Marcus’s answer to “WHY is this book so loved? I mean, I didn't gain anything out of it. I'm not asking this as an insu…” > Likes and Comments

I see. I have read some other Murakami and I love Norwegian Wood and have no particular feelings about After Dark. In any case, I see where you're coming from even though to me, the book just seemed a mixture of a lot of.. stuff. I guess I didn't have that much trouble discerning the real from the unreal and therefore in many parts my expression was one of pure 'what?'

In any case, thank you for your answer! I've waited for one for so long! *thank you hug*

Thank you, @Marcus_Bird for such a cogent response!

Yes, it covers lots of ground, but to me it's like Murakami had lots of half-baked ideas for stories stuffed into a box file on his shelf, and decided to chuck them all randomly into one story and use them up, rather like somebody about to go on holiday will use up all the contents of their fridge in one meal. The talking cats was cool, until the cats stopped talking and he moved on to something else, like raining leeches, Johnny Walker and his flute, the stone. So, yes, he covered lots of ground but there wasn't much point to any of it..

Marcus, my theory is that the first Murakami one reads remains a favorite because of similarites.

Yes, Norwegian Wood one of my favs.