books writer: Haruki Murakami

[1957 Chevy]

I'm about to take a 3 week trip to Europe. I'll have a lot of time to catch up on some fiction reading.

I haven't read any Murakami yet, but after reading his interview/synopsis/prose I'm eager to...Recommendations of which of his novels I should read first?

[Kintamayama]

Nice writer that I haven't revisited in some years. I liked both Dance, Dance, Dance and Norwegian Wood, but my favorite is Hard Boiled Wonderland, which I read in both English and the original Japanese (I recommend the English version, it's a much easier read).

[mikeczyz]

i've read both the wind up bird chronicle and kafka on the shore. both are excellent and highly recommended.

[Phat Mack]

I like Japanese writers. The first Murakami book I read was Wild Sheep Chase, which I saw on the shelf of my public library. I saw his name and said to myself, "A Japanese writer I haven't heard of." That was >15 years ago. The book still haunts me.

[inferno]

thanks for the tip on The Wind Up Bird Chronicle, I will pick that one up when going on my holiday

[chicheebee]

I've read quite a few of Murakami's books, and really enjoyed all of them, but they do fall into two very distinct categories, and I know some people who enjoy one but not the other. There are his epic adventure novels which include Kafka on the shore, the wind up bird chronicles and wild sheep chase, and there are his more romantic personal novels (which feel more traditionally japanese to me, though i havn't read all that many other japanese authors) which include norweigian wood, south of the border west of the sun, and sputnik sweetheart.

[unbluffable]

Chevy, read the Wind Up bird Chronicle. You won't regret it.

[Anacardo]

[ QUOTE ]
I'm about to take a 3 week trip to Europe. I'll have a lot of time to catch up on some fiction reading.

I haven't read any Murakami yet, but after reading his interview/synopsis/prose I'm eager to...Recommendations of which of his novels I should read first?

[/ QUOTE ]

I was introduced to Murakami with Hard-Boiled Wonderland and I feel like that's an excellent place to start. From there I'd move into Elephant Vanishes or Norwegian Wood.

[NajdorfDefense]

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I liked The Wind Up Bird Chronicle and Hard Boiled Wonderland.

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[registrar]

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Hard Boiled Wonderland.

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Probably my favourite book.