I just finished reading a book and I have to say, I can't wait to read more from the author.

The story was engaging and the writing style was captivating. It really drew me in from the very beginning.

However, I have to admit that Norwegian Wood, which I also read recently, was not as good in my opinion.

Maybe it's just a matter of personal taste, but I found it a bit slow-paced and lacking in excitement.

Nevertheless, I'm still looking forward to seeing what else this author has in store for us.

I'm sure there will be many more great reads to come.

I'll be keeping an eye out for their next book release.

Who knows, maybe it'll be even better than the last one.

I can't wait to find out!

Reading Murakami is an experience like no other. It's as if one is falling into a waking dream, sideways.

Imagine watching the slanting orange sunlight during the waning days of autumn, with the cool blue rays on the periphery just beyond your reach. His works are a fertile field of thought, a radiant garden. The pollinating, winged creatures absorb the nectar of its flowers, and their fecundity extends the garden from the earth to the air, both visibly and ethereally.

Murakami's surreal prose invites readers into a wonderland of quirky motifs and recurring themes. The iteration of symbols such as sheep, landscape, and isolation, and the focus on the minutiae of the protagonist's life like smoking, drinking beer, listening to music, eating, and cooking, draw the reader into labyrinthine connections with the story.

The story begins with the narrator, a joint owner of a translation and advert business in Tokyo. He is an imperturbable young man who appears almost anhedonic, perhaps embracing a devotion to mediocrity, a concept explored with some regard. He clearly has a girlfriend who isn't beautiful but has a sixth sense about the future and exceptional ears that foment his carnal desires. At times, he ruminates on his failed past marriage with a gestalt acceptance.

A strange man in a black suit sends the narrator on a wild goose chase, actually a portentous wild sheep chase, to find a single and singular sheep with a star on its back. (The paperback edition has an apt picture of the titular sheep.) It's an offer the young man can't refuse, as it comes with a dire but obscure ultimatum. He accepts the challenge, liberates himself from employment, colleagues, and material matters, and leaves with his girlfriend, headed to the punishing, mountainous landscape of Hokkaido.

This is the first Murakami novel (1982) translated into English, and it's helpful to know that it's the third novel in his TRILOGY OF THE RAT. When the Rat character is introduced, the reader senses a historical connection, a pull to the past – not just the protagonist's, but the story's. In Asian culture, the rat is a vehicle of the Hindu god Ganesh, unlike the unfavorable associations in Western culture. Moreover, sheep symbolism is linked to pastoral and idyllic imagery, as well as being sacrificial animals in many religions.

Although not as fully realized as Murakami's later works like The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle and Kafka on the Shore, it shares the elastic nature of time, the cultural implications of Japanese imperialist expansion, and the encroachment of Westernization. His postmodern expression of war crimes and corruption is both artfully enigmatic and representational, fusing the corporeal with myth and fantasy. This allows the reader to experience a rarefied adventure filled with figurative images that seem initially obtuse but unfold into the heart of humanity as the narrative progresses.

The purity and beauty of the writing engage the willing reader into the thematic core of emptiness, loneliness, and alienation. Optimism? Cynicism? Pessimism? Yes, and it's up to the reader to interpret the many philosophical threads. Just lay back and let the words wend through you, and the story will inevitably penetrate the many layers of your consciousness. At the end, my mind and even my body felt like a conduit of Murakami's prose.

Many kudos to Alfred Birnbaum for his exemplary translation into English.

In most cases, when I start a novel, I expect to turn the page, to have a plot that catches my attention. However, Murakami is the exception that proves the rule. In the novels of this great Japanese writer, this aspect simply doesn't exist. The rhythm is slow and cadenced, with pages of atmospheres, flows of thoughts and sensations, rather than actions and events. They should be extremely boring books, but what makes Murakami great is that despite all this, they are not at all.

Reading a Murakami book has the same effect on me as listening to the words of a psychologist who, whispering, accompanies you to know yourself a little better, to relax, to free yourself for a moment from the superstructure. And this "Under the Sign of the Sheep" I liked very much more for its cadenced and restful rhythm, for its presenting normality as something positive anyway, for the elegant intellectual exercise of creating yet another new dream world from small seemingly insignificant details. The ring that doesn't hold by Ungaretti comes to mind.

The exercise of the art of creating worlds reaches its culmination in the art of the Japanese writer with 1Q84: I find it difficult to do better. But this "Under the Sign of the Sheep" is its natural premise (it is, of course, also of other Murakami novels such as "Dance Dance Dance", in which the beautiful character of the sheep man appears again).

It is a deeply masculine book, in its setting and in the choice of the protagonist. It is masculine in the jazz atmospheres that pervade the whole novel, in the diffuse, marginal but ineliminable desire for sex that does not leave the protagonist's mind (being able to represent the male obsession with sex without ever being vulgar is another point in its favor), in the temptation to always and anyway flatten the whole female world to charm and sexuality, in the temptation to reduce the challenges of life to simple thoughts and emotions.

It is evident that this is a novel that attracts a male reader, over thirty (obviously in the recent novels of Murakami the age rises to forty or fifty) and without a family. But it can also be liked by those who do not respond to this description, especially for the elegance of the great creator of worlds who begins to emerge precisely from here.

For Murakami enthusiasts, it is obligatory. For those who would like to read only one or two titles, in my opinion 1Q84 and "Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage" are far superior.

This is a truly strange and highly readable story filled with beautiful sentences, vivid descriptions, and interesting characters. It is an early work of Murakami. He seems to be in search of the message he wants to convey and the way to do it. Or perhaps the way to shape a story without a specific message. The theoretical explanation about the lost sheep takes up a lot of space and is absurd and contrived. This is in line with the genre of fantastic literature. However, the explanation goes on for pages, making it almost incomprehensible. Just try to get through it anyway. Take comfort in the fact that the story definitely has a beginning and an end. Beautifully incorporated are the actual Japanese themes from the 1970s. Throughout the entire book, you can read the author's unique way of looking at seemingly ordinary events.

The story has its own charm despite the somewhat convoluted explanation. It offers a glimpse into Murakami's early writing style and his exploration of different literary concepts. The use of vivid language and the creation of a unique world make it an engaging read, even if some parts may require a bit more effort to understand. Overall, it is a work that showcases Murakami's talent and creativity, and is worth reading for those interested in his early works or in the genre of fantastic literature.

I have delved into quite a number of Haruki Murakami's books.

The strange Japanese landscape he constructs has become my haven.

"A Wild Sheep Chase" is no different.

It's a small yet mysterious tale that is rich in profound ideas and philosophies.

Each character embodies that unique Murakami blend of captivating oddity and down-to-earth relatability.

Murakami doesn't always neatly tie up all the loose ends in a way that gratifies.

So, when I reached the final pages of this book with many aspects still unexplained, I wasn't overly astonished.

Nevertheless, with a fantastically bizarre final twist, Murakami brings the story to a beautiful conclusion.

I highly recommend this novel.

It truly showcases the vintage charm of Murakami's writing.

His ability to create a world that is both strange and enchanting, filled with characters that are both eccentric and familiar, is what makes his books so captivating.

"A Wild Sheep Chase" is a prime example of his talent and is definitely worth a read for any Murakami enthusiast or anyone looking for a unique and thought-provoking literary experience.

**"A Wild Sheep Chase" by Haruki Murakami: A Captivating Tale of Mystery and Adventure**

Hitsuji o Meguru Bōken = A Wild Sheep Chase (The Rat, #3), Haruki Murakami


This engaging quasi-detective story takes readers on a thrilling journey with an unnamed, chain-smoking narrator in 1978. The protagonist, a recently divorced advertisement executive, finds himself embroiled in a strange adventure when he publishes a photo of a pastoral scene sent to him by his long lost friend, 'The Rat'. Soon after, he is contacted by a mysterious man representing 'The Boss', a powerful figure behind Japan's political and economic elite who is now on the verge of death.


The Boss' secretary reveals that a strange sheep with a star-shaped birthmark, featured in the advertisement, is the secret source of the Boss' power. The narrator is given two months to find the sheep or face the ruin of his career and life. Accompanied by his girlfriend, who has magically seductive and supernaturally perceptive ears, the narrator travels to the north of Japan in search of the sheep and his vagabond friend. Along the way, he discovers that he is chasing an unknowable power that has been influencing events for decades. He encounters figures from his past, unusual characters, and those who have crossed paths with the sheep before.


The story is filled with Murakami's signature blend of the ordinary and the extraordinary, creating a world that is both familiar and strange. The vivid descriptions of the settings, from the bustling streets of Tokyo to the wild landscapes of Hokkaido, add to the atmosphere of mystery and adventure. As the narrator delves deeper into the mystery of the sheep, he also begins to question his own identity and purpose in life. "A Wild Sheep Chase" is a thought-provoking and entertaining read that will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very end.

I truly wish that when I read Murakami's A Wild Sheep Chase, I could have written about it right here. I also wish that Goodreads had existed back then. The way he presents the magical and ordinary world through the best teacher voice (which is my favorite because I'm a confused person) makes the everyday seem filled with endless possibilities. There are both sinister and good possibilities. That's the kind of thing I love the most, the ability to make such stuff interesting with easy humor. I'm really into the build-up of the little things. It's just something worth living and writing about, the mental connections and wavelengths. I was really into the off-kilter, off-the-map stuff, not as (sur)reality, but as a new voice in my head. It's not hard to relate to being confused about the future. Murakami has created some of my favorite narrators. They are the kinds of guys who remind me of best friends (or friends I would have if I ever met people like that). Like that line from one of his books [probably Norwegian Wood, no, it was Sputnik Sweetheart! My memory always corrects my Goodreads reviews at the most inconvenient times (like when I'm trying to sleep)]. About having a friend you could call up at three in the morning and talk about anything.

I can't remember everything I thought about A Wild Sheep Chase (it must be time for a reread), but I do remember very well that elusive feeling of things almost making sense and being restless because I couldn't feel like that all the time. There's just something about Haruki Murakami that makes me want to just go somewhere. Those are the strong feelings in my memory, and that's why I'd not hesitate to name A Wild Sheep Chase as one of my favorite books. It made me feel something outside of the book, a longing for something more.

The sequel Dance, Dance, Dance wasn't as good for me as A Wild Sheep Chase. What I felt I was almost getting was nowhere to be found (I'll have to review this one sometime because I had a lot of nagging thoughts about the so-called fantasy life of prostitutes. Murakami's later work After Dark is not so short-sighted). The prequel Hear the Wind Sing I had to buy from eBay in the early 2000s. I felt a most keen longing for something more than just being moved. I really wanted to go somewhere, I recall. Curse my fleeting memory and confused inner voice.

My twin and I sent our brother a postcard of a sheep with a drawn-on black star on its butt. He devoured every Murakami he could get his hands on. It's too bad I can't send Goodreads users sheep postcards.

The Japanese title of the book, "Wild Sheep Chase," literally means "Incident Related to a Sheep." So, "Wild" is an adjective modifying "Sheep," and the Persian title of the book should be "The Thrilling Chase of the Sheep." Unfortunately, the translator of the book, Mehdi Gabraei, has mistakenly translated it as "The Chase of the Wild Sheep" in the Persian-speaking world. A more appropriate Persian title for the book could be "The Thrilling Chase of the Ewe."

I read the book in English. But since I had bought the translated version several years ago and had it in my library, sometimes I would flip through the pages. And when I realized that the translator had wrongly translated "limo" (short for limousine) as "limbo" in one of the chapters, I kissed "The Chase of the Wild Sheep" goodbye and put it aside. The translated version of the book is also censored as usual. However, I still believe that Gabraei is the most acceptable translator of Murakami's works in Iran.

Many people consider "The Thrilling Chase of the Sheep" as the starting point of Murakami's works. It's true that Murakami had written two books before this novel (which are technically called "novellas" or "novellas" and are a bit longer than a short story), and the character of Rat, like in the two previous books, is also present in this book (and this has led to the three initial books of Murakami being called the "Rat Trilogy" technically). But this is the first "novel" and is said to be the first work in the style of magical realism by this author.

Most of the events in the novel take place in the northernmost island of Japan (Hokkaido), and the story starts from a point where a picture of sheep grazing in the pastures of Hokkaido is printed in an advertisement, and the narrator of the story, who designed this advertisement, has to answer a group of strange people for certain reasons.

I like Murakami's writing style. The rhythm of the story flows smoothly, and there are beautiful descriptions here and there in the text. For example, in chapter 30, Murakami gives a very beautiful description of the hills around a town:

Directly beyond the streets the two ranges of hills on either side of the town seemed to meet, neatly enfolding the town like two cupped hands protecting a match flame from the wind.

Interestingly, the first character remains "nameless" throughout the story. And since the story is narrated in the first person, unconsciously, a lot of intimacy and similarity in thinking is formed between the reader and the first character.

There is no need to read the first two books of the Rat Trilogy before reading this book, and the story can stand on its own without any need for any background. The new adventures of the narrator of the story and his girlfriend in Murakami's sixth novel, called "Dance, Dance, Dance," are followed, and I'm eager to read it as soon as possible.

I recommend reading this novel both to those who love Murakami's works and to those who want to pick up a book by Murakami for the first time. Although in my opinion, "Kafka on the Shore" is a better starting point for studying Murakami's works.

I have an absolute passion for Murakami, and I'm nearly done reading his entire body of work. He once said that one of the reasons he loves writing short stories is that a novel might often emerge from one. "A Wild Sheep Chase" is a full-length novel and my favorite in The Rat trilogy. Just recently, I listened to "Killing Commendatore" on Audible (I had read the book when it was first released), and I realized how the topics explored in "A Wild Sheep Chase" were fully developed in "Killing Commendatore".

First and foremost, if you're not a fan of magical realism, Murakami might not be to your taste. However, I'm a huge enthusiast of magical realism, and in my view, Murakami is one of the best in this genre. He delves into many of the same themes in his books, and they share similar elements. You can expect to find the usual suspects like a cat, cooking, books, and LPs (records). I have a great love for reading about these things, and I really enjoyed their presence in this book.

There are several similarities between "Killing Commendatore" and "A Wild Sheep Chase". The main character in both (a man) is "stuck" in a current situation (a twenty-something trying to figure out life after a divorce). Both travel or wander across Japan and end up in very remote locations. They both have new girlfriends who have an impact on and drive the story. You also get a bit of military history (which I enjoy), and the characters' experiences during the war have had a profound and lasting effect on them. He explores dreams, time, and reality. Best of all, both main characters encounter an "otherworldly" character that is truly memorable.

If you're interested in these topics, magical realism, Japanese literature, or simply want to see what Murakami is all about, this is a great starting point. "A Wild Sheep Chase" is an excellent book to experience the beginning of Murakami's magic.

Murakami's Ambiguous and Intriguing Style

In A Wild Sheep Chase, Murakami, as in his other works, emphasizes an ambiguous perspective towards reality. He deliberately refrains from answering readers' questions, compelling them to interpret the meanings on their own. This style, known as non-solution, creates a mysterious milieu in the novel, making it a truly postmodern detective story. It can be said that the story mirrors Jazz, where one should not strive to understand it intellectually but rather "listen" and "relish" the moment.

The story, along with the nameless character, reflects the pedestrian life he is trapped in. The main part of the story, or the "quest," begins when a strange man approaches the protagonist and asks him to find a certain sheep (with a mark on its fleece) before he dies, thus commencing the "wild sheep chase" as the title implies. During the journey, they encounter other characters who have had an encounter with the sheep, describing their experience as something of a spiritual nature.

The first time I read this novel, I thought that perhaps the sheep is the manifestation of power, as in Nietzsche's philosophy, and that this power is indeed pursued by others, as seen in the novel. However, after further deliberation, I believe there are no "specific" meanings and metaphors behind Murakami's story. The non-solution style allows for an infinite number of interpretations and metaphors. As an avid reader and writer, I know that when there are too many symbols, there are actually none. This may not be a popular answer for those who try to extract meanings from every single line of a novel, but considering how Murakami writes his novels - the fact that he concocts them as he goes - this answer seems quite sensible.

No era lo que me esperaba.

I was expecting a man talking with a sheep in a wise manner or something like that

My first encounter with Murakami's work was truly a remarkable experience.

I remember picking up one of his novels with a sense of anticipation and curiosity. As I delved into the pages, I was immediately drawn into his unique and enchanting world.

The way he weaves his stories, with their dreamlike quality and unexpected twists, kept me hooked from start to finish. His writing style is both poetic and engaging, making it a pleasure to read.

I found myself completely immersed in the characters and their emotions, sharing in their joys and sorrows. Murakami has a talent for creating complex and relatable characters that stay with you long after you've finished the book.

Overall, my first Murakami was a wonderful read, and I can't wait to explore more of his works. I highly recommend him to anyone who loves good literature and is looking for a unique and unforgettable reading experience.