I wrote a huge number of letters that spring: one a week to Naoko, several to Reiko, and several more to Midori. I wrote letters in the classroom, I wrote letters at my desk at home with Seagull in my lap, I wrote letters at empty tables during my breaks at the Italian restaurant. It was as if I were writing letters to hold together the pieces of my crumbling life.
Haruki MurakamiA short story I have written long ago would barge into my house in the middle of the night, shake me awake and shout, 'Hey,this is no time for sleeping! You can't forget me, there's still more to write!' Impelled by that voice, I would find myself writing a novel. In this sense, too, my short stories and novels connect inside me in a very natural, organic way.
Haruki MurakamiWhen the fire goes out, you'll start feeling the cold. You'll wake up whether you want to or not.
Haruki MurakamiClosing your eyes isn't going to change anything. Nothing's going to disappear just because you can't see what's going on. In fact, things will even be worse the next time you open your eyes. That's the kind of world we live in. Keep your eyes wide open. Only a coward closes his eyes. Closing your eyes and plugging up your ears won't make time stand still.
Haruki Murakami[...] Shimamoto had her own little world within her. A world that was for her alone, one I could not enter.
Haruki MurakamiYou donโt get it, do you?" I said. โItโs not a question of โwhat thenโ. Some people get a kick out of reading railroad timetables and thatโs all they do all day. Some people make huge model boats out of matchsticks. So whatโs wrong if there happens to be one guy in the world who enjoys trying to understand you?
Haruki Murakami