As I continue my journey through all of the works by Japanese writer Haruki Murakami, I decided the next book I would cover is Sputnik Sweetheart, originally published in Japan in 1999, and in English in 2001.
The Situation: The mostly unnamed narrator (only sparingly referred to as 'K'), is in love Sumire. While she does not share the same feelings, the two remain friends. In fact, K will frequently assert that Sumire is his only friend. Having met in college, K and Sumire manage to stay close even after Sumire drops out. Now, K is a teacher with the occasional girlfriend - though they are usually older and married - and Sumire is an aspiring writer. But when she meets an older woman named Miu at a wedding, Sumire has found a new focus and becomes hopelessly in love with her. Miu offers her a job, which comes with many opportunities for travel, and Sumire accepts, though she knows Miu is married. Throughout all of this, Sumire keeps K updated on the situation, usually with calls in the middle of the night. It is only after Sumire and Miu take a business trip to Europe that the calls stop, and then K loses contact with Sumire completely.
The Problem: When K receives a call from Miu about Sumire, it seems his suspicion that something may have happened has proven true. Thankfully, he is between terms at the school he teaches, and is able to fly to Greece to help Miu search for Sumire, who seems to have simply vanished. During the search, K learns more not only about his strange friend, but the lovely older woman she has fallen in love with. As the trip begins to provide more questions than answers, K is drawn into Sumire's world even more so than before. With only strange visions and dreams, and cryptic notes and messages as clues, the search for Sumire proves to be less than straightforward. Sumire was always a bit strange, but disappearing seemingly into thin air is new for even her. And without his only friend gone, K is even more hapless and confused than before.
Genre, Themes, History: This is a fiction novel set mostly in Japan, but also in Greece, which is where Sumire disappears. Published between The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, and Kafka on the Shore, this novel carries many of the marks of a Murakami novel. If we were to play Murakami Bingo, we could check off the spots for mysterious woman (Miu), ear fetish, something vanishing, cats, urban ennui, secret passageway, cooking, parallel worlds, and unusual name (Sumire). There are also several mentions of a well, but one never actually appears. The love triangle of this book reminds me of the one in Norwegian Wood, and the manifestation of the parallel world seems like a precursor to the one that will come later in 1Q84. Something else that often appears on some iterations of the Murakami Bingo card is the lost male narrator. K is both lost and listless, showing little drive or direction, and often wonders where his life is going. Part mystery, and part unrequited love story, it carries much of the same haunting energy Murakami readers have come to expect.
My Verdict: While I appreciate the straightforward nature of this book in contrast to some of his other work, there is certainly a reason why Sputnik Sweetheart is not often mentioned among the Murakami favorites. It does not have quite the same depth as The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, or Norwegian Wood, or 1Q84, and the plot is not as cohesive, though the characters are well-rounded. It is as if organization was sacrificed in the interest of making things mysterious and slightly weird. Even so, I still found myself enjoying the book, if only because I had fun finding all of the different ways it linked up with other Murakami books. I liked seeing how it fit in with the rest, and playing Murakami Bingo is always a good time.
Favorite Moment: Though this moment is terrifying and nightmarish, mostly because it can happen in real life, Miu's story of the time she was stuck at the top of a ferris wheel over night is incredibly compelling.
Favorite Character: Miu may be a bit cold, but she is not heartless, and she knows how to handle herself.
Recommended Reading: Readers who enjoy this book may also enjoy Norwegian Wood, though my favorite still remains to be A Wild Sheep Chase.
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