(This is not a review)

This is the third time that I’m re-reading this novel. The first time I did, I was still in college, found out about Murakami’s work through Jessica Zafra’s Twisted series. Back then I did not understand the story at all, since this was many years before I learned about my ADD, and most of the time that I was “reading”, my consciousness was floating in my own world. 

At the beginning of this year, i re-read this for the second time just after I bought my Kindle, as I was going through some tough times myself. I was able to connect better with the characters this time.

The story makes me want to visit the Cordilleras and imagine visiting an imaginary friend in an imaginary sanatorium in the mountains. Life in the mountains, like in the Ami Hostel is much simpler than here in the city. For any introvert going through emotional crisis, the mountains is a good place to get a much needed break.

Life can be too noisy at times. I completely understand why Reiko almost never wanted to leave the place. I could really use a place like that right now.

Although I am very much in touch (wow that rhymed) with tech, sometimes common sense kicks in like a voice from another world to remind me that I don’t need all these gadgets: the ones I covet, and even those that I already have.

I don’t know if I mentioned it in this blog site, or in one of my hidden blogs, but I’m in a process of purging things for the past few months. I’ve sold some gadgets that I haven’t been using for some time and let go of other possessions that take up space, but do not provide any value. It be harsh at times, disposing memorable things to make space for new memories to come in, unsure whether a new memory will fill its place.

In a way, I’m implementing the Konmari Method in life: Purging all the stuff that does not “spark joy” to leave only the stuff that I want and need.

(I’m aware that I’m skipping through topics here)

Filipino culture does not suit me well: The typical Filipino approach to most things is to always have a little bit of something just in case. But I’m starting to feel like, for someone like me who’s easily distracted, and who thrives in deep concentration, the opposite approach would be more optimal. Less connections would help me find my path in the increasingly wired world we live in.

If I continue on this path, I see myself moving to a far off town where the internet is not vital to living a full life. I see myself finding, or creating an Ami Hostel for myself.

On my 2nd re-read of this book, I also tried listening to the Beatles song a little more closely. Apparently, this is one of those Beatles songs containing sick characters. Basically, a dude accompanied a girl to her place expecting…sex and they just talked ’til 2am without doing it and he burned her place down the following morning.

Sounds like a person I know. Jeez…