Sputnik Sweetheart

Don't get me wrong, I don't think this is, by any chance, a bad book. My low rating can be easily explained by the fact that I've already read too much Murakami. I used to like him quite a lot, but come on, doesn't he get tired of writing the same book over and over again? Let me show you the patter......more

[Edited and pictures added 12/30/2021] My sixth Murakami. About three-fourths of the way through the book the magical realism kicks in. We have a woman who has an experience where she sees herself “on the other side.” There is also a disappearing woman in a situation where it is impossible for her to......more

When I first read this (in 2007) I felt bad about rating such a wonderfully written book with just Two Stars! With my second reading (in 2008), I began to see the light with a 7 out of 12, Three Star rating - my one sentence review: 'Second and more enlightened reading of this almost poetic masterpie......more

SPOILERS She said: I really wanted to see you. When I couldn’t see you any more, I realized that. It was as clear as if the planets all of a sudden lined up in a row for me. I really need you. You’re a part of me; I’m a part of you. He thought: We’re both looking at the same moon, in the same world. W......more

Why does Haruki Murakami hit the spot so well for me, and for thousands of other readers worldwide? There's a common element in all his works; it's a bridge of fantasy and reality that has just the right delicate balance. There's something about that balance that's so mesmerizing. You can connect wi......more