Depending how adventurous you feel or willing to be exposed by his level of uniqueness, jump into any of the following stages of my recommended rank (not a full exhaustive bibliography but a comprised highlight, from most normal to weirdest): Norwegian wood; Sputnik my sweetheart; South of the border, West of the Sun; A wild sheep chase; Kafka on the shore; 1Q84; The wind-up bird Chronicle; Hard-boiled Wonderland and the end of the world 1stnand last two are my fav.
Go for it, it’s a beautiful book, just know it’s an exception in his bibliography, do not expect more like this in other titles. One of my top books ever.
I like some of his short stories, from The Elephant Vanishes and After the Quake. I think I read both Hard-boiled Wonderland and the End of the World and Kafka on the Shore but I don’t know now which I preferred. I didn’t like Norwegian Wood as much when I read it. I liked The Wind-up Bird Chronicle but it’s so long . . .
@Souradip We will have to disagree about Catcher in the Rye. Many people like it, but I find it dull and, despite trying to reread it at different periods of my life, a waste of time.
I’d also recommend Norwegian Wood. Have you read The Great Gatsby and The Catcher in the Rye？If you like them, I’m sure you’ll like Norwegian Wood too. There are some similarities among them.
I fell in love with Dance Dance Dance. Right now I’m reading After Dark. The very first story I read of his was a short story called The Second Bakery Attack and that’s where I fell in love first.
My first was the short story collectionn After the Quake after seeing an adaptation on stage. I fell in love and read every other book he’s written, including the nonfiction
I love him. The Wind up bird chronicles is a great book, but has some tough to read moments. If you want to dabble you can try his short stories After the Quake (which is fantastic) or his more recent Men Without Women. Kafka on the shore is also a good start:) Enjoy!
I would suggest 2 options: if you want to start slow and not exhaust his best works from the get-go, I’d recommend you read his short story collections and smaller novels – Blind willow, sleeping woman, The Elephant vanishes, After the Quake, After Dark, South of the border west of the sun. Then, read his best novels – Kafka on the Shore, A Wild Sheep Chase, Dance, Dance, Dance, Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World, The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, Norwegian Wood, Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage, then, 1Q84. Then, the rest of the books left from his collection, fiction and non-fiction. OR, if you want to read his best novels firts, I suggest you read them in the aforementioned order, because this is in my opinion the books in the order of their complexity – Kafka on the Shore, A Wild Sheep Chase, Dance, Dance, Dance, Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World, The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, Norwegian Wood, Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage, then, 1Q84. After the novels, then the short story collections and then the rest of the books in his collection. Happy reading! 🙂
You’re welcome! He’s one of my favourite writers and I had a phase when nothing really compared with him. Now I can see his flaws, and could still appreciate him and his works, but more selectively. 🙂 Hope you enjoy him!
Norwegian Wood
Thanks!
Sputnik Sweetheart.
my first book I read was Kafka On The Shore. I plan on reading more but haven’t gotten around to it.
And how did you find it ? I always see it in book stores but never dare to buy it .. i dont know it sounds kinda not amusing ..
I found it in a used book store ☺️
Did u like it ?
I did like it! It was a very interesting read, but I enjoyed it thoroughly
my first book from Murakami too! loved it
Depending how adventurous you feel or willing to be exposed by his level of uniqueness, jump into any of the following stages of my recommended rank (not a full exhaustive bibliography but a comprised highlight, from most normal to weirdest):
Norwegian wood; Sputnik my sweetheart; South of the border, West of the Sun; A wild sheep chase; Kafka on the shore; 1Q84; The wind-up bird Chronicle; Hard-boiled Wonderland and the end of the world
1stnand last two are my fav.
Thanks! I am beginning to think Norwegian wood would be my first.
Go for it, it’s a beautiful book, just know it’s an exception in his bibliography, do not expect more like this in other titles. One of my top books ever.
The wind up bird chronicle
I like some of his short stories, from The Elephant Vanishes and After the Quake. I think I read both Hard-boiled Wonderland and the End of the World and Kafka on the Shore but I don’t know now which I preferred. I didn’t like Norwegian Wood as much when I read it. I liked The Wind-up Bird Chronicle but it’s so long . . .
Whoa..planning to start with Norwegian wood, will see how it goes
Kafka on the shore..it’s like a Japanese spinoff to The Catcher in the Rye
Is that a good thing?
Absolutely!
@Souradip We will have to disagree about Catcher in the Rye. Many people like it, but I find it dull and, despite trying to reread it at different periods of my life, a waste of time.
Not everyone can be on the same page..too bad you didn’t like it
I’d also recommend Norwegian Wood. Have you read The Great Gatsby and The Catcher in the Rye？If you like them, I’m sure you’ll like Norwegian Wood too. There are some similarities among them.
I’d start with the short story collections.
Norwegian Wood I think….my personal fave is Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage
Mine too! I have read so many, but still not read Norwegian Wood though!
I fell in love with Dance Dance Dance. Right now I’m reading After Dark.
The very first story I read of his was a short story called The Second Bakery Attack and that’s where I fell in love first.
IQ84 & Wind Up Bird Chronicles
My two faves
My first was the short story collectionn After the Quake after seeing an adaptation on stage. I fell in love and read every other book he’s written, including the nonfiction
This might be helpful once you dig in – https://bookoblivion.com/the-best-way-to-read-haruki-murakami/
Thank you. That was interesting to read
Great insights!!
1q84 is huge, be warned lol
I love him. The Wind up bird chronicles is a great book, but has some tough to read moments. If you want to dabble you can try his short stories After the Quake (which is fantastic) or his more recent Men Without Women. Kafka on the shore is also a good start:) Enjoy!
Kafka
The strange library. It’s a very short book, but a good one to start. All that amazing weirdness. Reads a bit like Gaiman.
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle! Was my gateway Murakami and remains my favorite.
I loved The Wind-Up Bird Chronicles
After dark..
I would suggest 2 options: if you want to start slow and not exhaust his best works from the get-go, I’d recommend you read his short story collections and smaller novels – Blind willow, sleeping woman, The Elephant vanishes, After the Quake, After Dark, South of the border west of the sun. Then, read his best novels – Kafka on the Shore, A Wild Sheep Chase, Dance, Dance, Dance, Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World, The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, Norwegian Wood, Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage, then, 1Q84. Then, the rest of the books left from his collection, fiction and non-fiction. OR, if you want to read his best novels firts, I suggest you read them in the aforementioned order, because this is in my opinion the books in the order of their complexity – Kafka on the Shore, A Wild Sheep Chase, Dance, Dance, Dance, Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World, The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, Norwegian Wood, Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage, then, 1Q84. After the novels, then the short story collections and then the rest of the books in his collection. Happy reading! 🙂
This is helpful. Thanks Larisa!
You’re welcome! He’s one of my favourite writers and I had a phase when nothing really compared with him. Now I can see his flaws, and could still appreciate him and his works, but more selectively. 🙂 Hope you enjoy him!