"First Person Singular" is a collection of short stories written by Haruki Murakami after six years of absence. As the world continues to change, only stories can retain the moment. A man and woman who never see each other again... A character named Haruki Murakami... A Shinagawa monkey who stole someone else's name... The atmosphere of summer and rock music.
Short stories are countless incisions into a world.
The "first person singular" is the "single eye" that captures a fragment of the world. There are more and more such cross-sections, and the "single eye" becomes an infinitely interlaced "compound eye". At that time, I will no longer be me, and you will no longer be you. What will happen then? What won't happen? Welcome to the world of "first person singular". Eight wonderful short stories with different themes and perspectives, narrated from the first-person perspective of "I". It can be said that Haruki Murakami, who has entered the age of doing what he wants without exceeding the rules, has a series of gems that reflect on the themes of love and death in life. Combining tankas, prose, music and novels, it unfolds a new Murakami-style compound-eye novel. Reading Murakami's novels and wandering in the world of literature, isn't life just a memorial song to youth, love and death?
Reader comments
The first time I heard the name Haruki Murakami was in an essay written by a classmate in an essay competition. I didn't know much about the author at the time, but I felt that he seemed to be quite famous and I often saw people quoting his words.
But I feel that many of the novels he writes are like diaries written casually, which are a bit scattered. Maybe it's because I don't know much about his writing style. Although this book is called first person, it is divided into several short stories, and the last story is called first person.
It feels more like what the writer has experienced in life.
Love is our indispensable fuel. Without this source of heat, the human heart would become a cold and barren land. There was no sunlight all day long in that wilderness, and the flowers and plants named tranquility and the trees named hope could not grow. On cold nights, they warmed my whole body bit by bit, barely sustaining me for the rest of my life.
There are many circles with no center and circumference. I have been thinking about it for a long time and have not figured it out. But maybe there is no combination scene. Maybe it means that when you encounter something annoying, think about other things and you will not pay attention to that thing.
I got the magic of Murakami's short stories. The trajectory and shape of my heart can be presented so accurately in words. Some passages are exactly the same as my own moments. It's like he has seen through it. I admire his description skills. The Shinagawa monkey is particularly good, with a kind of sad beauty. I would rather believe that Shinagawa monkey is real. If it is true, there must be other "talking species" in this world. It's wonderful.
With a unique writing method, the content of the novel contains unique insights into life. You may not have experienced it before, but it feels so real. You may be able to find your own salvation in life in the novel, maybe only a little, but it is enough.
I have read Murakami's other two books before, and now I have realized his unique style. Some of his psychological and state descriptions seem to put my feelings on paper with words.
I have heard the name Haruki Murakami in many places. When I read his book for the first time, I could feel the nature in his book and write down some of my indescribable emotions.
"Losing someone is like having a mental illness that is not covered by medical insurance."
It seems that Murakami was obsessed, but now I see that it really shouldn't be the case. But I watched it anyway. So evaluate it.
There are some very good novels in this book, and some novels that are deeply baffling to read. Perhaps this is the unique charm of Haruki Murakami? It's inexplicable, but at the same time, there's something interesting seeping out through the pages.
There is nothing in this world that is not inexplicable, and everything has its own interesting logic.
Therefore, we can conclude that everyone loves Haruki Murakami. ——Of course this is a joke.
The short songs in this book are so well written, especially the line "Are you / and I / far away? Can we reach Jupiter by changing trains /?", Which makes me feel that Haruki Murakami's understanding of love and distance is really profound. And every short story is very interesting, as if you are chatting with the author, very friendly. It is recommended that you also read this book and experience the world of Haruki Murakami.
One of my favorite quotes: Make peace with time and leave as many precious memories as possible - this is more important than anything else.
It's a very unique narrative method, and the scenery description is very good. I like "The Confessions of the Shinagawa Monkey" very much.
The style of Murakami is as always, but perhaps compared to the wandering in the earlier period, the current one seems to have got its own answer.
Like the first chapter very much
The whole book has a feeling that makes me scratch my head. It is an autobiography and a novel, and it is as real as something that happens every day.
Some of the content was not enough to watch, and it ended when I got excited.
Love the cream one
I really like the story of Shinagawa Monkey
Very good book
Every chapter is thought-provoking
Looks good, I'm a Shinagawa monkey [staring]
You can go left or right, you can go either way... That's how I am now
I read the physical book, this one is quite nice.
I really like
Little story and big truth
Ok ok ok
The same feeling as always in Murakami, cold and lonely
There are many metaphors and symbols, which are a bit difficult to understand.
2025.03.11 Guizhou University South Campus Early morning
Very good collection of memories and thoughts
Very simple and easy to understand
OK
The first time I heard the name Haruki Murakami was in an essay written by a classmate in an essay competition. I didn't know much about the author at the time, but I felt that he seemed to be quite famous and I often saw people quoting his words. But I feel that many of the novels he writes are like diaries written casually, which are a bit scattered. Maybe it's because I don't know much about his writing style. Although this book is called first person, it is divided into several short stories, and the last story is called first person. It feels more like what the writer has experienced in life.
Love is our indispensable fuel. Without this source of heat, the human heart would become a cold and barren land. There was no sunlight all day long in that wilderness, and the flowers and plants named tranquility and the trees named hope could not grow. On cold nights, they warmed my whole body bit by bit, barely sustaining me for the rest of my life.
There are many circles with no center and circumference. I have been thinking about it for a long time and have not figured it out. But maybe there is no combination scene. Maybe it means that when you encounter something annoying, think about other things and you will not pay attention to that thing.
I got the magic of Murakami's short stories. The trajectory and shape of my heart can be presented so accurately in words. Some passages are exactly the same as my own moments. It's like he has seen through it. I admire his description skills. The Shinagawa monkey is particularly good, with a kind of sad beauty. I would rather believe that Shinagawa monkey is real. If it is true, there must be other "talking species" in this world. It's wonderful.
With a unique writing method, the content of the novel contains unique insights into life. You may not have experienced it before, but it feels so real. You may be able to find your own salvation in life in the novel, maybe only a little, but it is enough.
I have read Murakami's other two books before, and now I have realized his unique style. Some of his psychological and state descriptions seem to put my feelings on paper with words.
I have heard the name Haruki Murakami in many places. When I read his book for the first time, I could feel the nature in his book and write down some of my indescribable emotions.
"Losing someone is like having a mental illness that is not covered by medical insurance."
It seems that Murakami was obsessed, but now I see that it really shouldn't be the case. But I watched it anyway. So evaluate it. There are some very good novels in this book, and some novels that are deeply baffling to read. Perhaps this is the unique charm of Haruki Murakami? It's inexplicable, but at the same time, there's something interesting seeping out through the pages. There is nothing in this world that is not inexplicable, and everything has its own interesting logic. Therefore, we can conclude that everyone loves Haruki Murakami. ——Of course this is a joke.
The short songs in this book are so well written, especially the line "Are you / and I / far away? Can we reach Jupiter by changing trains /?", Which makes me feel that Haruki Murakami's understanding of love and distance is really profound. And every short story is very interesting, as if you are chatting with the author, very friendly. It is recommended that you also read this book and experience the world of Haruki Murakami.
One of my favorite quotes: Make peace with time and leave as many precious memories as possible - this is more important than anything else.
It's a very unique narrative method, and the scenery description is very good. I like "The Confessions of the Shinagawa Monkey" very much.
The style of Murakami is as always, but perhaps compared to the wandering in the earlier period, the current one seems to have got its own answer.
Like the first chapter very much The whole book has a feeling that makes me scratch my head. It is an autobiography and a novel, and it is as real as something that happens every day. Some of the content was not enough to watch, and it ended when I got excited.
Love the cream one
I really like the story of Shinagawa Monkey
Very good book Every chapter is thought-provoking
Looks good, I'm a Shinagawa monkey [staring]
You can go left or right, you can go either way... That's how I am now
I read the physical book, this one is quite nice.
I really like
Little story and big truth
Ok ok ok
The same feeling as always in Murakami, cold and lonely
There are many metaphors and symbols, which are a bit difficult to understand.
2025.03.11 Guizhou University South Campus Early morning
Very good collection of memories and thoughts Very simple and easy to understand OK