si_woof 's review for:

A Wild Sheep Chase by Haruki Murakami

2.5

challenging dark mysterious reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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My first Murakami — finally. I’d been meaning to read him for ages, and someone in my book club was giving this one away, so I figured why not. I’d heard both the hype and the criticisms, and now, I get it. I went in pretty blind, only knowing it was the third book in the Rat series, but no need to read them in order though now I wonder if starting with this novel was really the right choice.

I liked the writing style (props to the translator for keeping the tone intact) and the mix of genres — there’s something intriguing about the surreal, offbeat vibe. But honestly, the story didn’t really grab me. I found it kind of dull, and the world just didn’t pull me in. Plus, the way women are portrayed really stood out — flat, underdeveloped, and clearly written from a male gaze. I know that’s a common criticism of Murakami, and I can see why.

These days, we're lucky to have access to so many authors exploring speculative fiction, magical realism, and gender-bending narratives with greater emotional and thematic range. Given my lukewarm reaction to this novel, I wont be rushing back to read another Murakami anytime soon.