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I'm still trying to sort out my feelings about this book. I loved it, loved it all the way thru, it being my first Murakami, and I was very excited about reading him. But the ending....I'm just not sure if he played fair. I'm not used to reading this real-but-not-quite-real genre yet, so maybe I just need to get used to it. I thought the ending would be much more clear, and I feel like there were too many loose ends, and not even a trail of bread crumbs. Or, a partial trail, but the crows came a
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2nd read: 05/06/2022
I had started a book by another Japanese author, and I realized how much I would rather be reading a Murakami, so I picked this one to re-read, since it is so short. I am so glad I did, it's been 8 years since I read it the first time, and I had forgotten so much.
Read again 07/14/24: I don't what it is about Murakami, but I can't help but re-read his works. ...more
I had started a book by another Japanese author, and I realized how much I would rather be reading a Murakami, so I picked this one to re-read, since it is so short. I am so glad I did, it's been 8 years since I read it the first time, and I had forgotten so much.
Read again 07/14/24: I don't what it is about Murakami, but I can't help but re-read his works. ...more

Murakami is one of the most frustrating writers around. His inability to properly end a novel and his almost arbitrary adding weirdness for weirdness sake almost ruins it for me. After dark is my favorite of his. though it still has those issues I previously discussed it isn't as heavy handed as before. in other novels it seems like he just gives up writing as he know longer knows or doesn't care where to go with it. in this case it feels more satisfying as the characters are more self actualize
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Mar 17, 2012
Laura
added it
I bought this book because Emily Arsenault named him as an influence. I can see it -- Emily referenced his dialogue but I think character development as well.

Sep 01, 2009
Erica
marked it as to-read

Oct 06, 2009
Efe
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Jan 23, 2011
Kat (A Journey In Reading)
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Jan 21, 2013
Kent Winward
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Apr 25, 2016
Kelli
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Apr 26, 2016
Juliana Philippa
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Oct 05, 2016
Anna
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Apr 25, 2024
C.
marked it as to-read