Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World

So far, this thing is darn good. Reminds me a bit of Jeannette Winterson, though slightly more plot-driven. I'm liking it even better than The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle or Sputnik Sweetheart.

Update: Ok, I finished it, and lent it to a friend alreay. I loved it. I'll likely read it again. Nice combination of sci-fi, fantasy, minimalist fiction and neuroscience (well, pop-neuroscience).

Murakami's particular brand of surrealism isn't exactly for me, but “Hard-Boiled Wonderland” came with the highest of recommendations and ended up as quite the compelling read. The book consists of two alternating stories, one taking place in then-modern Tokyo and the other occurring in a fantasy realm (complete with hand-drawn map) aptly titled the “End of the World.” Much of the book's force stems from the mystery of how these two seemingly-unrelated worlds are connected, and fortunately Murakami balances the contrasting stories with delicacy and ingenuity. By the end, some mysteries will be revealed, yet others won't–to say any more would be too revealing. At the very least, I can tell you that the book is more satisfying than the final season of Lost, with which “Hard-Boiled Wonderland” shares many similarities. Murakami's creativity is in full display here, as flourishes of golden unicorns, sewer-dwelling monsters and sentient shadows intrigue the reader without venturing into childish overbearance. Along the way, Murakami explores topics that continue to boggle the human imagination, such as sound modification, sonic warfare, unbreakable encryption, and the infinite complexities of the human subconscious. Birnbaum's translation is beautiful, reflecting the wit and lyricism one would expect from Murakami. Unfortunately, I found the story to drag at times, and I'm not too fond of pop-culture references for their own sake. Put these issues aside, however, and “Hard-Boiled Wonderland” is a great read.