Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World

Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World: A Novel (Vintage International)
I'm told by the resident Haruki Murakami expert that this is not the Murakami to read first. It was the Redfin Book club book though, so read it I did. Tbh, I think Rakka was right.

It started slow, and it was obvious from the first that the two plot lines were about the same guy. Neither of them were particularly interesting; the one was actually sort of painful.

Eventually I managed to eek a little interest in how the plots were going to meet up, but then it became clear that it was going to end stupid. Which it did. It kind of made me angry, really. Now I'm rather disinclined to read any of the others. Maybe I'll give him a rest and try again later.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good to know about the book. Too bad you didn't enjoy it.

I read "Kafka on the shore" (weird, weird shit happening for no reason) and "Wind up bird chronicles" which I really enjoyed. So maybe he's hit-and-miss?

Pfepftzet Oout said...

I agree. I really had to struggle to get through this book. It's been several years since I read it, so I don't remember the plots too clearly except that it was slow, but I do remember how aweful the ending was, and I've had no desire to pick up another one of his books again.

r4kk4 said...

kafka on the shore, leffster. read it, love it, buy me a pony. ;D

leff said...

Ok, kafka on the shore is the one. It's on my list. I get to it eventually.

Anonymous said...

See, I just finished Kafka on the shore and was unimpressed. It was kind of predictable and not the magical fairy tale I'd been led to expect. Overall "OK". There were a couple of nice touches, but not enough magic in either the story or the writing to make me love it.

Although it did have boobies.

Anonymous said...

some person on flickr made a couple of other Murakami suggestions though http://www.flickr.com/photos/pip/2823231170/in/set-72057594112582187/

jensq said...

I like those older Murakami books. A wild sheep chase, and the hard boiled wonderland, and Norwegian Wood, too. The newer books are newer, but not necessarily better.

And of course, the Haibane wouldn't live where they live without the End of the World.

r4kk4 said...

jens is *totally* right about that! :D!

still knowing you as i do, i contend that kafka on the shore is more of your type of book.