(1)
The
majority of my experience reading this spectacular and surreal novel was
exceptional. I haven’t been as thoroughly absorbed by a fictional world in a
long time. Specifically, reading the first half was mesmerizing. The writing is
simple, compelling, and multi-layered. The text so often naturally but
unobtrusively functions on a literal and symbolic level.
Like his Hardboiled Wonderland and the End of the
World, I was less than thrilled by the way Murakami “landed” the dual
narrative. It’s not that I wanted more explained; in fact, i may have wanted less. When people, narratives, and conflicts are mysteriously intertwined
and the intertwining is done so well—and it’s done unbelievably well in this
novel—it’s usually a let-down when the connections are explained. Additionally,
the very end, while satisfying on certain levels, didn’t feel “resolution-y”
enough to me.
Regardless of
my criticisms, I loved this novel. I liked it more than Hardboiled Wonderland and the End of the World, which I really liked. It solidified my plan to continue reading Murakami in the near future.
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