Abandoned Cat: What I want to say about my father

Those scenes that can be seen everywhere every day are the most vivid memories of my father that come to my mind.

Starting with a cat and ending with a cat, Haruki Murakami most directly faces his own aging and the death of his family in this emotional documentary.

Some things will fade away with time, and some things will be recalled as time passes.

One summer day, my father and I went to the beach and abandoned a cat. History has not passed. After thinking about it for a long time, I decided to write about me and my father. Those about the roots of Murakami literature.

"Abandoned Cat: What I Want to Say About My Father" is of course not just about cats. It mainly writes about every bit of the relationship between Murakami and his father. About father and son, it is also about the roots of Murakami's literature. As Murakami said: "History is not something in the past. It will turn into warm and living blood inside the consciousness or unconsciousness, and flow to the next generation without any explanation." Individuals and institutions, war and Peace, father and son, crime and punishment can be said to be unbearable problems in Haruki Murakami's life, and they are also "Kafkaesque" or "Dostoevskyian" endless loops in his works.

Although this work is not long, it can see the thread of long-term themes in Murakami's novels. It seems like a cute and compact book, but it infinitely expands Murakami's creative process and worldview. From the healing cat, the image of his father, or his thoughts on war and the cruel and dark heart of mankind, it makes people want to explore Murakami from the beginning. Many important works over the years.

"Abandoned Cat: What I Want to Say About My Father" was designated by Murakami and Taiwanese illustrator Gao Yan was invited to illustrate the book. Murakami said: "I was moved by the painting style of the illustrator Gao Yan, so I decided to leave everything to her. Her paintings have an incredible feeling that I miss."