Why am I being directed to books and movies about heartbreak and loss? Where is the heartbreak that should precede such a read? More importantly wher Why am I being directed to books and movies about heartbreak and loss? Where is the heartbreak that should precede such a read? More importantly where is the heart-wrenching love that should precede all of that? (Is this foreshadowing?) Regardless, this is a classic Murakami. It has it all. The archetypical Murakami hero, the weird-psycho-sexual-graphic descriptions, a shot of magical realism, call-backs, metaphors and the sense of ennui and grief (?) that you're left with. It is a good book and I would have been lesser, having not read it. 10/10 would read again. ...more