333 pages
English language
Published Jan. 4, 2006 by Knopf.
Collection of twenty-four stories that generously expresses Murakami’s mastery of the form. From the surreal to the mundane, these stories exhibit his ability to transform the full range of human experience in ways that are instructive, surprising, and relentlessly entertaining. Here are animated crows, a criminal monkey, and an iceman, as well as the dreams that shape us and the things we might wish for. Whether during a chance reunion in Italy, a romantic exile in Greece, a holiday in Hawaii, or in the grip of everyday life, Murakami’s characters confront grievous loss, or sexuality, or the glow of a firefly, or the impossible distances between those who ought to be closest of all.
The stories start short, dark and mind bending, as expected from Murakami, but they gradually grow longer in size. Haruki writing shines best for a medium or a long story. I especially like "Chance traveler", "Hanalei bay", and "The kidney-shaped stone". They have sufficient lengths and right touch of mysticism without too many metaphors.
I hate it when a monkey steals my name.
Great variety of stories in the typical Murakami style: normal daily life stories with a twist... always a twist.
