I am nothing. Iโm like someone whoโs been thrown into the ocean at night, floating all alone. I reach out, but no one is there. I call out, but no one answers. I have no connection to anything.
Haruki MurakamiOne last word of advice, though, Mr. Okada, though you may not want to hear this. There are things in this world it is better not to know about. Of course, those are the very things that people most want to know about. It's strange.
Haruki MurakamiEven if you don't acknowledge it, people die, and guys sleep with girls. That's just how it is.
Haruki MurakamiA poet might die at twenty-one, a revolutionary or a rock star at twenty four. But after that you assume everythingโs going to be all right. youโve made it past Dead Manโs Curve and youโre out of the tunnel, cruising straight for your destination down a six lane highway whether you want it or not.
Haruki MurakamiIf writing novels is like planting a forest, then writing short stories is more like planting a garden. The two processes complement each other, creating a complete landscape that I treasure. The green foliage of the trees casts a pleasant shade over the earth, and the wind rustles the leaves, which are sometimes dyed a brilliant gold. Meanwhile, in the garden, buds appear on the flowers, and colorful petals attract bees and butterflies, reminding us of the subtle transition from one season to the next.
Haruki Murakami