Be Charmed by These Bewitching Books from 2025
Steve Fouse asked this question about Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World:
Has anybody got any ideas about why none the characters have names? The narrator is never named, and there are the chubby girl, the librarian(s), the Gatekeeper, and others. It may be a way of making the story's themes apply universally rather than just to specific people, but the characters are described in detail, and seem too real to be just nameless, non-specific persons.
Cecilie Hjort I hadn't thought of that - but the book was unusually easy for me to follow in terms of who was who. I often struggle with putting the names together …moreI hadn't thought of that - but the book was unusually easy for me to follow in terms of who was who. I often struggle with putting the names together with the characters if more than two are introduced. So I don't know if it's an answer, but for my specific kind of brain, it removed a usually very annoying tangle of 'who-was-this-again?'.(less)
flag
6552267
Steve Fouse I sometimes have that problem too, especially if there are lots of characters, or one shows up early in the book and then not again until much later.
Apr 03, 2015 03:21PM · flag
More questions about Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World…
Image for Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World
Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World
by Haruki Murakami
Rate this book
Clear rating
1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars

About Goodreads Q&A

Ask and answer questions about books!

You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.

See Featured Authors Answering Questions

Learn more