A Wild Sheep Chase is the fourth Murakami book I have read.

Just like all his other works, this one also appears to be a beautiful story. However, as you progress through the book, the words seem to take on deeper meanings.

It is actually a tale of an individual's own wild pursuit of human existence, which is symbolized by a sheep.

The book is multi-layered with human emotions and a surreal quest embedded within the framework of mythology and magical realism. It is bound to transport the reader far away from their living world.

What I appreciate the most is the author's simple writing style that associates a character with darkness, silence, winds, mountains, and snow. The wonderful description of the natural landscape left me completely overwhelmed.

Like all the other works of Murakami that I have read so far, every reader has a different perspective.

Definitely a book that I would highly recommend!

I read this book either in 2007 or 2008. Surprisingly, I was able to finish the entire book without having my eyes roll so hard that I could potentially see my own brain. The plot had a certain momentum that briskly carried me from one event to the next. However, the characters were disappointingly flat and obnoxious, just as they usually are in such works.

I have made up my mind that I will never voluntarily pick up a Murakami book again. But if you are someone who is looking for a starting point among his works, I would suggest giving this one a try. It is not at all necessary to have read the other books in this loosely defined series. Although, it is always a possibility that by not having read them, I might have missed out on some truly marvelous enhancements to my entertainment experience.

Nevertheless, I really have my doubts about that. After all, based on my experience with this particular book, I'm not overly optimistic about what the other books in the series might have to offer.

Murakami really confused me with this book. I never thought I would say that about Murakami, but this time I wasn't impressed. The story was quite chaotic. There was no specific focus and it mainly revolved around sex, food, and a series of unrelated restlessness. Clearly, Murakami's cult towards ears is distinct

This is the first of his works that I have read.

A highly acclaimed author, Murakami's books have been widely praised. However, I did not find this novel to be anything special.

The story seems disjointed, and I failed to appreciate his style of storytelling. In some parts, the plot is indeed engrossing, but I soon lost interest because there is no logical connection.

It is an average read, and I also found it to be rather depressing.

Perhaps I need to read more of his works to truly understand and appreciate his writing style.

But for now, this particular novel did not leave a lasting impression on me.

It makes me wonder if my expectations were too high or if this is just not the right book for me at this time.

Nonetheless, I will not give up on Murakami and will continue to explore his other works in the hope of finding that one that will truly resonate with me.

Ocena 3.5/5.⭐️

I don't know if my complete lack of hope in my reading slump had an impact on the experience of this novel, but it was strange for me to return to this one from the eighties after the mature Murakami. On the other hand, it's wonderful to compare how much he has evolved as a writer over the years and built a certain cult following from his initial motifs.

\\n  Hunting the Wild Sheep\\n is a novel that bears the recognizable Murakami stamp - a melancholic atmosphere, strange intrigues, and a protagonist who observes more than he actually participates. It starts promisingly, but as the story meanders, the feeling of wandering becomes dominant. The narrative knows how to develop but loses focus.

The sheep as a metaphor functions on multiple levels, but the reader is not given much support for interpretation. Murakami balances between the real and the surreal, but this time the balance is not ideal - you have the impression that you are on the verge of something deep, but you never quite fall in, as if it suggests meaning more than it actually provides.

I must admit that Murakami's humor in this novel pleasantly surprised me, although it was also bizarre in a few places. Some images will surely remain etched, but all in all, it's an average novel that drags a bit towards the end.

Gli esseri umani hanno bisogno di un equilibrio a metà tra i propri desideri e il proprio orgoglio.

This is a fundamental truth that often gets overlooked in the hustle and bustle of life.

C'è un gatto (gatto gatto gatto gatto) che si chiama Sardina, poi c'è il Sorcio, poi c'è LA pecora

Bleah!!!

This is such an interesting and unique expression. It can convey a sense of disgust, dissatisfaction, or simply a lighthearted exclamation.

For example, when you taste something really bad, you might say "Bleah!!!" Or if you see something unappealing, this word can come to your mind.

It's a short and simple way to express your immediate reaction.

Sometimes, we use it playfully among friends to share our feelings about something.

It adds a touch of informality and fun to our conversations.

Whether it's used seriously or jokingly, "Bleah!!!" is a word that can quickly get our point across and make others understand our sentiment.

So, the next time you have a strong reaction, don't be afraid to let out a "Bleah!!!" and let the world know how you feel.

What on earth did I just waste a week of my precious life reading?

Why couldn't I put it down? Why was I so strangely enthralled? What might have been lost in translation? I truly felt as if I was trapped in a dream from which I couldn't wake up. I have never before so willingly subjected myself to such crazy stuff. There was something that kept pulling me to read on, perhaps it was the philosophy and the mood/environment descriptions that seemed to take on a life of their own. But that's precisely where the praise ends. It stops abruptly and completely.

I could never recommend this book to anyone, at any time. It was just "okay", a solid two stars. I gave it an extra 1/2 star solely for its ridiculously original mash-up of reality and bat-sh*t crazy fantasy.

Read it if you enjoy racking your brain with subtle hints, Japanese history, liquor, cigarettes, nonsensical dialogue, and lazy, unmotivated protagonists who rarely show rage, confusion, or doubt despite the irrational and insane things happening in the world around them.

No amount, and I mean absolutely no amount, of spirituality or literary beauty can salvage this one. It was barely enjoyable to read and was frustrating as all hell. How this book could be given a rating above 3.5 baffles me, and all those 5-star reviewers must be literary elitists who want to be part of some sort of "I get it" club. Just because I don't appreciate this crazy stuff doesn't mean I'm uncultured or incapable of higher thought. No matter what language this novel is in, and no matter who tries to describe their opinions and interpretations to me, I will never change my star rating for this book. It's a book that depends entirely on the reader's interpretations. Only certain things are "fact" in this brain-pounding novel, and aside from the ideas of reinventing oneself, people can come up with any reasonings and answers for this creative writing experiment and support whatever arguments they desire. You can be right, you can't be wrong. You can only be mind-f*cked.

You simply can't compare the two, but Norwegian Wood by Murakami outshines "A Wild Sheep Chase" in terms of literary quality, thematic depth, and emotional satisfaction. I need a brandy like the Sheep Man.

F*ck this book.

Nothing is straightforward when it comes to Murakami. To truly relish his books, one must be in the right frame of mind.

At times, you find a deep resonance within yourself as you read his works. His words seem to touch the very core of your being, and you feel an immediate connection.

However, there are also occasions when his constant oscillation between fiction and reality can become wearisome. You start to question where the line truly lies and whether you can keep up with his ever-shifting landscapes.

Moreover, there is this strange sensation that you are perpetually waiting for something significant or at least out of the ordinary to occur. You hold your breath, anticipation building, only to find that more often than not, it doesn't materialize. This can leave you with a sense of disappointment or even a lingering feeling of incompleteness.

But perhaps that is the allure of Murakami. His books are not meant to be easily digestible or neatly tied up with a bow. They are a journey, a exploration of the human psyche, and a challenge to our perception of the world around us.

A Wild Sheep Chase was the third book that I have read by Murakami. I discovered after finishing it that it is the third book in "The Trilogy of the Rat". The first two books in this series are now out of print. However, after reading A Wild Sheep Chase, I am determined to track down some used copies of the novels and experience the trilogy in its entirety.

I perceive the novel as more of a story about an emotional journey rather than a physical one. There was indeed an actual journey as the main character embarked on a search for the mythical sheep, but the true essence of the book lies in the character's emotions. Murakami didn't even assign a name to the protagonist (or many of the other characters in the novel). The main character could represent any one of us.

I believe that the mythical sheep can be regarded as either "the meaning of life", which might sound cliched but bear with me, or "what occurs when we lose sight of the true meaning of life".

Our main character (let's call him Max for the sake of discussion) finds himself at the end of his marriage. His wife has left him for a friend of his, and he can't fathom what that guy has that he doesn't, considering the friend doesn't have much money and plays the guitar too often.

The girlfriend that "Max" gets involved with after the breakup of his marriage is a talented and quirky girl who complements his own idiosyncrasies well. Yet, throughout the relationship, he is fixated on her ears, a part of her, rather than the whole of her. She, on the other hand, has shown herself to be quite dedicated to him, even supporting and joining him on his quest for the sheep.

These examples, along with his long-standing friendship with his business partner and the company they ran together, all combined to form a meaning to his life that "Max" was unable to recognize or embrace. He was on his own sheep chase, seeking meaning that he already possessed. When he finally caught up with The Rat and had their final conversation on the mountain, he realized, to a certain extent, what he had been doing wrong. The Rat had abandoned everything he knew, including a woman who loved him, in search of new environments and adventures in the hope of finding new meaning in life. What he ended up doing was sacrificing the people and life that cared about him, that gave his existence meaning, and was overcome by the mythical sheep. The encounter and habitation with the sheep revealed to The Rat that he had squandered his true meaning and life and was now left with an empty existence, when he should have appreciated and found meaning in the path he was originally given. The consequences for The Rat were thus disastrous. "Max", realizing this, leaves the mountainside without a girlfriend, no business, no business partner, and no wife, but with the realization that it is not too late to find meaning in his life.

As a side story, the Sheep Professor serves as a microcosm of the larger plot. Having everything he needed in a profession he loved and a family who cared for him, he gave it all up and pursued "the sheep". He had the sheep as a part of him for a period of time, only to lose even that. In the end, he was left with nothing except a son who wished that his father had cared more about him.

I adored the way that "Max's" emotions were depicted throughout the novel and how, through "Max", we can observe the consequences of not appreciating what we have, as well as the overall process of what it is like to develop emotionally and truly understand what is important to us, what fulfills us, and what we need to do to maintain those things in our lives.

“I don't really know if it's the right thing to do, making new life. Kids grow up, generations take their place. What does it all come to? More hills bulldozed and more ocean fronts filled in? Faster cars and more cats run over? Who needs it?”

This is the first book Murakami wrote as a full-time novelist, and his third overall. The third book in the Rat Trilogy, the story is truly captivating. It revolves around a strange mystery that surrounds an enigmatic sheep in Hokkaido. The narrator finds himself embarking on an adventure, one where he is in search of something that he can't quite grasp properly. Here, Murakami masterfully touches up on various themes. He delves into right-wing politics in Japan, adding a layer of depth and social commentary. Additionally, there is an interesting exploration of the ear fetish, which adds a unique and somewhat peculiar element to the story.

Take a dip into this fast-paced mystery with a strange surrealistic undertone. As we smoke Seven Stars and enjoy the dull, cold weather of Sapporo, we join the narrator in his search for a long-lost friend. It's a journey that will keep you on the edge of your seat, filled with twists and turns, and a sense of the unknown that only Murakami can create.

“It is a special sheep. A v-e-r-y special sheep. I want to find it, and for that I will need your help.”

Well, this was one crazy ride about sheep. Who is the sheep? What is the sheep? Where is the sheep?

The sheep that wants to change the world! Insert "baaaaaa" noises. A postcard showing lush green fields and grazing sheep lands on the work desk of our unnamed protagonist. He works in a small translation office, just him and his buddy. Life is good, they're their own bosses, and cash is flowing at just the right amount. But then this postcard arrives, and with it, trouble. If you look very closely at the sheep, one of them is anything but ordinary. The race is now on to find this very special sheep, with the clock ticking until our man loses it all.

“Maybe my eyes were playing tricks again. Or maybe somebody did actually spill coffee on that sheep’s back. ‘There’s this faint stain on its back.’ ‘That is no stain.’ said the man. That is a star-shaped birthmark.”

With the help of his new girlfriend who has exquisite ears, he sells his portion of the business to his friend and takes off on an adventure to the other side of Japan to find the sheep who is the key to it all.

Our friend Rat (who was in Murakami’s first two novels Hear The Wind Sing and Pinball) appears here, but only on the periphery. Since he last walked out of J’s Bar in the early novels, he’s been travelling around Japan. Both to lose himself and find himself. He only keeps in touch with our unnamed protagonist via the odd ambiguous letter, with no return address. The postmarks show the trajectory of his travels. The Sheep is very much a part of his journey.

It was nice to see J from J’s Bar make an appearance here too. While time does not stand still, J remains unchanged. Still very much the same calm, Zen-like manner. New bar, new view, but still J’s Bar.

It’s interesting in that so much of this story reminded me of David Mitchell’s Ghostwritten in that there is a thread here that deals with the transference of a living entity entering the body of another in order to survive. Which is where the all-powerful-sheep comes into play. The other curious coincidence is that The Sheep has a star shaped mark on its back, which harks back to the comet shaped birthmark that appears on the skin of so many characters across many of Mitchell’s novels.

“The sheep that enters a body is thought to be immortal. And so too the person who hosts the sheep is thought to become immortal. However, should the sheep decide to escape, immortality goes. It’s all up to the sheep. People who are abandoned by the sheep are called the ‘sheepless’.”

Hmmmmmmmm…no wonder everyone is looking for The Sheep. The Sheep Professor and a manic-depressive living wild in the mountains wearing a sheep onesie are eccentric and intriguing to say the least. It’s an odd book with a high quirk factor.

What does any of it mean? Only Murakami knows. If you like your adventures ovine, and have a bit of a soft spot for our woolly friends, this is the book for you. 3.5 quirky stars.

“We habitually cut out pieces of time to fit us, so we tend to fool ourselves into thinking that time is our size, but it really goes on and on.”