Book 2, Ch. 3 - The Story of the Monkeys of the Shitty Island

Theomanic · Tue Jun 15, 2010 3:43 pm

The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle
Haruki Murakami

Book 2, Chapter 3
Noboru Wataya Speaks / The Story of the Monkeys of the Shitty Island

Theomanic · Tue Jun 15, 2010 3:45 pm

Noboru Wataya creeps me out. He really seems to quintessential modern man - a perfect facade with almost nothing remaining beneath. And that which does remain is barely human. My boyfriend wants to name our next cat Noboru Wataya, but I am conflicted. While it is the name of the cat in my favourite novel, I don't want to think about the real Noboru Wataya ever. This leads me to wonder why Toru and Kumiko would name their cat after someone they don't much like either. Just because it reminds them of him? That's not a good sign...

WildCityWoman · Wed Aug 11, 2010 8:57 am

As I recall, when the cat was introduced in the beginning of the story, there was a reason they'd named it after her brother. Don't remember what the reason was though.

Theomanic · Wed Aug 11, 2010 9:10 am

They said he reminded them of him. I don't think it went into more detail...

WildCityWoman · Thu Aug 12, 2010 12:55 am

Maybe it was something to do with the colour of the cat. Or the way it held its tail . . . something like that.

Or maybe just in the cat's elusiveness - like all cats, they're there when they want to be there - gone when you're particularly looking for them.

Theomanic · Thu Aug 12, 2010 9:16 am

I expect you're right about the elusiveness. I could see how Noboru is similar to the sneakiness and sly natures of some cats. You never know what their angle is, and they have an opacity to their gaze.

Suzanne · Thu Aug 12, 2010 2:56 pm


	Theomanic wrote: I could see how Noboru is similar to the sneakiness and sly natures of some cats. You never know what their angle is, and they have an opacity to their gaze.

Cats are always comfortable too. The way cats sleep and relax, and bask in the sun, they always seem at ease, and at peace. No troubles for the inside cat. They don't have to hunt for food, they are never cold or hot, they have no worries, they are provided for, just like Toru. His wife tells him to find the cat! Find what besides the cat, reality?

Toru also shares qualities with a cat, but when the cat went missing, so did Toru's comfort. It was like he was forced into reality, a place not so comfortable, with lots of worries. Toru faced these worries and uncomfortable situations, and the cat came back. I love that cat!

joshxb · Wed Sep 01, 2010 5:41 pm

A thought on the cat's name ...

Even when it was thought that the animal was forever gone, he came back.

Even when Kumiko tried to craft a life outside the influence of the real Noboru Wataya, it all came back.

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