#Heavy rain shower scene series

James’ efforts at self-publishing before Vintage Books took an interest. Of course Fifty Shades of Grey warrants a mention, but that had earned a profile through E.

#Heavy rain shower scene series

There have been blips in the interim, notably through the likes of Stephenie Meyer’s Breaking Dawn in the Twilight series and Suzanne Collins’ Mockingjay in the Hunger Games series, though those were bolstered by film sagas when dystopian YA was at the height of its popularity. Maybe one day, with more notches under my bookbelt, I’ll return to the subject of his work, but I want to explore Murakami here not as an author but as a phenomenon.Īnd what other word can describe him? I can’t recall such widespread interest in any book since 2007, when Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows concluded a series that can just as readily be called a phenomenon. His stories - by turns relatable, horrific, charming, and recursive - cast a spell. Nonetheless, it’s clear that part of his appeal comes from his ability to capture the ennui of everyday life and filter it through a wholly unique magical realist lens. I can’t claim deep intimacy with Murakami’s work I’ve read as many of his novels as sit unopened on my shelf, and even the totality of those is just a fraction of his oeuvre. He’s perhaps closest to the overarching spirit of literary experimentation of the Latin American Boom.

Meanwhile, Murakami’s work sits firmly in a weird liminal space between genres. Star Wars and Marvel may dominate the box office, but mystery/thriller and romance still reign supreme in the literary world, at least in terms of sales. While I’m sure that most Escapist enthusiasts are spec-fic tragics, we’re in the minority. Challenged to name 10 authors I’d expect to attract such attention, Murakami wouldn’t be among them. A veritable trove of interest from all corners of the internet.Īll of that without the viral marketing power of a Bigolas Dickolas to propel it along. Think pieces about the meaning of Murakami or adaptations of his work. Thousands of people waiting in bookstores for midnight releases. Mainstream press coverage about the book launch. The result has been something I don’t see often about literature. The latest to swallow the limelight is Haruki Murakami, whose The City and Its Uncertain Walls released in his native Japan in mid-April. Watching the headlines over the past month and reflecting, I can’t help but think that we’re in an era of superstar authors.