In getting ready for the long-awaited release of 1Q84 on October 25th, I was pleasantly surprised to find evidence of Lemuria-Staff-Past who have also been devoted fans.

Enjoy this review by Catherine, Lemuria Class of 2006. -Lisa

A Wild Sheep Chase is, in many ways, Haruki Murakami’s break-through book. It was his first novel translated into English and his first popular, if not critical, success in Japan.

The book is considered the second episode of his “Rat” trilogy, the first of which is not available in the U.S. and the third being Dance, Dance, Dance. (No fear, the books are only bound by one character, so it not essential to read them in order, or together.) Immensely successful in Japan, A Wild Sheep Chase is a comic combination of disparate styles: a literary mystery, a metaphysical speculation, and an ironic first-person account of an impossible quest. A beach read if Murakami has ever written one.

It begins innocently enough. A Woody-Allen-esque chain-smoking ad executive receives a photograph from a long lost friend and appropriates the image for one of his firm’s promotional posters. But the photo – of an idyllic sheep-populated countryside – is no ordinary scenic view. Rather, it is photographic evidence of an elusive sheep with a star shaped birthmark that (traditionally) brings its owners incredible wealth and power.

Soon, the ad man finds himself hunted by underworld figures who instruct him to find the sheep, or face dire consequences. Armed with a laissez-faire attitude and enigmatically-eared girlfriend, the man sets out on exactly what the title promises.

It is the way Murakami describes everyday oddity (such as the girlfriend with the perfect earlobes) and the way he conveys modern Japan (as a nouveau wonderland with a nameless male “Alice”) that gives the novel its ample charm. A Wild Sheep Chase contains passages of incredible beauty, as well as breathtaking humor, all delivered as intimate author-reader conversation. Like the work itself, Murakami is very hard to compartmentalise. Just when you think you have a handle on his eerie brand of surreal description, he finds a new indulgence. And while this might sound irritating, it proves to be extremely rewarding.

Admittedly, this book is probably not Murakami’s masterpiece (I’ll save that honor for Wind-Up Bird Chronicles or Kafka on the Shore), but it might be his most fun to read. Grab onto this book, get a feel for the world you are about to enter, and read on for greatness.

-Written by Catherine

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For an introduction to Murakami and preview of 1Q84, click here.

Click here to see other blog posts on Murakami.

1Q84 is here.

A Guest Blog by Author Mike Frascogna

Legend has it that Bozo arrived on the Hinds campus sometime in the mid-40s. While there is no evidence to pinpoint the exact date of Bozo’s arrival, or birth, albeit whatever manner he, she or it, was created, the date of its origin still remains a mystery. There is some sketchy data indicating that Bozo and its descendants, Bozo II and Bozo III continued to reside in and around the Raymond area until the ‘70s. But again, credible information regarding the Bozo clan’s dates of comings and goings at Hinds is nonexistent.

After decades of investigation by local historians, amateur sleuths and several law enforcement agencies some credible facts, although quite unimaginable, have slowly emerged about the metal pachyderm and its offspring.

For reasons that remain unknown, Bozo was at the center of numerous brawls between students at Hinds and their counterparts at Holmes Junior College in Goodman, Mississippi. Oddly, the brawls inspired by Bozo always occurred in the fall before, after or during football games between the two schools.

Why, or how, Bozo was able to instigate such violent behavior between the Hinds and Holmes students remains one of the many unanswered questions surrounding the mascot’s mysterious powers.

Journals kept by some students at Hinds during the “reign of Bozo” indicate that it was originally used as a porch ornament, or doorstop, at the old Shangri-La athletic dormitory. But due to Bozo’s powerful influence on the Hinds campus, it became the target of night raids by Juco terrorist, especially those located in Goodman who attended Hinds’ arch rival institution, Holmes Junior College.

Holmes students took great delight in kidnapping Bozo and removing it to Goodman, or some other unknown destination for imprisonment. Sometimes Bozo would remain a captive for a few weeks, to months or for several years. During those times Bozo was held captive, Hinds students would plot rescue operations to regain possession of their beloved metal mascot. Unfortunately, the custody battle over Bozo got ugly in 1954.

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JUCOS: The Toughest Football League in America

Signing: Thursday, December 15 at 6:00

 See all JUCO blogs.

Morgan Entrekin, Grove/Atlantic publisher, writes a special message this Veteran’s Day:

“This fall we published to great success Karl Marlantes’s What It Is Like to Go to War, which I believe is one of the most important books on war ever written . . . On this Veterans Day I hope you will take the opportunity to read Karl’s book. As we remember the veterans or those currently serving in our families or among our friends, we might find some inspiration in Karl’s words: ‘We must be honest and open about both sides of war. The more aware we are of war’s costs, not just in death and dollars, but also in shattered minds, souls, and families, the less likely we will be to waste our most precious asset and our best weapon: our young.'” Read the full essay here.

Editor’s Note: Kaycie, a former Lemuria bookseller and blogger pictured left, is now living in Paris while she studies French via New York University. We are lucky to feel that we have our very own Lemurian abroad, in Paris no less, and are tickled to share some of her more-or-less book related experiences from France. Enjoy.

Tea and Tattered Pages is a used English language bookstore in the sixth arrondissement. When we walked into the store, we were greeted by a sweet older woman and her fat, orange cat.  She explained where literature, history, and children’s books could be located.  The cat didn’t explain much of anything.  It just stared at us.

I found the bookstore to be charming (it even has a little tearoom that’s open each evening until 6:30!), even though it was a little overpriced for used books.  Of course I bought something anyway.  I chose a paperback copy of The French Lieutenant’s Woman by John Fowles, while Meryl went with The Secret History by Donna Tartt (one of my favorites).

I will definitely return one day, hopefully before the tea room closes. If you’re interested in Tea & Tattered Pages, check out their website here.

Another Paris bookstore excursion led Kaycie to the famous Shakespeare & Co.–click here to go there.
-Kaycie

A Guest Post by Editor Neil White

In the fall of 1970, I sat in my fourth-grade Sunday school class. Our teacher, Mrs. Hemphill, posed a question to the class of three girls and three boys.

“Who is your hero?” she asked.

The girls in the class mentioned Bobbie Gentry and Jackie Kennedy and Nancy Sinatra. The three of us boys agreed on the same hero — Archie Manning.

Mrs. Hemphill spent the next twenty minutes trying to convince us that only one man was worthy of hero worship. And at the end of the Sunday school period, Mrs. Hemphill polled us again. The three girls in the class had changed their answers to Mrs. Hemphill’s satisfaction.

“Boys?” Mrs. Hemphill asked, looking over her reading glasses.

I glanced at my two buddies and in unison we answered, “Archie Manning.”

In Mississippi, we love our football. And no state can compare to the kind of talent we breed here. Consider —

• Jerry Rice’s receiving records will stand for generations.

• Brett Favre’s toughness, durability and desire to win are unparalleled.

• Walter Payton’s name is synonymous with greatness.

• Lance Alworth proved that the pass game could be a team’s primary offensive weapon.

Wide receiver Lance Alworth #19 of the San Diego Chargers catches a touchdown pass from quarterback John Hadl during the first quarter of a game on November 6, 1966 at Municipal Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. The Chiefs’ defender is Fred Williamson #24. (Photo by: John Vawter Collection/Diamond Images/Getty Images)

• Charlie Conerly actually “coached” Vince Lombardi on how to motivate professionals.

• Ray Guy redefined the role of a punter.

Left: Oakland Raiders Ray Guy (8) in action, punt vs San Diego Chargers at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Oakland, CA 11/17/1974

• Gene Hickerson proved that a tough, speedy guard could create freeways for the Jim Browns of the NFL.

• Lem Barney blazed the trail for cornerbacks like Deion Sanders and Charles Woodson.

• Deacon Jones (the man who coined the term “sacks”) redefined the defensive end position.

Right: Defensive Tackle Deacon Jones #75 of the Los Angeles Rams in action against the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)

• Robert Brazile did the same for the outside linebacker position.

• The aforementioned players grew up admiring the tenacity of Mississippi’s Frank “Bruiser” Kinard.

A 2006 study conducted collaboratively between USA Football and Wharton Business Initiative ranked Mississippi the #1 state in the nation for football. We already knew this . . . but it’s nice to hear it from experts.

And, now, in the first edition of Mississippi’s 100 Greatest Football Players of All Time we have ranked the top players from the top state — #1 through #100.

The book is meant to be fun. Any attempt to quantify the greatest is, at best, subjective; at worst, flawed (watch for our Methodology post in a few days).

We welcome your thoughts, comments, opinions and criticisms. We’d even love to see your own rankings (top ten, top 25). Post here and compare to our list when it’s revealed to the public on November 15th at Lemuria Books.

Unlike Mrs. Hemphill, we believe there is more than one valid answer. After all, my childhood hero, Archie, came in at a mere #6.

Neil White, Editor

Neil White will be at Lemuria signing Mississippi’s 100 Greatest Footbal Palyers of All Time, on Tuesday at 5:00. Some football players should be on hand to sign as well. Stay tuned!