Out of Mind.

“You can hide memories, but you can't erase the history that produced them.” 

I just finished reading this book. I bought the hardcover a while ago but I never got the chance to start reading it. I stayed at my boyfriend's place on Monday night and took the bus from Tacoma back up to Seattle. It's usually an hour bus ride, and I had the book packed in my bag, so why not start the book instead of staring blanking at traffic on Interstate 5? 

I really won't give away too much. And I honestly haven't written a book summary in ages, probably not since elementary school. I have written short reviews on chapters of books but I usually never really poured my heart into writing them because you know, they were assignments. And with the force of procrastination, you really don't have the energy or rather time to sit there and really pour your brains into writing a short summary for some homework assignment. 

I hate to sound cliche. Growing up, I've always thought I was somewhat different. But then as I grew older I've only come to realize that it's because I was rather confined to the same kinds of situations. It's either I'm at school, which I see and experience the same people almost everyday or I am really interacting with the same sort of likeminded individuals. It's ironic because I was making a point about being different. Yes, in regards to that, my message is simple - I've always thought my mind perceived things differently and that my tastes were different. And really they're just about the same as normal human beings. I was regarded as a rebel but I wasn't out doing anything extremely crazy or out of the world. I was just more abnormal and adventurous than my peers. Here I am now though in Seattle, things are different. My interests converge more with the rest of my peers. It's a lot easier to find the authentic likeminded individuals rather than the people I am trying to mold myself into.

This book, Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage was, in my opinion, an amazing book. An amazing book because Murakami (one of my favorite authors) was able to paint the portrait of an individual I could really relate myself to. At times, I felt like I was living parts of Tsukuru's life. The commonality in the way we think and perceive was rather creepy but it felt real and raw. I guess that's why I really enjoyed the book. At some point, Murakami was also really able to blend in deep philosophical concepts and I was allowed to pause and really contemplate on the subject matter.

Honestly, I haven't read a book so quickly in a long while. I couldn't stop reading it. When I read the short reviews they always have on the first few pages of a novel, I was in doubt. "Captivating." Like wow, can't they choose a less generic adjective describe it? But no, it was truly a captivating masterpiece that I couldn't keep my eyes off of. Even during a hectic shift at work. During my 30 minute lunch break, I crept into the back room and buried myself in the book.

It was indeed a great read and I highly recommend it.