The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami

The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle is still my favorite book by Haruki Murakami. It usually goes that way. You find a great author and no matter what they write after, what you read first is usually the one you go back to. It’s the book I recommended for anyone who wants to get on the Murakami train. His brand of magical realism really speaks to me. His books start off, usually, with a simple quest. This time it’s a missing cat. This leads to an underworld that he must traverse. The beauty of Murakami is that his characters, though simple, everyday folks take the weird turns in their stride and just go with it. Something to admire. If you like this novel, you will like this author and begin a bizarre journey of your own.

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