Terrible Twos
14 July, 2011
Not me, silly, but my blog. Yes, chasing bawa is TWO this year and I’m as shocked as you all that I’ve sustained my interest and enjoyment at this book blogging business. In fact, my interest hasn’t waned at all but has increased as I’ve made some wonderful friends and found some extremely well-written, funny and lovely blogs. The book blogging world is indeed a very genuine and warm one and I’m glad to be a part of it. So to celebrate I have a particularly brilliant giveaway, if I say so myself.
Feast your eyes on these:
Oh yes, it’s a Haruki Murakami twosome, kindly sent to me by my lovely friend Y all the way from Japan. One lucky winner will get a spanking new set of Hear the Wind Sing and Pinball 1973 in English. As most of you will probably know, these are the first two of Murakami’s books to be translated into English and start the Trilogy of the Rat which culminates with A Wild Sheep Chase and later Dance, Dance, Dance both of which are available internationally.
With these, you are in fine form to join In Spring It Is The Dawn‘s Haruki Murakami Reading Challenge to celebrate the English release of 1Q84 (I cannot wait for this!) and also Dolce Bellezza‘s Japanese Literature Challenge 5, if you haven’t already. I haven’t read my copies yet and will be doing so for the two challenges. Very exciting! And you can read an interesting piece on why Murakami is so popular here.
I’m sad to hear that Kodansha International is no longer in business and both books are increasingly difficult to get hold of (although they are available on Amazon Japan), so I’m offering this twosome as a big THANK YOU to all of you who stop by, read and comment on my blog. I like comments but I like lurkers too!
So tell me which book you are most looking forward to read this summer and I’ll pick a winner in the old fashioned way (names in a mug) in a week’s time. And I’ll send it anywhere too. Good luck everyone!
* Thank you all for participating but the giveaway is now closed. *
chasing bawa 
14 July, 2011 at 10:13 am
Well done on two years heres to many more all the best stu
14 July, 2011 at 10:24 am
Congratulations!! My children actually went through the horrible threes, so watch out.
I would just love to read “Hear the Wind Sing” and “Pinball 1973” thank you.
I’m most looking forward to reading – re-reading – THE HOBBIT & LORD OF THE RINGS. I want to devour each page before THE HOBBIT movie comes out. Now I just need the time.
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
14 July, 2011 at 10:41 am
I don’t need to be entered in the giveaway, but happy blogiversary! ๐ Always love seeing new posts from you in my reader!
14 July, 2011 at 10:43 am
Happy Blogging Birthday! Look forward to reading lots more from you ๐
14 July, 2011 at 12:47 pm
Happy blogiversary! I’ve never read any of Murakami’s books but would love to get the chance to!
I’m not sure which book I’m looking most forward to reading. I have a collection of Louisa May Alcott’s “thrillers” that I’ve read some in and loved, though, so it would be nice to read more of those stories.
14 July, 2011 at 1:34 pm
Happy bloggiversary! I have Hear the Wind Sing (though not Pinball) so I’m gonna pass on the giveaway. Are those cupcakes from Hummingbird Bakery? (I LOVE their cupcakes!)
ps: So jealous you can read in Japanese. I just started my Japanese learning again, so hopefully, one day.. ๐
14 July, 2011 at 2:22 pm
Happy anniversary.Looking foward to Silver Sparrow.Lomazowr@gmail.com
14 July, 2011 at 2:53 pm
Happy 2nd Anniversary!
14 July, 2011 at 3:22 pm
Happy 2nd Anniversary ๐ Hope Year 3 is wonderful for you and the blog.
Regarding reading this summer, I’m working my way through all my uni books for next year and the many books in my TBR pile.
14 July, 2011 at 3:57 pm
Wow, congratulations on your two year blogoversary!! That is fantastic! I’m also super glad to hear that your interest levels are only going up ๐ It means there will be many many more years I hope. This summer I am most excited to read Haiti by Paul Farmer.
14 July, 2011 at 5:25 pm
Happy blogoversary.
Hear the wind sing sounds great, a book title like a poem! So I would like to enter the competition.
The birthdayblog is really giving treats.
Love,
Karin
14 July, 2011 at 7:23 pm
Oh wow! I have been trying to refrain from entering giveaways this year, but Murakami is one of my much loved authors and these two books are ones I’ve never even heard of, much less seen! So I will wish you a happy happy blogiversary (two years has just flown by, hasn’t it?!?) and hope that I get very very lucky! ๐
(As for the book I’m most looking forward to reading this summer, it’s so hard to say, but I do think that I’ll be going through some serious Harry Potter withdrawal after seeing the final film (tonight!) and will likely blaze through the series once more!)
14 July, 2011 at 8:45 pm
Congratulations on two years of blogging! I didn’t realise that those two books were so difficult to get hold of so as I’m a Murakami fan I’d love a chance to win. I’m most looking forward to reading the new Chris Cleave book and am hoping it is as good as The Other Hand ๐
15 July, 2011 at 12:18 am
Happy blogaversary-I know we are all looking forward to Iq84 so I will add to the list River of Smoke by Amitav Ghost-the long awaited sequel to Sea of Poppies-thanks for offering this great contest
15 July, 2011 at 12:38 am
Congrats and Happy Blogiversary! Here’s to many more years to come!! ๐
15 July, 2011 at 6:03 am
Congratulations and all good wishes for many, many more years of happy blogging.
Of course count me in! Many thanks for such a wonderful giveaway.
15 July, 2011 at 6:37 pm
No need to enter me for the giveaway (I was lucky enough to win one of the books from Tanabata a few years back), but happy, happy blogging anniversary! Here’s to many more years.
15 July, 2011 at 6:40 pm
Happy 2nd anniversary & hope you have many more, am in both the challenges mentioned above, so please count me in.
16 July, 2011 at 2:50 am
OMEDETO!! and thank you for your inspirations.
i’ve read Kafka on the Shore over the last week, and would like to read it again. was charmed by the mixture of the refined/deep and vulgar/funny. was thrilled by the mysterious introduction of WWII and mostly of the spiritual maze symbolized by the woods – again.
Hav just restarted The Wind-up Bird Chronicles, and looking forward to this long weekend to indulge in it : ) yay.
Bon weekend to you too!
16 July, 2011 at 1:43 pm
A very happy birthday to you! I can’t believe you’ve only been around for two years, actually – it feels like you’ve always been part of the blogosphere. It’s been really lovely to get to know you in person too ๐
16 July, 2011 at 3:27 pm
Happy blogiversary Sakura!
I can’t wait to read something funny – I have two candidates – the new David Nobbs and the new DJ Connell – can’t decide which yet.
Thanks for hosting the giveaway – I’m in!
17 July, 2011 at 8:07 am
Congratulations for keeping up your blogging enthusiasm for two years! ๐
17 July, 2011 at 12:10 pm
I don’t need to be entered in the giveaway (I have far too many books as it is), but just wanted to say congratulations — and happy blogoversary!! Time certainly flies when you’re having fun!
19 July, 2011 at 11:13 am
Congratulations on 2 years of blogging! That’s great dedication.
Don’t enter me in the giveaway (I read Hear the Wind Sing already) but what a great opportunity for a Murakami fan to get their hands on these books!
19 July, 2011 at 11:21 am
Wow, this is awesome! Lovely cupcakes, too!
I was born in 1973, so the choice seems obvious…
I’m a HUGE Murakami fan, and allthough dutch, prefer to read him in english. So please, pretty please, pick me!!!
19 July, 2011 at 12:28 pm
Happy Blogging Birthday! ๐ Wow… 2 years! I got excited when I saw your generous giveaway as I am a HUGE Murakami fan!
I can’t wait to read his newest in November (here in Australia)
Please enter me ๐
Rachel
19 July, 2011 at 7:24 pm
YIppee, happy birthday, Chasing Bawa!!!!
I have not read either of these Murakami stories, and I would love to be in this drawing. You know I’m not usually one for contests, but for this, I’m in.
It makes me so happy that you have kept up with your blog. With Kodansha Int’l failing, and Borders here in the states, it’s all a terrible state of affairs for The Book. Please keep it going strong. We need you!
Love,
K
19 July, 2011 at 7:47 pm
kayoko^ brought me here-
congratulations on your two years of writing. a book blog is terrific, i’m going to go through your other posts.
this summer i have been reading yukio mishima, alain de botton and some tao lin.
needless to say i’m a big murakami fan, so please count me in for the draw. my fingers and toes are crossed.
all the best for the years to come, chasing bawa.
thanks,
t
20 July, 2011 at 2:11 pm
Thank you all and looking forward to another year of blogging:) And yup, the cupcakes are from Hummingbird – can’t get enough of them!