Notable Quotes from Murakami's "Birthday Girl"

Identity/Character

“No matter what they wish for, no matter how far they go, people can never be anything but themselves.” (p. 46)

Birthday Wish

“Happy birthday,” he said. “May you live a rich and fruitful life, and may there be nothing to cast dark shadows on it.” (p. 37)

Examples of Characterization

“He had on a dark suit and a tie. Against his white shirt, the tie stood out distinctly, its brownish-yellow colouring not unlike withered leaves. He made a very clean impression, his clothes perfectly pressed, his white hair smoothed down: he looked as though he were about to go out for the night to some sort of gathering. The deep wrinkles that creased his brow made her think of ravines in an aerial photograph.” (p. 33)

“There was something cold and hard about her: if you set her afloat on the night-time sea, she would probably sink any boat that happened to ram her.” (pp. 28-29)

• HARUKI MURAKAMI, “BIRTHDAY GIRL,” in Desire London: Penguin Random House, 2017.