Rating: 
Summary: Fantastically Brilliant..
Review: This book has to be one of my favorites of all time. It is not highly read for it is a translated book, but it shocked me beyong belief how this book is written, with a refreshing sense of mood and with a air of wisdom hidden amongst all. I highly recommend this book, but I must warn, enter with a open mind and it will seem more astounding.
Rating: 
Summary: Great, until the end.
Review: This book has incredible potential, it starts brilliantly, and the twist in the narrative is great. The only problem is the end! The end of this book is a real let down. I have just finihsed reading Wind-up Bird Chronicle, which also had the same 'problem'. Maybe this author just likes bad endings.
Rating:
Summary: Don't expect flat-out cyberpunk
Review: This book has as much, if not more, in common with Kafka's The Castle and Beckett's Malone Dies as it does with with the works of Raymond Chandler and his sci-fi equivalent, William Gibson.
Rating: 
Summary: Last Time I Buy a Book Based on Other People's Opinions...
Review: although most people would prefer norwegian wood (which remains one of murakami's top seller), this is, i think, closer to murakami's true style. an exploration of self, a search for a potentially nihilistic life within the mind and an in depth look into reality. a good follow-up of this book is his latest (not yet translated, I believe) Seaside Kafka - that uses the same motif - a split story - about the search of oneself.
Rating:
Summary: A mind bending twist
Review: This book, is and of itself, a mind bending twist. Esentially two stories that are intertwined (and I won't spoil how.) His characters are well crafted and deep. The story goes into a deep, metaphisical discussion of the nature of being while characters are chased by phantoms and gangsters.It is however still Japanese, and as such, is not tied down by Western notions of writing. This makes reading it a whole lot better. Details, descriptions and people are just more, well, detailed. Murakami's wit and attention to detail is crafted well. The main character, who may not be the typical hero (or anti-hero) one comes to expect, displays a layer of cool as his problem becomes manifest. A whole system (or should I say System) is provided, with a history and detail that we are not always privy to. You should read this. Just don't forget where your shadow is.
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