Novelist as a Vocation – Review
Saturday is the perfect time to wander through the stacks (that’s librarian-speak for “bookshelves”) and talk about books and the people who write them. Pull up a comfy chair and settle in, because today I want to chat about a book that has found me at the perfect time: right when I needed some inspiration and motivation to keep moving forward in my writing journey, I have started reading Haruki Murakami’s Novelist as a Vocation.
I was first introduced to Murakami by my sister, who was a huge fan of all his work, but most particularly his book The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle. In the spirit of full transparency, I read The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle on her recommendation and it (so far) is my least favorite Murakami. But I think it says a lot about his writing that even though the work didn’t connect with me on one level, I was deeply intrigued by his writing style, by his prose, so much so that I did want to read more. Kafka on the Shore was the next book of Murakami’s I ventured into and that one was a home run for me. I’ve been an avid fan of this one-of-a-kind writer ever since.
Novelist as a Vocation is a collection of non-fiction essays Murakami has written about his experiences and perceptions of being a professional author. As someone who is themselves beginning to embark on this weird and wonderful journey of novelist as a vocation, this book was like a lightning bolt — it felt like Murakami was speaking just to me, telling me everything I needed to hear and answering all my questions. I felt seen in a way I desperately needed to be, and felt so much less alone.
If you have a writer in your life, you have got to get them this book. They will thank you for it, I guarantee it.
If you’re interested in getting supporting me in my journey of novelist as a vocation, then look no further: Hungry is the Night is now available for preorder on all major ebook platforms! Visit the link here to order your copy in advance and, if you send a copy of your receipt to rsjromance@gmail.com, I will send you back an exclusive excerpt of the book! Three full chapters of fiction for you to enjoy!