mybookjournal

Just one thought crossed my mind as I held Murakami’s latest hardbound copy of Colourless Tsukuru Tazaki and his years of pilgrimage, that is - no matter what, I have to read this book right away. And I did. Though it was just 298 pages I took my own sweet time to finish it. Actually truth to be told I relished it. As much as I loved reading this I never wanted it to end. But it did.

The story is clear-cut, Tsukuru Tazaki at the age of 20 was abandoned by his four friends without adieu or any explanation. But even now, after 16 years he is still unable to fathom as towhy he was deserted like that and why it was he who had to face it, this was something which had stayed within him, affected him in many ways, no matter how many years passed. Eventually, Sara his friend (whom he was in love with) insists him to go down the memory lane meet his old friends and ask for the real reason for the abandonment. So that he could finally find tranquillity in his life. 

“Alienation and loneliness became a cable that stretched hundreds of miles long, pulled to the breaking point by a gigantic winch. And through that taut line, day and night, he received indecipherable messages.” 

As a character I could understand Tsukuru Tazaki though he was weird at times. His isolation was heartbreaking to read especially after his four friends discarded him and few left him with out a word, these were the few people whom he trusted his life on. It left a vacuum in his heart which turned to loneliness which crawled inside him and grew bigger and bigger as years passed. The description of Tsukuru’s melancholic journey is explained exceptionally by Murakami. I can’t probably put into to words as to how I felt while reading those simple yet profound prose. All I can say is whoever has experienced isolation will definelty understand Tsukuru Tazaki
There are more interesting characters apart from Tsukuru, who enter his life and exit just like that. Just like how it happens in reality. We meet people who turn our life and change our way of thinking and one day they just vanish with out a word. The only thing they leave behind, is their memories. It happened with Tsukuru as well.

I actually did not expected any clear cut ending but as the way story progressed, it almost came to a full circle which made me hope for a perfect ending. But bah! there it was a ‘cliffhanger’ once again. All I could manage to say is ‘Oh no not again!!!’

On the whole I would say if you love to read about loneliness without caring much for plot/ story then go for it and you will not be disappointed.