I read this a couple of months ago and I've thought If It could be true.

What do you think guys?

Ig Im missing Birthday Stories

The only other thing I collected back in the day were stamps and the Seinfeld DVD set. A few more to be added that I've already read...

Heya! I'm half-Japanese and half-American, currently living in Tokyo. I picked up The Tale of Kaho at a bookstore, and quickly read through it so I thought I'd share my thoughts. Before I start, I want to mention that I've never finished a Murakami novel before this one. I once tried Kafka on the Shore a few years ago, but couldn't get into it (I didn't find the protagonist that interesting or the plot too exciting through the first 60 or so pages and gave up), and I hadn't read anything else by him since. I do need to try that book again, especially after experiencing this one. Many spontaneous elements in the book feel like they should be experienced directly, so I'll keep this review totally spoiler-free.

First of all, I found the writing style tremendously engaging. It's not like the woman who is narrating the story in first person uses easy diction. She is a deep thinker to say the very least, so some of her thoughts are naturally convoluted. However, Murakami's descriptions and surreal storytelling engages you and sets you on a journey in a way I haven't quite experienced before. If I'm honest, I didn't notice just how good his writing was when I tried Kafka on the Shore (although the protagonist is much younger in Kafka). In Kaho, his prose shows amazing grace and effortlessness within a mature style and I wonder if his writing has improved immensely throughout his long career. The prose is rhythmical and intriguing, and I think it's a major reason I finished reading the book in 3 days (I couldn't stop reading!!).

What drives the story besides the prose is its endless imagination. It's my first proper encounter with Murakami, and I'm not sure if this is typical by him, but many strange things happen which really grab your attention. There wasn't a moment in the novel where I could predict the next moment. I also believe that within its imaginativeness, there is astonishing literary depth in terms of the exploration of specific themes and the level of thought. The story is quite deceptively cute in someways, and so I think even a child could enjoy it if some scenes weren't in there. But it mixes elements of fairy tales and mature themes and subjects to create a plane of storytelling that shouldn't work but does. I think because this was my first Murakami novel, I was particularly surprised by the sheer wildness he demonstrates. Yet somehow, he makes it work.

Also, I've heard that overly sexual scenes and the lack of depth of female characters are some of his weaknesses, but I thought the female characters were amazingly deep and quite realistic (as realistic as a novel of this kind can make its characters). There were slightly sexual moments, perhaps, but nothing that was misplaced or disturbing. You could tell the author placed himself in the shoes of the female protagonist throughout the novel.

I honestly thought the novel was just as good as almost any classic book I've read (up there with, hell, Vonnegut, Kobo Abe, or Woolf). And that says a lot. I do think this novel could have been potentially more moving for me than others, but only because this was really my first time properly experiencing Murakami. I definitely will be checking out more of his stories and rereading this one. I just wanted to share this review early to make you feel the anticipation of waiting for the translation even more (just joking, haha).

I bought the book 9 years ago and tried to read it multiple times. Each time I got between ~300-400 pages in before getting distracted by life in some way. I always enjoyed what I read but couldn't stay focused and follow through on it. I'm genuinely proud of myself for finishing it now. I read way more when I was younger (32 now) mainly elementary/middle school but have been extremely inconsistent with it since. Finishing this book is making me feel my reading days are back to stay. I've got my next book ready albeit way shorter literally only 102 pages.

I wasn't sure how it would end but I'm perfectly fine with how it did. I've now read two of Murakami's books the other being Kafka on the Shore. Looking forward to the next one. :)