Haruki Murakami and Jay Rubin - The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle

Pros: Tranquility within chaos

Cons: Probably a little to convoluted for those unwilling to sing for their supper

The Bottom Line: Wind-up the bird, let it fly; you're in for an enlightening ride

Review: Haruki Murakami's "The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle" is a good combination of the weirdness that turned me off his "A Wild Sheep Chase", and the transcendent beauty that had me gushing over his "Norwegian Wood". Thankfully, he's taken what didn't work in the...

Pros: Beautifully written and provocative

Cons: I don't know Japanese

Review: I confess I had not previously heard of Murakami, but when I saw his book, The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, I noted to myself that this version was translated from the Japanese by Jay Rubin, and that Murakami had himself translated English writers such...

Pros: Deep, Interesting, Fun

Cons: I admit--it gets weird at parts

The Bottom Line: Give it your best shot. The book isn't easy, but it's brilliant. The characters and plot are truly inspired. It's my favorite book of all time.

Review: Let me start off by saying that this is my favorite book of all time. I think you could read it a million times over and find something startling and novel and deep every time.

This book is truly an English teacher's dream: every scene is...

Pros: Outstanding breadth and vision

Cons: A little long for some

The Bottom Line: This is an exceptional novel that will have you thinking of wells for weeks...

Review: This novel developed from a story by Murakami called The Wind Up Bird and Tuesday's Women,which is an early version of the first couple of chapters of this book. That story was somewhat below par for Murakami, lost in translation. However, it has been ...

Pros: intricate storyline, ponder-worthy themes and symbolism, a genius with the simile, never a dull moment.

Cons: accumulated storylines and plot twists might be too much for some.

The Bottom Line: this cannot be missed.. Murakami will take you on a mind-bending thrill ride that you'll never forget.

Review: this book was my first encounter with Murakami, and it will most definitely not be my last.. i just recently read it for a comparative literature course on Asian fiction, and i have to say that it is now by far my favorite novel.. Murakami is a veritable ...

Pros: A modern classic, masterfully written and executed

Cons: It is long, but worth it

The Bottom Line: Read it!

Review: I was directed to The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by two friends. After hearing so much about them I picked up the novel expecting to be instantly blown away.

Instead I was lured into a captivating and engaging story. Murakami has an amazing...

Pros: Endlessly inventive, original , thought provoking and compulsive

Cons: If you like down to earth 'gritty reality' then steer clear

Review: In many ways this book is fairly typical of previous efforts by the author. The main protaganist has the same hallmarks of alienation and rejection as in earlier novels such as "Wild Sheep Chase". The plot combines mundane reality with more out...

Pros: storytelling at its finest

Cons: none, this is as near a perfect book as I've ever read

Review: _The Wind-up Bird Chronicle_ is the most beautifully-written book I have ever read. It tells the story of Toru Okada, a thoughtful if somewhat apathetic Japanese man who is searching for his lost cat Noboru Wataya, for something to do with his days, for...

Pros: An incredible story

Cons: Details and characters are similar to past works

Review: Some people maintain that his first novel, 'A Wild Sheep Chase,' is his best, but don't be fooled. 'The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle' may be long, but it is captivating and you won't be able to put it down.

The story begins when Toru Okada's cat...

Pros: a masterpiece.

Cons: made me cry

Review: i cried on the subway when i was reading this book... like many of haruki murakami's novels, it's a bit of a downer... a loser guy...he has lost his lover...he's looking for her...yada yada...but in a great way. this book is a masterpiece... so many ...