Tag Archives: Wind-Up Bird Chronicle

Manskinner Boris & Putin’s Terror Tactics

By Robin Bates | Published: October 24, 2022

Russian atrocities in Ukraine bring to mind Boris the Manskinner, from Murakami’s “Wind-Up Bird Chronicle.”

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A Murakami Villain Surfaces in Ukraine

By Robin Bates | Published: August 3, 2022

Russia’s atrocities in Ukraine bring to mind Boris the Mankiller in Murakami’s “Wind-Up Bird Chronicle.”

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Murakami and Kyiv’s Zoo Crisis

By Robin Bates | Published: March 8, 2022

The Kyiv Zoo is finding itself caught up in the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Murakami anticipates such a situation in “Wind-Up Bird Chronicle.”

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Murakami and Repressed Anger’s Toxicity

By Robin Bates | Published: May 24, 2018

Murakami’s novels cast light on a recent Japanese football incident where a player was instructed to take out the other team’s quarterback.

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Food Is More Than Food for Esquivel

By Robin Bates | Published: April 19, 2018

Esquivel captures the greater significance of food in “Like Water for Chocolate.” I also share a whiskey cake recipe and reflect on the magic in magical realism.

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On Labeling Survivors as “Crisis Actors”

By Robin Bates | Published: February 27, 2018

Murakami has the perfect analogy for the vast rightwing echo chamber that labels mass shooting survivors as “crisis actors.”

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Magical Realism’s Special Powers

By Robin Bates | Published: February 22, 2018

Magical realism defined and its significance discussed.

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Murakami and Millennials’ Identity Quests

By Robin Bates | Published: January 10, 2018

Murakami’s novels appeal to millennials because they are existential parables, and young people are grappling with life’s big questions, especially identity and purpose.

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Putin as Murakami’s Boris the Manskinner

By Robin Bates | Published: October 31, 2017

Murakami’s Boris the Manskinner has an unsettling resemblance to Vladimir Putin and wannabe authoritarian Donald Trump. Without strong beliefs, one cannot stand up to him.

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