16 best books by Haruki Murakami
The Tokyo postmodern writer Haruko Murakami is one of the most popular and popular authors in contemporary literature, his books are translated into 50 languages and sold worldwide in large editions. The online magazine EXPERTOLOGY presents a rating that includes the 16 best books of Haruki Murakami - be sure to add them to the list for reading and appreciate the scale of the impressions!
Top Books by Haruki Murakami
| Nomination | a place | Name of product | rating |
| Top Books by Haruki Murakami | 1 | Wonderland without brakes and the end of the world (1985) | 4.9 |
| 2 | Sheep Hunting (1982) | 4.8 | |
| 3 | Chronicles Clockwork Birds (1995) | 4.8 | |
| 4 | Norwegian Forest (1987) | 4.8 | |
| 5 | Listen to the song of the wind (1979, 1983) | 4.7 | |
| 6 | Dance, Dance, Dance (1988) | 4.7 | |
| 7 | What am I talking about when I talk about running (2007) | 4.6 | |
| 8 | Pinball 1973 (1980) | 4.6 | |
| 9 | South of the border, west of the sun (1992) | 4.5 | |
| 10 | My favorite sputnik (1999) | 4.5 | |
| 11 | Good day for kangaroo (1986) | 4.5 | |
| 12 | Subway (1997) | 4.5 | |
| 13 | Kafka on the beach (2002) | 4.5 | |
| 14 | Colorless Tskuru Tadzaki and the years of his travels (2013) | 4.4 | |
| 15 | After the Mass (2004-2005 g) | 4.4 | |
| 16 | Tokyo Legends | 4.4. |
Wonderland without brakes and the end of the world (1985)
Author of the book: Haruki Murakami
Rating: 4.9
The leader of the audience sympathy - the novel "Wonderland without brakes and the End of the World." When creating the work, Haruki Murakami used an unusual technique - alternation of chapters with parallel subject lines: even - about Wonderland without brakes, odd - about the End of the World. According to the author, these stories were written while working in different hemispheres of the brain, which filled the text of a completely different plan with deep thoughts and reasoning.
In "Wonderland" we are talking about a person who owns the technique of working with the subconscious. The story about the "End of the World" laid the previously written story "The City with a Ghost Wall" with an orientation to consciousness, the author tells about the mysterious, walled city, all residents have no shadows. The hero of this city gets a job in the library, where he must read dreams in the skulls of dead unicorns. It’s absurd at first glance, but Murakami masterfully leads all descriptions, interests the reader, and at the end weaves both lines.
The main task of the novel - guidance on the argument about the subconscious and the consciousness, about whether there is a soul, what is a personal concept. The narrative is filled with interesting descriptions that completely transfer the reader to the parallel book world.
Sheep Hunting (1982)
Author of the book: Haruki Murakami
Rating: 4.8
On the second line of the rating is the novel Hunting for Sheep, the third in the Rat Trilogy. The author again immerses the reader in reasoning about the Soul, its purpose and possibilities.
The plot is built on the ancient legend of the Japanese about a sheep, whose soul moves into people and in their guise of trying to establish chaos, disorder and anarchy on earth. In the novel, the role of the “victim” is played first by the professor, then by the lonely reticent person inclined to self-digging. How can such a person try to break the established order? The fact is that the sheep soul endows the “carrier” with unlimited abilities, therefore the descendant of the impoverished peasant still becomes the leader of a large Organization.But having squeezed all the juices out of it, the Soul finds a third sacrifice for itself - a man who realized what would happen to him and where the wind was coming from. In the book there is a mystic and unusual connections, in which many are not easy to believe.
The book "The Hunt for Sheep" is quite freely perceived as a separate novel with a separate plot, despite belonging to the Trilogy. The imagination of the author is striking, which, by the way, claims that he has no idea what the book is about, leaving speculations and conclusions to the reader.
Chronicles Clockwork Birds (1995)
Author of the book: Haruki Murakami
Rating: 4.8
The novel “The Chronicles of the Clockwork Bird”, which came in third, is the story of one man named Toru Okada. He leads a measured life, and then leaves his job, after which he lives on savings and on the earnings of his wife Kumiko. Once with the hero misfortunes begin to happen: the cat is gone, then the wife - she, by the way, fell under the influence of the pervert brother who embodies evil in the novel. In the course of the plot development, Torah becomes acquainted with psychics who first help the hero to look for a cat, and then reveal to the man the secrets of clairvoyance business.
The novel is written in an interesting language peculiar to Murakami, the author used a lot of extrasensory perception in the narration, the plot intrigues and fascinates. The mystical literary thriller shows the realities of the modern life of a man in a world where sex plays one of the first roles. The plot is intertwined with the history of Japan at the beginning of the 20th century.
Haruki Murakami, in her own style, enjoys fantasizing, which, inside a good story, seems strange to some readers. Connoisseurs of literature all over the world love it.
Norwegian Forest (1987)
Author of the book: Haruki Murakami
Rating: 4.8
It is unusual to read about the forests of Norway in the novel of the Japanese, but in the novel by Haruki Murakami there are practically no descriptions of nature. At the head of the story is an autobiography that the writer does not confirm, but does not deny.
In the center of the plot is a Japanese Watanabe, who moved to Hamburg. To the songs of the band “The Beatles” he recalls his student years and friends, one of whom, having died, changes the worldview of the main character, like his girlfriend Naoko. Over time, young people began to communicate very closely, but the difficult character of the girl is stopped by Watanabe and he finds a new girlfriend. This does not prevent him from communicating with the old passion and having fun with a friend. Here the hero realizes that something is wrong in his soul, but continues to be carried away by new girlfriends.
The author throughout the novel shows the development of Watanabe's relations with two fundamentally different girls - Naoko, difficult to lift, and psychologically traumatized, and the cheerful Midori. The term “forest” probably means a complicated and complicated story full of memories, losses, and different qualities of emotions. By the way, a lot of attention is paid to the topic of suicide. For the Japanese and Europeans, it is perceived in several different ways; not everyone can agree with the author.
Listen to the song of the wind (1979, 1983)
Author of the book: Haruki Murakami
Rating: 4.7
The novel "Listen to the song of the wind" was the first in the Rat Trilogy. Murakami wrote it in 1979, then reissued with edits in 1983, this version received wide popularity.
It is difficult to determine the plot line - in the narration there are a lot of reasoning, descriptions of different stories, here the image of the main character Rat is laid out and the prerequisites for the development of action in the subsequent novels are born - the second part called “Ponbol 1973” and the third, previously mentioned book “The Hunt for Sheep”.
Why do readers like the novel Listen to the music of the wind? The author has a light syllable and simple presentation - this was one of the prerequisites for creating the book - once Murakami realized that he was able to create an “ideal” text. Someone narration will seem boring, but in general, when meeting with him you can relax well and plunge into the bliss of their own thoughts about life.
Dance, Dance, Dance (1988)
Author of the book: Haruki Murakami
Rating: 4.7
We have already mentioned the Rat Trilogy, but in the series not three, but four novels, the final one is “Dance Dance”. In the book there is a story about events that happened a few years after the action in “The Hunt for the Sheep.” In the center of the plot is a nulled man who, after the previously described maneuvers of life, is trying to find himself again in a world cluttered with the ideas of capitalism. “Dance, dance, dance” is the advice of the Sheep-man, an attempt to instill in the hero's head something that has not yet been completely erased from his subconscious. In the second half of the novel, the hero re-learns to interpret the signs of fate and analyze the events around him.
What am I talking about when I talk about running (2007)
Author of the book: Haruki Murakami
Rating: 4.6
In the center of the novel “What I’m talking about when I talk about running” is the author’s run and reasoning about him. This is a book of memories, almost a biography of Haruki Murakami, these are descriptions of real long-distance races, marathons and ultra-marathons. The writer manages to compare the run and the work of the writers, and it turns out it is masterly and unexpectedly understandable.
The book is not about a healthy lifestyle, but about preparing for competitions and overcoming different distances. Each chapter was created at different times, these are separate stories, almost unrelated in one plot. According to Murakami, the book is dedicated to the runners of the Earth of all times and peoples.
The novel is popular in many countries. It is strange that Haruki did not write it earlier, because during the next run he realized that he would end the manager’s career and become a writer.
Pinball 1973 (1980)
Author of the book: Haruki Murakami
Rating: 4.6
The second novel of the Rat Trilogy Pinball 1973 is the work of the early Haruki Murakami. In the center of the plot the main character is the Rat, who left the megalopolis. The twins who take a great interest in a paintball settle in his house, subsequently infecting the protagonist of the novel with this love.
The hero aims to find and purchase the “Rocket” (slot machine) machine that has become an antique and finds it from a collector of paintball guns.
The plot is interesting and fascinating, like all the works of the author, there are vivid descriptions of people and objects, phenomena. Murakami draws attention to the non-standard device of the world and things. For example, we know that everything has an entrance and an exit, things are arranged around, but not a mousetrap ...
South of the border, west of the sun (1992)
Author of the book: Haruki Murakami
Rating: 4.5
Ninth in the ranking of the novel "To the south of the border, to the west of the sun," reviewers call one of the most piercing among the works of Haruki Murakami.
In the center of attention, Hajime, who grew up as the only child in the family, differed from peers - it is known that in Japan families were large. He was biased and the boy felt it. Until then, in his life did not appear the same girl from the other Simamoto. It was a happy friendship, which eventually grew into youthful love. But life makes a turn, and the characters diverge, now they live in different cities and lose touch. Hajime becomes a successful entrepreneur, he has a family, life goes like clockwork. But here fate brings the hero back to the once beloved and still unforgotten Simamoto. Not surprisingly, the flames flare up with a new force, but will the heroes be able to warm themselves from this fire and save it?
The novel “To the south of the border, to the west from the sun” was written piercingly, the plot is intriguing, because the ending is simply impossible to predict. The product receives a lot of recommendations from readers and reviewers.
My favorite sputnik (1999)
Author of the book: Haruki Murakami
Rating: 4.5
The book "My favorite sputnik", according to the author, tells about unusual things that happen to normal people.
The narrative is centered around Surime - a primary school teacher is in love with her, and she draws attention to another woman, Muu, she is much older than Surime.She loves the young talent, but does not feel for her sexual desire that hurts the young writer, who, in turn, wants to completely merge with the object of his adoration.
During a trip to the Greek island with Muju, Surime disappears. K. (without a name) joins the quest, he is confronted with the world of visions and even the "split" of Mu. Surime returns, she manages to find herself.
Sputnik is a subtle metaphor that personifies a person, as if inertly flying through his life, constantly being around the object of his desire and love. In this novel, a lot of unanswered, the characters are constantly faced with dead ends feelings and try to get out of them.
Good day for kangaroo (1986)
Author of the book: Haruki Murakami
Rating: 4.5
The first in the rating collection of stories "A good day for a kangaroo" especially attracts lovers of short works suitable for reading on the road or a short weekend. In the Murakami collection, such a format is an exception, but very successful.
The book contains stories about such characters as a kangaroo-composer, in another work the author describes the story of a 100% girl, intrigued by a vampire in a taxi, the already well-known Sheep-man hero and other complete independent stories that can be traced indirectly in Haruki Murakami's novels. The Japanese writer created a collection at the dawn of his work, and yet the works included in it are as heartfelt and interesting as later novels, leaving a train of thoughts on the meaning of life and its individual aspects.
Subway (1997)
Author of the book: Haruki Murakami
Rating: 4.5
“Subway” is a documentary novel based on the tragedy in the 1995 Tokyo metro, commissioned by a terrorist group or the Aum Shinrikyo sect. The author describes the life stories of 62 eyewitnesses sarinovoy attack.
Interesting story of writing a novel. The author and his team communicated with the witnesses to the terrorist attack who responded to the request during the whole of 1996 from January to December. All interview dialogues were taped, and then structured and printed. In the final chapter, Murakami shares his own experiences, sensations and emotions with readers, tells where he was at this time, reveals the essence of the Aum Shinrikyo sect - many Japanese simply did not understand the danger of this organization.
The decoration of real events and the views of eyewitnesses will interest the reader who sympathizes with the documentary genre. "Underground" is one of the few works of Haruki Murakami, not complemented by fantasy and ambiguous speculation and assumptions.
Kafka on the beach (2002)
Author of the book: Haruki Murakami
Rating: 4.5
The ninth in a row Murakami novel "Kafka on the beach" became a world bestseller, was in the top ten novels of the world in 2005 according to the American newspaper The New York Times and was awarded the World Fantasy Prize.
The plot is built around two characters - Kafka Tamura and old Nakata. The fate of both is greatly influenced by the prophecies, representatives of the otherworldly parallel world - and yet the action takes place in the second half of the 20th century.
A 15-year-old boy runs away from home because of constant disagreements with his father, the reason is his father's prophecy, like the myth of Epide, which says: the heir will live with his mother and kill his father. The young man goes to the city of Takamatsu, takes the pseudonym Kafka. He meets Saeki-san and falls in love with her, although he considers him his mother, and he accepts Sakura as his sister.
The old man Nakata at a young age becomes a witness to the landing of an alien spacecraft, after which he discovers his paranormal abilities, but also mentally ceased to develop, became noticeably retarded compared with his peers. Now he is able to communicate with cats, which helps him to earn a living, helping him to search for four-footed on the streets of the city. The fates of the heroes intersect in an unexpected way: Nakata kills Kafka's father, but the last one after this event on his T-shirt has paternal blood. Thus, the prophecy did come true.
In the novel, reality intersects with parallel worlds, a city without time, where dead people live, the author re-opens the question of finding his way and reading signs.
Colorless Tskuru Tadzaki and the years of his travels (2013)
Author of the book: Haruki Murakami
Rating: 4.4
Tskuru Tadzaki was once a nonchalant student surrounded by friends with "colored" names. In the second year of study at the university, his closest comrades suddenly turn away from the hero, giving no explanation. Tskuru suddenly closes, becomes "colorless" and believes that he is doomed to loneliness.
It takes 16 years. Tskuru Tadzaki is a successful engineer, but through the whole novel there is a plume of distemper, nostalgia and isolation that emerged after a crucial breakup with friends. New girlfriend Sarah offers Tskuru to find these same friends and find out what happened then, in the second year of study? From this moment begins the journey of the protagonist in Nagoya, Finland. Will he find those he is looking for? Will you get answers to your questions?
After the Mass (2004-2005 g)
Author of the book: Haruki Murakami
Rating: 4.4
The penultimate in the ranking of the novel "After the Dark." The plot develops between sleep and reality, while the action of the work fits into the framework of one night. Marie, a 19-year-old student, reads a book in a cafe at night. Takahashi plays the trombone. He knows Eri - Marie's sister, who is in a coma (deep sleep). The fate of Marie comes into contact with the life of a female receptionist in a love hotel, beaten and robbed by a Chinese prostitute and a sadist in the person of a computer expert. All destinies are intertwined, some have goals, others have life by inertia.
“Post-darkness” is a visual aid about how completely different people live next to each other.
Tokyo Legends
Author of the book: Haruki Murakami
Rating: 4.4
The ranking is completed by another collection of stories by Tokyo Legends by Haruki Murakami. This is really a collection of urban Japanese legends, colorfully disclosed by the author on the pages of the book. Surfer walking along the beaches from the teeth of a shark surfer, the father of the family who disappeared between the 26th and 24th floors, an unusual stone in the form of a kidney, hunting for the names of alien monkeys.
In the work of Haruko and without that terrible legends literally come to life, make goose bumps on the skin of the reader. "Tokyo Legends" will be appreciated by lovers of mysticism.
Attention! This rating is subjective, is not advertising and does not serve as a guide to the purchase. Before buying, you should consult with a specialist.
