This book is Higashino's most recent English translation and upon finishing it I was quite sad that the next one (if there will be) will probably take some time to be published.
Finally, a mystery whose plot brilliance matches up to The Devotion of Suspect X!!! I've watched its movie a few years ago (and also remembering very vividly how I was all alone and munching on a cheeseburger in the cinema) but that did not discount the surprising dark revelation of the novel!!
Our favourite scientist cum sleuth, and this time round, a panelist in an undersea mining conference, Professor Yukawa solves a mystery surrounding the Kawahata family, whose adult daughter has a disproportionate and mysterious passion in preserving the sea at Hari Cove. Precipitated by the wrongful death of a retired top dog from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police, the novel delves into another murder of the past. For the main bulk of this amazing novel, multiple police forces from different precincts (which was very confusing for me) uncover the patchy history of the Kawahata family. But of course, they are too stupid to draw links, so here is where the erudite and hot professor steps in to solve the puzzle.
It's another heart-wrenching novel because so many layers of lies, all of them with the purpose of protecting a loved one, led to a murder which could have been avoided. I remember a particular scene from the movie where I had to try really hard not to cry!
Also, plus points for the book in which the child-allergic Professory Yukawa bonds with little Kyohei because that is SUGOI DESU!
Overall, A Midsummer's Equation is fantastic, and Higashino continues to live up to his name!!!
I purchased this second-hand book from one of those frequent pop-up bazaars at the university. Upon seeing it, I knew I had to get it because both the author and title rings a bell. And it's only $2.90! I completed most of the novel between the rigmarole of the Buddhist funeral.
Our protagonist, Georges Duroy, or better known as the titular "Bel-ami" by all the girls he slept with, is like Adult Oliver Twist gone wrong (haven't touched a Dickens since because I am traumatised by its tediousness). Georges Duroy a poor french man living by the day develops craftiness and works his way up the journalism company by charming married women who can't resist his "curly moustache" (I don't know why Maupassant kept bringing that up, it must be a french thing in the late 1800s lol). By today's standards, he's the regular, f***boy that my mother warns me about.
I like the end of novel, which describes the total spiritual destruction of one of his "victims" - how the french aristocrat Madame Walter looks towards the "Jesus Walking on Water" painting, only to realise wow, Duroy does look like Jesus (curly moustache???), and how church has been ruined for her as she presides over Duroy's holy marriage with her daughter.
It isn't a trashy novel - absolutely no raunchy, detailed sexy scenes. I feel that it must have reflected the bigotry of men that must be so common in those days. And also Maupassant's ideals, considering he was big on prostitutes and died of syphilis.
Birthday Stories is an anthology by Murakami. It was so very aptly presented to me, after a handshake and before an odd pat on the head by a friend, on my birthday. 13 short stories, inclusive of "Birthday Girl" written by Murakami himself, constitutes this very dark and bleak book.
My favourite short story was Forever Overhead by David Foster Wallace. I was spellbound by his beautifully artistic descriptions and was reading the story's analysis online in rapture that I literally WALKED INTO A VENDING MACHINE on my way to work. Will DEFINITELY be checking his works out.
I mean, just check out how he describes puberty in the first 3 paragraphs before swiftly and beautifully leading you in to the main bulk of the story: here. When I read them I knew the story would be great!!! Go read it, it takes less than 30 minutes!!!
There are multiple symbolisms in the story which takes alot of time to think through (as with alot of short stories, I realise), but the beauty is that once you see it, it's like you've solved a puzzle. The bee and the coke, the sister's blindness in running about, the mechanical, one-way movement up and down the diving board etc. These are small little clues littered throughout the story that makes you appreciate the beauty of subtlety in story telling.
Murakami's own "Birthday Girl" was enigmatic, very obscure and implicit. I don't fully understand it therefore I can't quite judge Murakami yet.
I'm writing so much on books but I don't think anyone's interested in what I'm reading to even slow down and take in every word like how I read short stories. I don't even know if anyone checks this site out. In any case, my next read is Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury and I shan't be discourage from my hobby - I'm excited for this classic, must-read, dystopian novel. I'm definite that it'll be good!
