One beautiful April morning, on a narrow side street in Tokyo’s fashionable Harajuku neighborhood, I walked past the 100% perfect girl.
Tell you the truth, she’s not that good-looking. She doesn’t stand out in any way. Her clothes are nothing special. The back of her hair is still bent out of shape from sleep. She isn’t young, either - must be near thirty, not even close to a “girl,” properly speaking. But still, I know from fifty yards away: She’s the 100% perfect girl for me. The moment I see her, there’s a rumbling in my chest, and my mouth is as dry as a desert.
Saturday, April 01, 2023
On Seeing the 100% Perfect Girl One Beautiful April Morning
On Seeing the 100% Perfect Girl One Beautiful April Morning is a 1981 short story by Haruki Murakami. You can read it online here at this link or listen to it read to you at the bottom of this post. It begins,
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I don't have time to read this this morning as I need to catch a flight down to your "general" area of the country (well it's closer to you than to my house), but I am interested in reading this author. I'm going to bookmark this post to give it read for when I have some time. Have a great start to April.
ReplyDeleteI'm waving at you!!! Enjoy your trip :)
Delete...there are many types of perfection in life.
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I say we're perfect -for each other lol
DeleteThat was a very sweet story
ReplyDeleteI thought so :)
DeleteInteresting story and interpretation. Sad. And.... it must be tough to be male. Especially as an introvert. It must be tough in so many ways. Just think about pissoirs, standing very close. Nah, nothing for me as... to make first contact to a man I might like (glad I don´t have to worry about that!).
ReplyDeleteYes, it has to be hard. I'd fear rejection.
DeleteI've only read a few Haruki Murakami novels, but never a short story. The beginning sounds interesting, the title too 😉
ReplyDeleteAll the best from Austria, happy weekend and a good start into April!
Hugs, Traude 😘
https://rostrose.blogspot.com/2023/04/ruckschau-auf-den-marz-2023.html
I was glad to find some of his short stories online. I bought his novels in our local book store.
DeleteSweet but sad. I am so glad I don't think about what ifs. I would rather go for it and fail than wonder. ;)
ReplyDelete"What if" can be a positive, but so often it seems to halt action.
DeleteWhat ifs are good and necessary before one makes a decision but a waste of time to look back on once that decision has passed into time. I guess that's what I mean. I have known too many people who live in the past and the what ifs. ;)
DeleteSo true. I know so many people who can't get past their regrets, who can't move past their past. It's gotten to where on those rare occasions when I see someone from "back then" I interrupt attempts at reminiscing. I'm just not there any more.
DeleteSounds good, I have bookmarked it for later! Valerie
ReplyDeleteI hope you like it.
DeleteCharming, but sad. I promise not to give it away like I did the last story I read on your blog.
ReplyDeleteIt has a mood to it. His writing seems to always convey moods to me...
DeleteThe intro hooked me. I had to listen to the rest!
ReplyDeleteI love short stories for that. They can be tried without a huge time commitment.
DeleteStopping by to wish you a happy April.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Happy April!
DeleteAw!
ReplyDeleteikr?!
DeleteBookmarking this one!
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy it.
Delete