Mason Pocklington - A Wild Sheep Chase

Something really interesting that I noticed while reading was how Japanese culture influenced the writing of the author. As discussed in class, the idea of "boredom" being an influence over the characters and plot was noticeable throughout the whole novel. Unlike American literature, where a big theme has been in audience engagement, and with our media overstimulation, current authors pack novels with action and a myriad of emotions to keep the audience hanging on the edge of seats. What was really refreshing about reading these types of books is the idea that something interesting (by American standards) doesn't have to be always happening, and that makes it interesting.

Also discussed in class, the idea of Japanese literature oftentimes not being made clear to the audience. Comparing to American culture, where things are usually quite literally spelled out to us to make sure we understand, there's something quite fresh about ending a book but still having questions. In my opinion, it contributes more to the overall quality of a novel. Many themes of this book were quite mysterious and not explained. For example, the book's odd obsession over ears and the author's seeming interest in them. As just one theme, it serves as an example of the satisfying nature of letting each reader take what they want from the ideas presented in the novel.

An interesting part about the novel was the mixing of both reality and fantasy. In this novel, the book began normally, with the character being introduced, where he works, his relationship, ect. As the book went on however, things started to make less and less sense. The real world that we started off in, ended up shifting over to the world of fantasy, when he winds up practically living in a house with a sheep inhabiting a human body. His encounters with ghosts, beings of fiction and his own slowly changing personality make this book more interesting than the average.