South of the Border, West of the Sun (Japanese 1992, English 1999) By Haruki Murakami

The author Haruki Murakami is a mega-success both in Japan and internationally.  He’s an excellent, complex, deeply personal writer. I raved about the first book of his I read: Colorless Tsukura Tazaki and His Yearsof Pilgrimage. In it the lead character was a young man experiencing youthful anguish in his friendships, and painfully carried that anguish with him into adulthood to the point it harmed his ability to have loving relationships. Your heart broke for him.

Not so, in South of the Border, West of the Sun. In this book, Hajime, the main character, has an equally confused youth, but never does any self-reflection until much later in his adult life. As a student he has a close friendship with a girl named Shimamoto. They are both an only child. Both are extremely intelligent and loved to sit together and listen to “old” music from their parent’s generation. The book’s title comes from a Nat King Cole version of the song South of the Border, West of the Sun and Duke Ellington’s Star-Crossed Lovers plays a plot role.   

Significantly, Shimamoto has a polio disability causing her left leg to drag noticeably as she walks. As they get older, Hajime will eventually stop seeing her, and drops her from his life entirely when he leaves for university, moving to the big city. Dating is basically a social climbing activity for him, and he eventually advances his career, marrying the boss’s daughter. Later, Hajime and Shimamoto will reconnect very briefly and he will learn the impact his behavior had on her life. Hajime is, in my read, a total cad. 

Truth be told, the only part of the story I liked was Hajime’s mid-life career crisis which resulted in him deciding to open a nightclub. 

So, how does one judge a book when one loves the writing, and hates the plot? Murakami is a superb writer; I will read more of his works. But I got to tell you, I wish I would have skipped this one.

Recommendation:  No.