Review | Haruki Murakami’s surreal short stories linger in the memory, even if the plots don’t
Men Without Women presents damaged characters wrestling with their demons, as attentive narrators elicit revelations. It’s not for everyone, but the Japanese writer’s many fans will know what to expect
Men Without Women
by Haruki Murakami
Harvill Secker
Haruki Murakami is one of Japan’s most lauded writers, popular around the world. But while his surreal, spartan prose is unquestionably engaging and at times strangely suspenseful, his storytelling has divided critics. After reading this book of short stories – published in Japanese in 2014 but newly translated into English – it’s easy to see why.
Men Without Women features seven unrelated tales, mostly set in modern Japan. Most had been published in magazines, the only new offering being the title story, the last in the series. The book shares a title with, and echoes, a 1927 collection of short stories by Ernest Hemingway.
Murakami’s tales are not, despite the title, devoid of women. In fact, women feature strongly – or at least the obsession with them or confusion surrounding them.The book starts with “Drive My Car”. A moderately successful male actor hires a woman to be his chauffeur. She is 26, and powerfully built.
“No matter how you looked at her she was hardly a beauty.” The comfortable silence she creates leads him to open up and tell her that he no longer has friends. Since the death of his wife, he has shied away from close relationships other than that with another actor who knew his spouse. This union forms the crux of the story, as the protagonist gradually reveals the angst and bitterness behind his calm facade.
