandmother, mother, child

Murakami has said that one of the things that makes him feel fortunate is that people of every age read his novels. He has described receiving letters from readers who say their household has been reading his books for three generations: a grandmother who perhaps read him when he was new, a mother, a son, a sister. When he hears such stories, he has said, he feels a real brightness. In his view, a book that several people in one house take turns reading is a book that is still alive.

He has also said, in a thought we find charming, that a publisher would of course like five copies sold to five people, but as a writer he would be happier if five people read one copy carefully. We are paraphrasing from our notes, so take it as the spirit rather than a quotation.

It tells you something about what he values. Not numbers, but attention.

Why his books cross generations

We have some guesses. His early novels, such as Hear the Wind Sing (1979) and Norwegian Wood (1987), speak to young people in their twenties. Later books like The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle and 1Q84 reward patient adults. Meanwhile his essays on running, jazz and cooking are friendly to anyone. A grandmother and a teenager can take very different things from the same page, and each one feels addressed.

The themes also age well. Loneliness, memory, loss and the search for a quiet place to think do not belong to any single decade.

What does "support" really mean?

One of our notes on this topic argues that supporting someone requires a relationship of trust. You must believe first, and have faith that the writer will not betray you. In that sense, there is a kind of credit between Murakami and his readers: he rewards our trust with sentences, and we reward his with attention.

The same note makes a point we agree with. Once a book leaves the author's hands, it no longer fully belongs to him. A book becomes complete inside each reader, shaped by that person's feelings and life. The author starts, the reader finishes. A passage that is nothing to one person can break another's heart, and both are right.

So how do we support the writers we love? Buy their books, borrow them from the library, talk about them, and read them slowly. Share them with a parent or a child. Support can also be simply the fan art, translations, playlists and blogs that fans make with their own time. We admire that passion, and it is part of why we keep Peter Cat going. If you are curious about the man at the start of all this, read how he went from jazz bar owner to novelist.

FAQ

Do people of all ages read Murakami?

Yes. Murakami himself has said he is happy that his readers span generations, and he has received letters from families who read him together.

How can I support a writer I love?

Buy or borrow their books, recommend them, discuss them thoughtfully, and give them your honest attention.

What is a good Murakami book to share with family?

Perhaps a short story collection, or an essay book about running or music, since they are easy to pick up and put down.

Who introduced you to Murakami, and who have you passed him on to? Tell us in the comments.