Memoir or fiction? Murakami blurs the line between the two in First Person Singular, his most recent collection of stories where he tackles time, dreams, and memory (its power, lapses and distortions). He demonstrates how we wish into existence and remember into existence memories we are unwilling to abandon, such as how a one-night stand or a girl running down a high school hallway can stay with us and leave a lasting imprint.
First Person Singular (translated by Philip Gabriel) is reminiscent of Murakami’s previous collection of short stories The Elephant Vanishes in that all the stories are told in the first person and in Murakami’s famous conversational style. Some stories are other-worldly while others are based in the mundane. This volume has less punch and polish than The Elephant Vanishes and, as such perhaps should not serve as an introduction to Murakami, but nonetheless, these stories remain a welcome read for Murakami fans. More…