mh_books's Reviews (1.12k)

This is my third Murakami and I am getting used to his style. There’s a lot of blunt descriptions of sex and sex organs (particularly breasts), talk about food, weird dreams, discussion of music and literature and of course the compulsory cats. As always there is no tying up of all the loose ends in the conclusions, this is left to you.

Like all Murakamis it is full of the practicalities of life. For example, there is a discussion of hiding out and the food you would need and how your personal taste and cooking ability would affect your food requirements. How would the food waste be disposed of? Etc. etc.

For me this book was an exploration of fiction and what would happen if a story you wrote became reality. Would you as author be moulding this new world or would the actions and decisions of your characters ultimately be the biggest effect on this new world?

It is also a story of lost love (romantic and family) and regret.

At over a thousand pages it’s a very long book and as it was on audio I “read” it over the course of six to seven weeks. It’s a great book for that as it repeats the action from another character’s perspective again and again. This repetitiveness is something you are going to love or hate. I found it fascinating. The story changes somewhat when someone else is narrating and I was quite happy to relive these characters stories again and again.

Recommended to anyone who already likes Murakami but at over a thousand pages maybe not suitable for a novice?

“…….and all the mess of love and life that only shows up as you go along.”

4.5 Star rounding up to 5.

Told from the perspective of the wife and the husband. This is a story about family, about what it is to be a son or daughter and about what it is to be a father or a mother.

Set in 1980’s and early 1990’s Nigeria. It’s about the simultaneous laying aside and clinging onto the older language, traditions and beliefs of the grand/parents' generation by the generation brought up to believe in medicine, science, and democracy and to think in English.


Mostly it’s about the damage that secrets, hidden truths, and lies can do to a relationship.

A recommended book for those who enjoy family dramas.

“Time is important in our organisation. If you can’t even get to an appointment in your own building on time, they argue, you’re not going to have much luck trying to find the Battle of Hastings.”

A fun, very action packed book on what would happen if we could travel back into the past.

The humor is so very English with copious amounts of Tea. “If in doubt, make some tea.”

The Characters are dry and witty “Mr Markham, the box marked “Sex” is not an invitation. Please amend the details and apologise to Mrs Partridge.”

The action is no holds barred “The screaming redoubled. You put dinosaurs and people together, you always get screaming.”

In short, I am looking forward to the next installment.

This is recommended to those looking for a humorous, action packed read.

I think this is a charming little novella and everything that Miss Peregrins school … was not, in that it was well written! (apols to those who love those books).

It is easiest explained as a kind of sequel to tales such as Narnia/Alice in Wonderland etc., in that it deals with what happens to the children/teenagers who return from various fairy realms.

There is no world building in this book there is multi world building complete with each worlds own take on compass points, directions, linearity and moralities. The lines of what is good and evil is blurred and you are unsure as to who is the villain and who is the hero of this tale.

Personally, I would have liked the story to be a little longer, however, its a perfectly constructed tale and well told. It is a great beginning to what I assume will be a series of books.

This is recommended to those who like their Fairy tales with a little twist.