COLORLESS TSUKURU TAZAKI AND HIS YEARS OF PILGRIMAGE

Bruce Locke's narration begins with a detached tone and deliberate pace as Murakami's title character considers suicide upon finding himself exiled from his closest group of friends. In the same way that Tsukuru remains emotionally frozen throughout the decades that follow this traumatic break, Locke's tone remains consistent and even. While listeners may find Locke's distance frustrating, it's perfectly appropriate to the character. But all the more rewarding in their subtle contrast and novelty are the moments of change, adaptation, and self-reflection that come later as Tsukuru uncovers important details from his past. Locke's narration is at once self-conscious and detached as he captures the flawed Tsukuru Tazaki. E.M.C. [Published: JANUARY 2015]