This book club is dedicated to the works of Sayaka Murata (surprise!). Why a whole book club for one author? Because her writing is very suitable for intermediate level Japanese reading. Her use of language is straightforward, without flowery vocabulary or crazy long sentences. This means we can enjoy the literary merits of her works and discuss the themes she explores (non-conformity, especially with regard to gender roles, parenthood and sex) without getting too bogged down in the language.
Yes! I am very happy this exists. Now our little offshoot of an offshoot repeat of a repeat book club has found its true purpose. Thank you for putting it together!
I’d suggest changing “Read in this club” to “Currently Reading” for 殺人出産. And you’re probably already on top of it but it deserves a spot in the Master List of Bookclubs as well.
With 7 weeks to go until our current pick is finished, it’s probably time to pick another book. If we take a week or so to decide, those who want to buy the physical book will have 6 weeks for shipping, which should hopefully be enough even in this crazy covid world.
Please pick up to four books you’d be keen to read.
Well, she is the only person I’m following on Instagram… And a big part of her posts are nature shots, and I’m swooning over each one, despite them having absolutely no connection to her work…
And I want this for myself ( ミラクリーナ’s promo stand)
And anyway, she even described herself as a cult writer in that spoilery Guardian interview:
[context - about how Earthlings is more grim than Konbini]
“The people who know me through Convenience Store Woman are disappointed. But I was a cult writer before that success. People are saying the old Murata has returned.”
I think it’s cause someone removed their vote for しろいろの街の、その骨の体温の Let’s give it until it’s been 7 days (so about 36 hours) and then we’ll call it. If it goes back to being a tie we could always read both (shortest book first, then the longer one)
We’re going to be reading all of them eventually anyway, so…
It was me @NicoleIsEnough made me aware of the fact that the 体温 book is pretty expensive on bookwalker compared to 授乳. Since I don’t really have a preference of one over the other (I just voted based on titles that I’d seen in Bookoff before), I thought why not think a little economical
Yes, I was a bit surprised to see that about half the books are in a decent price range (600-800 yen) while others are very expensive (1300-1800 yen), probably because they are newer. I usually defer reading the expensive ones until they get old enough to become cheaper or until there is a general sale. Can’t always avoid the expensive ones because of book clubs, but if there is a choice, then why not factor in the price, I thought.
I don’t think that’s necessarily the case. Konbini Ningen is half a year younger than コーヒーが冷めないうちに and it’s just half the price. Whatever the reason may be, it’s super annoying.
Actually, this one is a problem for me My original plan was to start Murata Marathon on my own sometime Fall/Winter 2021 and continue into 2022 and hopefully finishing in 2022.
Now, this book club will obviously go slower. But reading with others is so much more energizing~
On the other hand, there is also high risk of people dropping out on the way So, uh, I need a crystal ball or a clairvoyant to tell me which books will go first, so I can start with the ones at the end of the queue
Oh, and by the way, Murata also has 3 non-fiction books. As far as I could tell, these are reviews, articles, essays and such, compiled from various magazines.
I knew I shouldn’t buy 授乳 until the book club starts.
They have a point back sale now on Amazon.jp, they give back 30%. Not as good as the 50% a few months ago, but still.
Books in the sale: 消滅世界, 殺人出産 (if someone hasn’t bought it yet), 授乳, 星が吸う水, マウス.
Apparently it started a week ago, and it’s until 7/22.
Let’s give it until it’s been 7 days (so about 36 hours) and then we’ll call it. If it goes back to being a tie we could always read both (shortest book first, then the longer one) 
My original plan was to start Murata Marathon on my own sometime Fall/Winter 2021 and continue into 2022 and hopefully finishing in 2022.
So, uh, I need a crystal ball or a clairvoyant to tell me which books will go first, so I can start with the ones at the end of the queue 
As far as I could tell, these are reviews, articles, essays and such, compiled from various magazines.