When I was growing up in Ipoh in the 90s, the only good bookshops around were Mubaruk's, which specialised in textbooks (and still does), and Novelhut, the second-hand bookstore that used to be in Yik Foong (and maybe still is there, but I haven't checked in years since I prefer going to their Ipoh Parade outlet when I'm in town). There was also a pretty good bookstore in the Parkson Grand in Ipoh Parade which could have been a Berita outlet, but I don't remember. This was in the days before they expanded Ipoh Parade into what it is today. (And temporarily causing the Convent school next door to consider moving.) I recall this because I was thinking of when exactly I started reading "serious" fiction, trying to pinpoint the years when I moved from young adult/fantasy/sci-fi books into non-genre fiction. I still can't remember, but it brought back memories of a book I bought from a short-lived bookshop in Old Town. Mum had brought me there, because she must
Thanks for the vid - a Scottish setting, who knew. 100% Perfect Girl is one of my favorites, but there are far too many of his short stories that I love to just choose one.
ReplyDeleteI'd have to agree. I've got a lot of favourites myself: Hanalei Bay, Chance Traveller, Second Bakery Attack, Super-Frog Saves Tokyo... I could go on and on and on...
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked the vid!
The short film is well done, and of course, being a fan of the original source, what could be better than to see it in another medium?
ReplyDeleteInteresting how universal the love theme of the story is, such that it could be transported into another geography effortlessly.
Hallmark of great story, yes?
Indeed! Also, perhaps Murakami's oft-touted "Westernised" persona helped in bringing over the story. There really isn't much in the way of Japaneseness in the original story.
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