What struck me the most about these two readings was the emphasis on the ritualism
of their cooking. With Brautigan, this manifests itself through the detailed ingredients
list. Though we as the readers do not need to know the specific ingredients, much less
the exact measurements, the inclusion of such details clues us in to the reverence he
has for making the recipe. The narrator describes this as something he has done through
the years for many friends, and by including these details, it is as if they are sharing the
recipe with us to include us as well. On the other hand, Murakami’s short story
emphasizes the process itself, something the narrator emphasizes is a private affair.
Their borderline obsessive behavior (ignoring someone in distress simply to cook) also
reflects the themes of this story. By withholding the specifics from the readers and
refusing to let the readers in, it demonstrates the isolationism of the narrator. What these
two texts show us is the purpose of food and cooking: is it for community or sustenance?
With Brautigan, it is a way of connecting with his American identity and sharing that
aspect of him with others, but for Murakami, it is something done to push others away.
- Jayde Wang
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