Literature Archives
Every “Serious” Contemporary Novel Set in NYC
…has a 20-something-yr-old male protagonist who is poor and of uncertain background (or an orphan) but has rich friends who take him under their wing because he is just so fascinating. Oftentimes his field is very liberal artsy–art history, writing, classics, etc etc–and not very lucrative (he’s just waiting for his big break!) but he scrapes by and still gets exposed to the high life. Usually by the end of the novel he MAKES it. Usually of ambiguous sexuality. Usually has some metaphorical rats in the closet that he hates to divulge, which makes him seem “mysterious.” (And literal ones in his apartment, the poor artiste that he is, at least until his friends see what squalor he lives in and invites him to move in.)
“Delish”!??!?!
Another Murakami aside:
“It’s delish,” she said.
What?! When did this early 90s librarian lady get replaced by a millenial?!?
Just completely broke my immersion.
Murakami Character: How To
Protagonist:
- Whiskey
- Records: jazz, classical
- Old westerns
- Cooks: pasta, side dishes
- Creative type job or no job
- Passive
- Not many friends/family
- Not overly social
- Yet undefinable sex appeal to females in his vicinity