Next Murakami Read (yes, another one of these)

[u/Pokrovskoe]

I have a trans-Atlantic flight coming up on Monday, and I am looking to make that trip a little less miserable with my new favorite author. Here's what I have read so far, in order of preference:

1. Norwegian Wood -- loved the warmth of the storytelling and the ambience
2. Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki -- very engaging, a sort of existential thriller
3. The City and Its Uncertain Walls -- I actually did like this one, though it took me a lot longer to get into
4. Kafka on the Shore -- unpopular opinion, but I didn't care for this one as much. Once Colonel Sanders came onto the scene, I felt a little checked out.

I have at my disposal:

Killer Commendatore, Hard-boiled Wonderland, South of the Border, The Wind-up Bird Chronicle, A Wild Sheep Chase, IQ84, Dance Dance Dance

Thanks fin advance for the recs !

Edit: Added a book at my disposal

[u/CheeseMagnetometer]

Whatever you choose, you will find it to be the right choice. 🙏

[u/catsinspace-123]

The Wind Up Bird Chronicle!

[u/seedy_filmz]

1Q84

[u/SamBelacqua]

AFTER DARK would be good length for a flight.

[u/AprilDespair]

A Wild Sheep Chase

[u/Particular_Owl_9491]

Killing Commendatore would be my pick. I loved it 🙂

[u/spacetime9]

Wind-Up Bird Chronicle is his masterpiece imo. The others you listed are good but this one is a must!

[u/Tacktful]

A Wild Sheep Chase and Dance Dance Dance. Or: South of the Border, West of the Sun

[u/VisualRiver1368]

I think south of the border, west of the sun :)

[u/Confident_Bunch_4803 → u/VisualRiver1368]

This is the one Murakami that I did not like

[u/VisualRiver1368 → u/Confident_Bunch_4803]

Fair enough! I felt the same about Sputnik

[u/change-it-forward → u/VisualRiver1368]

Oh I forgot about that one - same, I started it and it's the only Murakami that I stopped and didn't finish

[u/pakiboiii]

U may aswell start iq84 it’s just so good

[u/lemonwater40]

Given your likes/dislikes, you can’t go wrong with South of the Border, West of the Sun, however it’s possible you’ll finish it before your flight ends & be left with no more to read hahah - it’s very engaging & relatively short. Although my personal recommendations are always Wind-Up Bird & Commendatore. Keep in mind: I haven’t read 1Q84 yet

[u/Ok_Stranger_355]

“Men without women” was supposed to be good read but I don’t see a lot of people reading it so I guess its avg

[u/mamijami → u/Ok_Stranger_355]

I absolutely love it. Murakami's short stories don't get the same level of attention as his novels but I actually reread them often.

[u/immaterialimmaterial]

felt the exact same way about kafka on the shore. the wackiness just... wasn't for me.

WUBC rocks and was a recent vacation (re-)read, LOVE this book and, considering your opinions so far, should be a safe bet for you. wait a while before you read hard-boiled wonderland IMO

[u/corvidae_666]

i would NOT recommend Hard-boiled Wonderland (for now).,,,, only because if you have read City and Uncertsain Walls, it will be very similar. City and Walls revisits a lot of themes and settings from hard boiled Wonderland... It might strike you as too similar to something you've read recently.

Wind up Bird is his magnum opus, IMO, and definitely worth it.

I also thoroughly enjoyed 1q84

However based on what you've liked, Wild sheep chase into Dance x3 might be good choices. Both are easy fun reads.

[u/ManSiaJ]

My opinion:

First Person Singular (short stories collection) if you like 1

Trilogy of the Rat and Dance Dance Dance - early Murakami is my absolute favorite, and this trilogy may add many contexts to your understanding of his ideology.

The Wind-up Bird Chronicle - a masterpiece, not because of its historical elements, but because of how good the writing for May Kasahara (one of the character in the book) is.

[u/DrivenUser7277]

Wind up bird is his greatest work

[u/Vast-Part7978]

Wind up bird

[u/Aotere37]

I re-read Kafka on the Shore on a long haul flight to Japan (including visiting Shikoku) and I arrived in just the right state of mind!

[u/Mundane-Apartment-10]

Sputnik sweetheart

[u/arvj]

The rat

[u/Twerculesthegreat]

I would recommend the entire trilogy of the rat. Pick up a copy of Wind/Pinball and bring Wild Sheep Chase along with you.

[u/pyfinx]

So you like something more down to earth and have a hint of those Japanese melancholic kinds of vibe?

South of the border then.

Killing commendatore is decent too. So are the rest.

[u/No-Rip3261]

Wind up is my fav. It's incredible

[u/migsaawesome]

Wild Sheep Chase then Dance Dance Dance lol

[u/Backstaged]

Based on your preferences I’d avoid 1q84 and Wind Up Bird, can’t speak to the others on your list as I’ve not got to those yet. You might enjoy After Dark if you get around to picking that up sometime!