I usually start my reviews with one of my favorite quotes from the book I've just read, but I have to kick this review off by complaining. This is my first Murakami book and maybe I picked the wrong one to read as the first, but I don't believe the hype. Also, for those that have read Outline by Rachel Cusk (hi, Circle of Incoherent Ramblers!) this book is very much written in the same style.

Just 20 pages into the book, I was already deeply annoyed. To me, Takahashi reads like a Plato wannabe. Philosophizing for no reason, to a woman who does not seem eager to listen to him. And, no surprise, his takes are not that deep. Then on page 19, he had me cackling from the absurdity of his words:

"I wonder how it turns out that we all lead such different lives. Take you and your sister, for example. You're born to the same parents, you grow up in the same household, you're both girls. How do you end up with such wildly different personalities? At what point do you, like, go your separate ways? One puts on a bikini like little semaphore flags and lies by the pool looking sexy, and the other puts on her school bathing suit and swims her heart out like a dolphin..."

Excuse me, what????? Is this supposed to be deep? Maybe that's how Murakami intended this character to read, but I find it insufferable.

So at this point, I'm 20 pages in and I'm thinking "okay, it's still early. It can only go up from here, right?" Past Anna, you were mistaken. On page 23, Takahashi wants to know what book Mari is reading. He comments on how heavy the book is then says, "It's not the size book most girls carry around in their bags." Ah yes, if the sexy bikini/school bathing suit comparison wasn't enough, this line solidifies the "you're not like other girls" trope present throughout this book.

Maybe I'm misreading, but I'm pretty sure Mari is supposed to be the main character. But due to the level of narcissism present in Takahashi, he works hard to make himself the main character. And I don't like that. If this story had more of Mari and her sister, it would have been immensely better.

Similar to Cusk's Outline, there were moments that hit me full force. Shirakawa is obviously disgusting and when he speaks to his wife at 2:43am, the conversation they have is so sinister that I'm still thinking about it. She asks him what his "midnight snack" was--

"What'd you eat?"
"Oh. Chinese. Same as always. Keeps me full."
"Was it good?"
"Not especially."

My mouth fell open when I read this. I'm still rattled by it.

Overall, I'm highly displeased with this. I love Mari, with her Red Sox hat and books that are too big for women, but I think she should have a story with just her, her sister, and the Alphaville ladies.

2.5 stars.