Can anyone recommend other Japanese authors?
As a general shotgun approach at "who's who" in Japanese literature:
Kobo Abe's Woman in the Dunes is a story that's a bit bizarre/unreal; many people I know who like Murakami also like this.
Speaking of "bizarre," Yukio Mishima was quite a character -- aside from that, he was also quite a writer. Patriotism is a great short story from him that's pretty thought-provoking in a lot of ways.
Mishima's Confessions of a Mask is also another book I'd immediately recommend to people looking at Japanese literature. The protagonist is homosexual and somewhat deviant in a number of ways; the book looks at what it means to be "abnormal" and still have to fit into Japanese society (IIRC this was set in pre-war Imperial Japan).
For more modern stuff, Taiyo Fujii's Gene Mapper was a great read and a look at a future where genetic engineering/manipulation is the norm, especially for foodstuffs.
I really appreciate all the great suggestions in everyone’s responses. Many of the authors I’ve never heard of.
If looking for existentialist ennui authors, then Japan may offer other writers.
What about Murakami's works appeal to you in particular?
I’ve often heard of murakami described as similar to Philip K Dick. Though I like Dick, I don’t really see the relation. (Though the second season of amazons Man in the Hogh Castle seems very Murakami-esque to me)
I’ve read a lot of French and German existential ennui authors and don’t get the same feelings (some I’ve read in both English translation and original text).
I do get some similar feelings from some Hemingway works, though clearly not magical realism.
Do you have any magical realism authors you can suggest?
One Hundred Years of Solitude is generally regarded as a good place to start. It's one of my favorite books and has so much character and imagery that sticks in your head.
I think I know what you mean regarding Hemingway. I got that "feeling" as a reader reading For Whom The Bell Tolls.
I'd look at "the Surrendered" by Chang-rae Lee, a Korean American author and a Pulitzer finalist. I'm only halfway through the book but it's very much a Hemingway esque war book, and I think I get a similar feeling reading it. Maybe it has to do with being very deep inside the psyche of the existentially troubled, conflicted protagonist.
If you do read it and enjoy it, drop me a note at me email. Would love to hear what you think.
I’ll try to check out that Korean American author too. I just finished “pachinko” by Min Jin Lee, another Korean American author. Definitely _not_ magical realism but a lot of enui.
He is also just an amazing writer (he won the Nobel). Some interesting works by him: Master of Go, the novelization of a Go match between two masters (I barely understand how to play Go and still found it interesting) and Thousand Cranes, which centers around the tea ceremony. That story is interesting because a few old tea bowls are treated almost like characters that exert influence over some of the other characters whose lives are kind of intertwined almost like a Shakespearean drama. Anyway, a very interesting and unique author.
I also recommend Musashi from Eiji Yoshikawa. He writes big historical fiction novels that read like fantasy page-turners. Taiko is his lesser known novel in translation, but it is a really awesome overview of the Japanese feudal period and a fun read as well.
My college classmates would often ask if I was related, especially since he was a visiting lecturer back in the day.
- and the above is Kanji if you don't have the script ;-)
[1] https://www.amazon.com/Kitchen-Banana-Yoshimoto/dp/057117104...
Can you tell me about why you suggest him?
Would you recommend any particular order when approaching his other books?
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15811545-a-tale-for-the-...