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The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle
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Plot Summary of The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle
"The story starts off simply enough about Mr. Okada losing his cat, then his wife, and then finally his own mind. In a bizarre fashion all of the odd characters and situations that Okada finds himself in are all related in some way which is eventually summed together at the end. What was most fascinating is the elements of Buddhism, the search for nothingness to really get in touch with one's consciousness. Okada finds the strength and ability to achieve 'emptiness' at the bottom of a dark well. In the well, the author puts us in touch with the most bizarre adventures in Okada's consciousness.
Much of the story talks about war guilt.
"

David G. Phillips, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle
Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Time/era of story - 1980's-1999
Inside culture (main char) - Japanese
Internal struggle/realization? Yes
Struggle over - conduct in war
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Outside culture (society) - Japanese
Coping with loss of loved one(s) Yes
Loss of... - wife/girlfriend/squeeze
Ethnic/regional/gender life Yes

Main Character
Gender - Male
Profession/status: - unemployed
Has magical powers? Yes
Magical/mental powers of main character: - teleportation
Ethnicity/Nationality - Japanese
How sensitive is this character? - middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence
Physique - healthy but a geeky weakling

Main Adversary
Identity: - society
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a substantial amount

Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings? - 8 ()
Asia/Pacific Yes
Asian country: - Japan - China
Small town? Yes
Small town people: - nice, like Andy/Opie/Aunt Bee
Misc setting - sewers/subways

Style
Person - rotating 1st
Accounts of torture and death? - explicit references to torture
Sex in book? Yes
What kind of sex: - actual description of hetero sex
Unusual Style: - a lot of flashback and forwards
Amount of dialog - significantly more dialog than descript
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Toraware by Robert W. Norris


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Haruki Murakami Resident Scholar Profiles

TOP SCHOLAR:
  
David G. Phillips  

SCHOLARS:


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