All of Murakami's books have an element of melancholy to them, but this one particularly so. I appreciate the straightforward storytelling because it adds an element of realism to the characters' engagement with one another and builds empathy for all of them - each caught in their own despair.

I also really appreciate how he writes about sex in such a straightforward manner. It keeps a book like this - with a major component being sexual longing - from turning salacious and gratuitous.