Absolutely on Music

Praise

“A fascinating collection of conversations. . . . The unpretentious and engaging dialogues between passionate artists—the bewitching writer in whose novels music plays a prominent part and the indefatigable, amiable conductor—make the pages fly.” —The New York Times

“Highly entertaining. . . . A book that opens a new side of [Murakami’s] authorial persona.” —San Francisco Chronicle

“Absolutely on Music is an unprecedented treasure. . . . Talking about music is like dancing about architecture, it’s often said, but what joy to watch these two friends dance.” —The Guardian

“Enthralling. . . . What comes through in these conversations is the devotion both men feel for music; the degree to which every detail of a work matters to them.” —The Seattle Times
 
“Fascinating. . . . [Murakami’s] preparation and curiosity draw out Mr. Ozawa wonderfully.” —The Wall Street Journal

“An enviable word picture of the artistic life of two men at the top of their professional games. . . . [Absolutely on Music] offers so much that bears re-reading and considering.” —The Washington Times
 
“Irresistibly seductive.” —Evening Standard
 
“Refreshingly honest and enthusiastic, a mental sampler from both the writer and the musician.” —The Buffalo News

“The book shines as a deep exploration into how a conductor does his job and how performer personalities, logistical factors, and mundane bureaucracies can change an orchestra’s sound.” —The New Republic

“Intriguing insights about the nature of music. . . . In some ways, these conversations are High Fidelity for classical music fans.” —Publishers Weekly
 
“A strange and delightful book. . . . [Murakami] describes music with rich and suggestive metaphors and images that capture something essential about the spirit of the music.” —The Christian Science Monitor