I have to go with my star rating - this was "just okay." I was pretty excited about the novel from the start - there was mystery and intrigue and science fiction and pop culture references to go with it. Murakami loves the details, but for many lengths of the novel he seems to meander in them for no good reason. By the time the third volume came along, I was frustrated. And by the time it ended, it was as though Murakami didn't know where his meandering tale might lead and then just ended it. Because it is sci-fi, there is a suspension of disbelief, but the characters seemed to question so much of what was their plot, I just couldn't believe it. I really was tired of hearing Aomame and Tengo's thoughts about what might or might not be the truth. Not even the evil or supposed villainous aspect of the book was actually confirmed evil or bad... it wasn't tense because I wasn't sure they should have anything to be afraid of. Maybe the Little People? Maybe the cult? But maybe not? Now I'm sounding like Tengo.

Murakami gets points for the first volume, which did intrigue me because the plot moved along and provided mysteries I thought would come to a point by the third novel. It just ended with no impact.