A review by bookswitharrah
South of the Border, West of the Sun by Haruki Murakami
5.0
‘South of the Border, West of the Sun’ revolves around Hajime, he who was one of the few unusual 'only child' in a typical family of two or more siblings in Japan. He met Shimamoto, a girl who has polio and loves books & music - both commonly shared being an “only child”. They were unseparated till the age of twelve until Hajime’s family decided to move away. Hajime never got tired of thinking Shimamoto and gravely hoped to cross paths with her again – this longing greatly influenced his life and his relationship with women as he grows old. Of course, Shimamoto reappeared right before Hajime's eyes, stunningly ready to rock his life and marriage after twenty five years. Lies, excuses, betrayal escalated and Hajime desperately fell in love with Shimamoto in the process, he even decided to leave his wife and his two daughters to start a anew with her. Hajime and Shimamoto got away to his vacation home, spent the night together and exchanged promises but Shimamoto was gone the next day – her absence almost drive Hajime insane.
Okaaay! I’ll probably stop here, I can’t bring myself to continue describing more of what happened and the ending was – a total ‘wow’. The book quipped my interest of Hajime’s being an only child”, I was also an only child for almost twelve years before my brother came. After reading few chapters, I smelled disaster and was predetermined that Hajime and Shimamoto meet halfway in a twisted fate but the novel pinned me to the point that I felt Hajime’s emptiness, it was deep and painful. It was depressing enough that it got my mind wondering blank and lost for a while - a first for me. Hmm, the blurb in goodreads was a cheat! Put in pleasantly simple words yet a page turner – I felt cheated! Reading “South of the Border, West of the Wind” by Haruki Murakami on my kindle does not give myself justice. I cry.
Okaaay! I’ll probably stop here, I can’t bring myself to continue describing more of what happened and the ending was – a total ‘wow’. The book quipped my interest of Hajime’s being an only child”, I was also an only child for almost twelve years before my brother came. After reading few chapters, I smelled disaster and was predetermined that Hajime and Shimamoto meet halfway in a twisted fate but the novel pinned me to the point that I felt Hajime’s emptiness, it was deep and painful. It was depressing enough that it got my mind wondering blank and lost for a while - a first for me. Hmm, the blurb in goodreads was a cheat! Put in pleasantly simple words yet a page turner – I felt cheated! Reading “South of the Border, West of the Wind” by Haruki Murakami on my kindle does not give myself justice. I cry.