A review by rickjones
Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami

mysterious reflective tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

While I'm certain there are intellectual components to this novel that I missed, I really enjoyed reading it. The plot was weird, mysterious and varied enough to consistently hold my attention even though I never fully understood what was going on, which normally makes me feel agitated. The characters aren't the most compelling, but the worlds they inhabit are wholly original yet strangely nostalgic and lead the book along. Their experiences and thought processes within these worlds allow for musings on consciousness, fulfillment, and the weight of our minds, expanding into a odd story that relates to us all. 
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