I am excited to discuss Killing Commendatore, the latest work by Japanese writer Haruki Murakami. I cannot quite remember what it was that sparked my initial curiosity for Murakami's work, but after reading The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, I decided I wanted to read more, and have managed to keep up with his more recent publications.The Situation: A 36 year-old unnamed painter has just been left by his wife. Turns out she was not kidding when she previously confessed her weakness for attractive men. Devastated and somewhat lost, the painter sets out on an aimless road trip. But when his old car dies on him, he decides to finally settle down at the home of a friend. Actually, that is not quite true. The house was more the home of his friend's father, the famous artist Tomohiko Amada. This seems more than fitting as the painter feels lost not only because his wife has left him, but also in his own career as painter. For several years now he has only done portraits on commission, not painting anything of his own imagination. Now he is staying in the home of one of Japan's greatest painters; a house that contains the great artist's studio where he created many famous works, one of which is still in the attic.
The Problem: When the painter ventures into the home's attic to discover the source of a strange noise, what he ends up finding is Amada's Killing Commendatore, a painting that was carefully wrapped and stored, never to be seen by anyone, until now. The painter guesses that not even Amada's son has seen the painting, or knows it is up there. Not only has the painter found something that is undoubtedly one of Amada's best works, but he has also unknowingly set off a chain of events that will become harder to explain as the months go by. The painter will become acquainted with the incredibly wealthy, and incredibly put-together (almost to the point of it being unnerving) Menshiki, who is a little lost in his own way, and also has his own reasons for living in such a remote location. Then there is Mariye, one of the students in one of the art classes the painter teaches, who also live on the mountain. And finally, there is the Commendatore, who appears to be the physical manifestation of one of the figures from Amada's painting. In order to set things right, and put everything back in place, the painter will have to endure these strange circumstances through to their strange end.
Genre, Themes, History: This is a fiction novel set in modern-day Japan. Though no exact years or dates are mentioned, it can be guessed that the events took place several years before the earthquake hit in 2011, as this event, and the resulting tsunami, are briefly discussed near the end of the book. Fans of Murakami's work will spot many of his common themes. At the core of the story is the unnamed painter: a 36 year-old who is somewhat lost and incredibly lonely, having been thrown for a loop when his wife tells him she no longer wants to be with him, and has in fact been seeing someone else. And while he is good at painting, his main source of income comes from doing portraits on commission. Throughout his narrative there is plenty of cooking, strange dreams, old records, unusual names, weird sex, a secret passageway, a dried up well-like hole, a precocious teenager, strange and unlikely parallels, and even a cat or two. Yep, it's a Murakami novel alright. There is even a slight historical flashback, as there is much discussion regarding Amada's past, and what the painting of Killing Commendatore could represent.
My Verdict: It is not my favorite Murakami novel that I have read so far, that honor is still reserved for A Wild Sheep Chase. But I can say I found it to be more engaging, and more enjoyable in general, that his previous work, Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage. Be warned, the pace is incredibly slow, especially in the beginning, and even after things pick up, the book can still be a slog. With that being said, none of it is wasted space. Murakami uses every bit of dialogue and description to build on or to something. The characters, including the nameless painter, as fully realized and interesting, while also maintaining a level of mystery. And in true Murakami fashion, even after the story has ended, it is not entirely clear what has just taken place for the last 681 pages, but somehow, it is still a fun ride.
Favorite Moment: When the painter goes into the attic to investigate a strange noise and finds a horned owl. Perhaps if the noises in my own attic were horned owls and not squirrels, I would be inclined to do as our protagonist and leave the creature alone.
Favorite Character: I'm not big on kids, and even less so on teenagers (and yet I love YA...it's complicated), but I like Mariye. She also upholds my general belief that adults often both underestimate and overestimate the abilities and observation skills of those younger than 18 years-old.
Recommended Reading: I recommend Murakami's 2011 offering 1Q84. Granted, it is a long one, but it is worth it.
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