#read

Some people think literature is high culture and that it should only have a small readership. I don't think so... I have to compete with popular culture, including TV, magazines, movies and video games. ↗

— Haruki Murakami

#culture #games #high #i #including

Confidence, as a teenager? Because I knew what I loved. I loved to read; I loved to listen to music; and I loved cats. Those three things. So, even though I was an only kid, I could be happy because I knew what I loved. ↗

— Haruki Murakami

#because #cats #confidence #could #even

I didn't read so much Japanese literature. Because my father was a teacher of Japanese literature, I just wanted to do something else. ↗

— Haruki Murakami

#else #father #i #japanese #just

I didn't want to be a writer, but I became one. And now I have many readers, in many countries. I think that's a miracle. So I think I have to be humble regarding this ability. I'm proud of it and I enjoy it, and it is strange to say it this way, but I respect it. ↗

— Haruki Murakami

#be humble #became #countries #enjoy #his way

I had no ambition to be a writer because the books I read were too good, my standards were too high. ↗

— Haruki Murakami

#because #books #good #had #high

I like to read books. I like to listen to music. ↗

— Haruki Murakami

#i #like #listen #music #read

In Japan they prefer the realistic style. They like answers and conclusions, but my stories have none. I want to leave them wide open to every possibility. I think my readers understand that openness. ↗

— Haruki Murakami

#conclusions #every #i #i think #japan

Many people tell me that they don 't know what to feel when they finish one of my books because the story was dark, or complicated, or strange. But while they were reading it, they were inside my world and they were happy. That's good. ↗

— Haruki Murakami

#books #complicated #dark #feel #finish

Many people, especially young people, would like to be more independent and on their own. But it is very difficult and they suffer from feelings of isolation. I think that is one reason why young readers support my work. ↗

— Haruki Murakami

#especially #feelings #i #i think #independent

So long as I can stay mentally alert - inquiring, curious - I want to keep going. I love my wife and my children, but I don't want to sit around at home with them. We go on safaris and things like that. I can do that for a couple of weeks a year. I'm just not ready to stop, to die. ↗

— Rupert Murdoch

#around #children #couple #curious #die