Library of Lost Dreams

I'm behind in my reviews. Sorry. I do have an interesting story on an abandoned Detroit School Book Depository. Its worth reading and viewing the photographs. I was amazed.

The Feminine Mystique

The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan 1963

I tried, I really did. I've wanted to read this book for such a long time and when I finally settled down to read it I found that I couldn't. I had difficulty getting into her use of language. We just don't talk like that anymore, nor do we read that way either.

Another issue I had was that Friedan was preaching to the choir. I understand her perspective. I still find her overall argument relevant today. I see women turning to Oprah, book clubs, gyms, shopping, cooking classes as ways of finding themselves. Granted this isn't the entirety of Friedan's message it is a portion of it.

I feel horrible that I couldn't finish this. I mean, I graduated with a BA in Women's Studies and I can't finish such a pivotal work in Women's Studies! Something must be wrong with me. There are just so many books I want to read that I've got to put my foot down at times in order to spend my time reading something else. Don't you ever find yourself doing that?

Interview with Haruki Murakami

I received 14 books for Valentine's Day one of which is The Wind-up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami. I've wanted to delve into his writing for some time now and have heard this is a good place to start. The plot sounds fascinating:

"The story begins with the disappearance of Toru Okada's wife's cat, which is immediately followed by the disappearance of the wife, herself. Mild-mannered Toru sets out to find out where they went and why. He discovers much more than he bargained for: a precocious teenager, a pair of psychic sisters, a haunted veteran of Japan's war in Manchuria, a perfectly corrupt politician, and a strangely appealing well in a neighbor's yard. In his quest, Toru only succeeds in raising more perplexing questions, but his discoveries do shed startling light on the roots of the Japanese malaise." (Powell's)


While surfing various Japanese pop culture sites I found an interview with Murakami. They are rare since Murakami is a very shy, private man. So here are the links to the four part interview. Its well worth the read.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4