Althouse: "I don’t think most people would like my personality. There might be a few — very few, I would imagine — who are impressed by it, but only rarely would anyone like it."

May 13, 2018

"I don’t think most people would like my personality. There might be a few — very few, I would imagine — who are impressed by it, but only rarely would anyone like it."

"Who in the world could possibly have warm feelings, or something like them, for a person who doesn’t compromise, who instead, whenever a problem crops up, locks himself away alone in a closet? But is it ever possible for a professional writer to be liked by people? I have no idea. Maybe somewhere in the world it is. It’s hard to generalize. For me, at least, as I’ve written novels over many years, I just can’t picture someone liking me on a personal level. Being disliked by someone, hated and despised, somehow seems more natural. Not that I’m relieved when that happens. Even I’m not happy when someone dislikes me."

From "What I Talk About When I Talk About Running" by Haruki Murakami.

16 comments:

NotWhoIUsedtoBe said...: People like writers when they imagine themselves doing it.

Being a writer is being a workaholic without the pay.; 5/13/18, 8:40 AM
Evolution of Don said...: Change your style or change your profession. If it aint sellin, you're not providing what they want to buy, or be enlightened by.

Another crutch of the writer: Blame others. As a writer, apparently your depth is being covered by pond lilly's or something that is masking reality; 5/13/18, 8:48 AM
NotWhoIUsedtoBe said...: I'll remember the pond lilies when I cash my next royalty check.

The point about being a workaholic is related to the original post: workaholics aren't likeable. The compensation is money. Writers don't get paid much. Ergo, they get the negatives without the positives. It's not some statement about unfairness. If you have a problem with fairness, don't be a writer. The entire publishing process is unfair.

I knew that going in and made sure I had plenty of money first. It's not hard to make money. I want my life to be about what I want to do, not making money.; 5/13/18, 9:17 AM
Tank said...: He spends a lot of time writing alone, plus a lot of time running alone, plus a lot of time biking alone, plus a lot of time swimming alone.

That is a lot of alone. He lives a quirky life that most people would not choose.

Different people need/enjoy different amounts of alone time.; 5/13/18, 9:25 AM
bagoh20 said...: I lived alone for about 10 years, and it was some of the happiest time I can remember. I would often notice how great it felt in that moment and how few were my worries, and stresses. Much of that time was spent reading and commenting here on Althouse. Then I adopted my second adopted family, and now I really miss the alone time right up until the moment when they are all gone shopping or something, and then I miss people. WTF?; 5/13/18, 9:52 AM
Bill Peschel said...: When you shut yourself off from human contact, the opposite of being liked is not hated. It is being ignored.

You're not having a negative effect on their life by shutting yourself away. They go on and find people who want to be with them. Their lives don't revolve around you.

Unless you're talking about neglecting your spouse and children, in which case, yeah, they'll hate you. And they'll be right. Why marry someone only to neglect them. Why have children if you're not going to participate in their growth? Just so they can support you in your artistic quest? That's psychopathic.; 5/13/18, 10:04 AM
Ken B said...: Humble-bragging. I'm so committed, so dedicated, so out of the ordinary, so difficult for you non-writers to truly understand.; 5/13/18, 10:29 AM
Sydney said...: In my fantasies, when I’m sick of desling with people, I imagine how wonderful it would be to be a fiction writer. Write for a few hours each day, then spend the rest of your time doing whatever you want. Time to take a walk, time to cook a meal, to do the shopping, to pray, to read. And no one complaining that they have to pay a $20 copay for your work or that you aren’t open at 9pm like the ER is. The solitude seems like heaven to me.; 5/13/18, 10:46 AM
roesch/voltaire said...: He is a lone runner with a wild imagination but you could sit down with him have a drink and listen to jazz, after all he ran a bar that featured jazz recordings.; 5/13/18, 1:18 PM
Sydney said...: The only book of his I’ve read is Absolutely on Music, which I enjoyed very much. It made me think about music in ways I had not before. The insight I remember the most was his observation that writing a novel is similar to writing a symphony.; 5/13/18, 4:18 PM
Char Char Binks, Esq. said...: I wouldn't dislike him for being a writer. For being a runner and a jazz fan, I hate him already.; 5/13/18, 4:19 PM
Anonymous said...: Prof:

Every year I hope that Haruki Murakami would get the Nobel Prize in Literature. This book on his personal journey related to running is his finest. I read it in one sitting - every word of it is worth re-reading. I have it - print and electronic.

Regards,
AP; 5/13/18, 7:28 PM
daskol said...: He sounds fascinating. Inward looking, yet his creations help us see see what's around us by their expression. Reminds of the young Chinese plush toy artist.; 5/13/18, 10:19 PM
I Have Misplaced My Pants said...: I loved that book.; 5/14/18, 7:52 AM
I Have Misplaced My Pants said...: I love learning about other people's lives. They are all so different.; 5/14/18, 7:53 AM
mikee said...: This guy - he understands the appeal to mentally immature females of the bad boy.
"There is no possible way to love me."
"HMB and watch this!"; 5/14/18, 11:24 AM