About the book:
“A deeply personal, intimate conversation about music and writing between the internationally acclaimed, best-selling author and his close friend, the former conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
Haruki Murakami’s passion for music runs deep. Before turning his hand to writing, he ran a jazz club in Tokyo, and from The Beatles’ “Norwegian Wood” to Franz Liszt’s “Years of Pilgrimage,” the aesthetic and emotional power of music permeates every one of his much-loved books. Now, in Absolutely on Music, Murakami fulfills a personal dream, sitting down with his friend, acclaimed conductor Seiji Ozawa, to talk, over a period of two years, about their shared interest. Transcribed from lengthy conversations about the nature of music and writing, here they discuss everything from Brahms to Beethoven, from Leonard Bernstein to Glenn Gould, from record collecting to pop-up orchestras, and much more. Ultimately this book gives readers an unprecedented glimpse into the minds of the two maestros.”
Absolutely on Music is available now for pre-order; it will be published November 15, 2016. Just one more thing to be thankful for this month.
I was chosen to be a Murakami Ambassador by the publisher not too long ago and yet, I was declined for this ARC. I was shocked! I am a huge fan and have read all his books except Underground which I just bought a copy of.
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I’m shocked, too, Ti, as I remember you winning an autographed copy of Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki which I was absolutley lusting for (and I so wanted to go to the IFFP ceremony for which he was shortlisted that year)! This is the only Murakami book I don’t own, several of them first editions, so I know I’ll have to ask Santa, or Knopf, for this!
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I’ve had this on my wish list since I found out about it. I’ve been counting down the days. I can’t wait 🙂 I also bought a copy of Haruki Murakami Goes to Meet Hayao Kawai. I haven’t read it yet, but it sounds interesting. Oh, and I also have Men Without Women: Stories on my wish list as well. It comes out next May. I was approved for an ARC of it, but was slightly disappointed. I’ve read half of the stories in it, which I hadn’t expected. I figure that at least there are still a few I haven’t read, so its still new Murakami 🙂 Hope you enjoy the new book!!
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Trust you to know about this already, Nadia! I have read a few of the stories found in the New Yorker (Scheherazade, and Yesterday come to mind), but I will try to buy the full collection when it comes out in May. Thanks for the heads up!
I read a reviewer’s thoughts that this book would be best served with an accompanying cd of all the music, but I feel I can just look up the ones I don’t know. I spent some years at the music conservatory in college, and I hope many will be familiar.
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Seems like the publisher missed an opportunity there. An accompanying cd would have been a great addition. I suppose they were thinking that many people who read the book would be music aficionados and already have the music. But there will be other readers getting it simply because they like Murakamis fiction and they wil not necessarily know the music.
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Bellezza,
A new Book by Haruki Murakami?!
This sounds wonderful! 🙂
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Every time something from Haruki Murakami is published it becomes number one on my “must have” list! I’m so crazy about his work.
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Well, at last I will give Murakami a try. This seems a perfect introduction, for me. I just placed my pre-order, and am looking forward to receiving it. I’m so glad you mentioned it here.
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Linda, I’m so thrilled that this book appeals to you as much as it does to me! His nonfiction works, and here I speak of Underground about the real sarin gas attacks in Tokyo, and What I Talk About When I Talk About Running (a subject which has never appealed to me) are so excellent! I was riveted to Underground, so impressed with the Japanese culture and strength; my mother read and gave away copies of the running book for Christmas one year. But, the subject of music seems so especially lovely, and I long to read his thoughts while listening to the pieces which he discusses.
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I have been reading a lot of reviews about this book so a bit of serendipity in seeing your post. I hope to read it. It sounds wonderful.
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Because of you Bellezza, you know I’m an adict…. now a very excited one… I just love HMs references to music in his novels. I will be getting this in my collection. Thank you.
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I must get back to Murakami. I have so much catching up to do!
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