I'm usually not a fan of books by writers who write volumes about their process; however, Murakami's voice in Novelist as a Vocation is different. Murakami not only writes about his own journey, but he also addresses what inspires all creatives, including writers, artists, and musicians.
When he writes, Murakami says that he begins with an internal image of what he actually wants to write, and the rest happens organically. "No detailed planing was involved—only after I had arrived did it hit me, 'So that's how I got here!'" (p. 66). He also writes about how he wants his audience to feel when reading his books: "I want to open a window to their souls and let the rest air in. This is what I think of, and hope for, as I write—purely and simply." (p.70).
It's such a pleasure to read about the joy Murakami receives during his writing process and how he's as excited about writing today as he was back when he wrote his very first novel. He calls the process of discovery blissful, and what an honor it is to hear him express it in this way!
