A review by thesinginglights
number9dream, by David Mitchell
5.0
What can I say about this book that other people have reviewed constantly and are better at expressing their thoughts? How do I do it about a book I've already read? I guess I'll be honest. It'll be brief, methinks.
My brother describes Mitchell's prose as someone who got bored with how fiction is written. I can see where he's coming from: Mitchell captures the loud, crowded sense of Tokyo by making constantly feel like it is moving with no pauses. In a way it feels as if the city is a character itself. But maybe that's stretching it. David Mitchell is a master of metaphor. His prose is fierce.
Mitchell consciously acknowledges his influence from Murakami and there are some similarities in terms of the cast and types of characters involved. Both Eiji and Toru have to deal with death and growth during the death of their teens; they also deal with first loves and sexual experiences. But the comparisons aren't too full. Like the songs which both are named after, "number9" being a descendant of "Norwegian Wood", so in the book number9dream a descendant of Norwegian Wood in a way. But they are notably divergent. For starters the Eiji and Toru have different coping mechanisms for dealing with the trauma in their lives. While Toru favours isolation and detachment, Eiji seems to lose himself in his wild imagination that mixes up pop culture along with personal experiences. Norwegian Wood has a gentleness to it while number9dream explores more chaotic aspects.
I love this book, that is simply put. If you read, see what you think. No amount of words can adequately describe this book.
My brother describes Mitchell's prose as someone who got bored with how fiction is written. I can see where he's coming from: Mitchell captures the loud, crowded sense of Tokyo by making constantly feel like it is moving with no pauses. In a way it feels as if the city is a character itself. But maybe that's stretching it. David Mitchell is a master of metaphor. His prose is fierce.
Mitchell consciously acknowledges his influence from Murakami and there are some similarities in terms of the cast and types of characters involved. Both Eiji and Toru have to deal with death and growth during the death of their teens; they also deal with first loves and sexual experiences. But the comparisons aren't too full. Like the songs which both are named after, "number9" being a descendant of "Norwegian Wood", so in the book number9dream a descendant of Norwegian Wood in a way. But they are notably divergent. For starters the Eiji and Toru have different coping mechanisms for dealing with the trauma in their lives. While Toru favours isolation and detachment, Eiji seems to lose himself in his wild imagination that mixes up pop culture along with personal experiences. Norwegian Wood has a gentleness to it while number9dream explores more chaotic aspects.
I love this book, that is simply put. If you read, see what you think. No amount of words can adequately describe this book.