There is a man who raises a cat. He has no relatives, quits his job, and even abandons his wife (or is abandoned by his wife). He just leaves the ordinary and peaceful life behind, without fighting, being jealous, stripping clothes, or taking each other to court to divide billions. Then he spontaneously embarks on a journey of adventure. Oh, the world! He encounters those crazy people with the sixth, seventh, and Sunday senses. After the adventure, has he found anything? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Sometimes, it's like looking at a body of water.

In Vietnam, I haven't seen the newspapers or media talk about anyone going to find the constellation-shaped lamb on the back of the mountain, going to find the nine-tusked elephant, the nine-comb chicken, or the nine-red-haired horse. But generally speaking, those three things are like "the strongest team of the Thai Lan team." Everyone has heard of them, but no one has ever seen them. In the end, it's still just a legend.

An interesting read, this book earns three and a half stars for the beauty of its language. While I can't claim to "really like it" in the sense that I will re-read it one day, I do appreciate the richness of the ideas and language it offers. Normally, I tend to devour a book in two or three sittings, but this one worked well when read three or four chapters a night, broken into small, choice pieces.

Although there is a mystery that drives the plot, I would hesitate to say that is the focus of the book. So, I didn't feel like I lost tension or details. Murakami seems to work best for me when I savor it in little bites, with the opportunity to linger over the phrasing, rather than reading for plot or conflict resolution. I also couldn't escape the nagging feeling that I was missing considerable subtext, as I know almost nothing about Japanese history or even culture. It has very Vonnegut or Kafka overtones, where there is potentially digressive philosophical musing, and whose impact is strengthened by the underlying meaning.

I enjoyed the book and didn't even feel that it was particularly unrealistic, as other reviewers have charged. I know those kinds of people who get into existential discussions with taxi drivers, if not chauffeurs. One of the only aspects that bothered me was the emotional depression of the narrator. While I'm sure it was intentional, it made it hard to sustain interest in him as a character study. I suppose that could have been the point - just another nameless, disenfranchised person passing out of his twenties and distanced from everything of meaning in life.

Nonetheless, Murakami and the translator achieved really wonderous feats with their word choices and have a knack for gestalt description, for crafting line upon line that builds a priceless whole. It's given me the courage to attack my long-unread copy of The Wind-up Bird Chronicles.

Favorite lines:

At the pinnacle of this tower was affixed a decorative lightning rod. A mistake. Lightning was meant to strike the building and burn it down.

The sofa was an unappealing orange, the sort of orange you'd get by leaving a choicely sunburnt (sic) weaving out in the rain for a week, then throwing it into the cellar until it mildewed. This was an orange from the early days of Technicolor.

"Haven't those ears of yours gotten the message yet?"

"No message for the time being," she said, eating her simmered fish and miso soup. "That much I know. I only get despairing messages when I'm confused or feeling some mental pinch. But that's not the case now."

The children were quiet too. They sat still and stared out the window. Occasionally, someone coughed with a dry rasp that sounded like a mummy tapped on the head with a pair of tongs.

Dare I say it…

Not one of Haruki Murakami's best work, although his almost hypnotic poetic writing style still reigns supreme.

Simply put, it's literally a wild sheep chase down the road of magical realism.

Starting as a detective story, it then morphs through a dark comedy and finally into a supernatural tale.

Only Murakami would even think of such a unique and convoluted narrative!

And here's a final point. Before adding this review to Goodreads, I had no inkling that it was the third book in a series.

In my opinion, it deserves a score of 4 out of 12.

Murakami's books are truly a challenge for me to review or write about.

Before sitting down to pen this piece, I retraced my steps and looked back at the reviews I had written for the other works of his that I had read. To my dismay, they were of no use whatsoever. Two of the reviews were incredibly brief, almost just a passing mention. And for the other book, it seems I simply left a star rating and then promptly moved on with my life.

So, I suppose I'll begin by stating that Murakami has firmly established himself on my list of favorite authors. His writing style is not only smooth but also highly idiosyncratic. The subject matter he delves into is an astonishing blend of the ordinary and the otherworldly. It never fails to both impress and mystify me. I am constantly left scratching my head, wondering how he manages to achieve all these effects. And, more significantly, as I am engrossed in reading, I simply don't bother to question it. I have no clue how he can make scenes as mundane as getting dressed or preparing dinner utterly fascinating. I don't understand how he compels me to care deeply about his eccentric characters and their absurd, obtuse conversations. I can't fathom how he keeps my interest piqued in a story about people being possessed by a sheep.

But somehow, he does it all. And perhaps that's the most crucial thing.

I don't think I will ever think about sheep in the same way again.

Note: None of the characters in this novel have names; they are mutable, disposable, and fleeting—both to readers and to each other.

Anyone of them could be you.

"A Wild Sheep Chase" is a story that delves into various profound themes such as the search for purpose, the tendency to take good things for granted, not living up to one's potential, and the perils of power.

And yes, there are sheep. Lots and lots of sheep. And ears.

Defining the genre or even summarizing the plot is no easy task. So much occurs in this novel, yet it unfolds at a leisurely pace.

Essentially, our unnamed narrator gets divorced, acquires a new girlfriend with powerful ears, and accidentally stumbles into an otherworldly sheep enterprise. Through no intention of his own, he is thrust into a quest to find a sheep that shouldn't exist, one with a star on its back. This sheep has the ability to enter people and exists like a mutually beneficial parasite. It uses its human host to gain power in the human world, and the human benefits from this power. But when it is done with its host, it leaves them in a state of frustrated impotence.

This serves as a great metaphor for the allure and danger of power, as well as the loss of identity that can occur when power or purpose is lost.

You could classify this as a detective novel, a coming-of-age novel from the perspective of a man past his prime, a mystery, or even a philosophical examination of post-war Japan's generation and psyche. You can also definitely label it as magical realism.

I've now read Murakami's first three works. Among "Hear The Wind Sing," "Pinball, 1973," and "A Wild Sheep Chase," the latter is the best. None of these books are flawless. But with "A Wild Sheep Chase," Murakami gets closer to the writing that I absolutely adored in "The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle" and "After Dark."

Thematically, Murakami remains preoccupied with identity: both the identity we present to others and the inner, more隐秘的 identity. He also continues to ponder over meaning and finding purpose in life. Murakami writes about urban ennui like no one else I've ever read before.

The novel commences with a funeral. It is bleak and seems out of place, not appearing to fit with the rest of the novel. But when you consider how Murakami is questioning life and its meaning, it ultimately makes sense to begin with the loss of someone else's life. Throughout the novel, Murakami makes readers pose questions like: Does anything matter? Does what I am doing matter? Does life have meaning? Does this journey have a purpose?

The narrator wonders the same as he delves deeper into the quest he has been compelled to undertake. His physical journey starts to mirror his mental one.

My main gripe with this novel is that the first half pales in comparison to the second. The second half is a different beast altogether, and it is so excellent that if the entire novel were like the second half, it would easily earn a five-star rating from me. The ending is近乎 perfect. Everything from the Dolphin Hotel onwards, but especially once they reach Hokkaido. I feel that if the first 168 pages were condensed to 100, or even 75, the novel would read much more succinctly. But this is early Murakami we're discussing. Nothing is concise; everything is open to interpretation, with endless layers of meaning, or perhaps even no meaning at all.

I read an article that described this novel as labyrinthine, and I'm inclined to concur. There are so many different ways to interpret it, so many different ways to read it. For my part, I tended to read it through the lens of identity and personal purpose. This interpretation worked for me, but maybe it won't for you. That's the beauty of Murakami's crazy, labyrinthine writing.

"The song is over. But the melody lingers on."

Haruki Murakami's style is so unique that it is simply mind-boggling.

And here he doesn't betray himself, creating an atmosphere of mystery for us. Yes, this is not a novel of the caliber of "1Q84" or "Kafka on the Shore", but the feeling is the same. With Murakami, I always feel as if I am in a café with a friend, at home.

From your encounter with him, you may not remember what you talked about, but you remember the pleasant feeling of being with a kindred spirit. 3.5 stars.

A classic work by Murakami, it is strange and full of whimsy. It is truly worth reading, yet perhaps it may not serve as the most ideal introduction into the author's extensive oeuvre. Murakami's writing style is distinct and captivating. His stories often take readers on a journey through a world that is both familiar and yet completely unexpected. The strange elements and the flights of fancy add an extra layer of intrigue and mystery to his works. While this particular piece may not be the best starting point for those new to his writing, it still offers a unique and engaging reading experience. It allows readers to get a sense of Murakami's creative genius and his ability to craft stories that are both thought-provoking and entertaining.

However, aside from Morakami, can Jidi really write such a wonderful story about finding a sheep? :))))

Update: I'm watching the TV series Twin Peaks and there are some interesting and detailed similarities between the series and this book, especially in the second season. If you liked this book, be sure to watch the series ^____^

Expanded:

However, when it comes to writing a story about finding a sheep as wonderfully as this, aside from Morakami, can Jidi really do it? :)))) It makes one wonder if Jidi has the same level of creativity and storytelling ability to craft such an engaging narrative.

Update: I'm currently engrossed in watching the TV series Twin Peaks. Interestingly, there are some remarkable and fascinating similarities between the series and this book, particularly in the second season. The details and the unique atmosphere in both seem to have some kind of connection. If you were a fan of this book and loved its mysterious and captivating nature, then you must definitely check out the series ^____^. It might offer you a new perspective and an equally enjoyable experience.

People who read Murakami's works can probably be divided into two types. The first type is those who put aside the book before even finishing the first chapter. The second type is those who read until the end.

People of the first type are very enviable because they can withdraw in time before anything gets too late to fix. Moreover, they still have time to read other good books. As for people of the second type, they will be fascinated by what happens. They will be immersed in the atmosphere. Every word on the page, every feeling will make these people go deep down and not be able to withdraw, which is also enviable.

But there will be some strange ones, which are classified as a small third type. They will read until the end as well, but it is very strange that these people will hate the book they have read and even curse and swear at it. But what is even stranger is that they will almost read every volume of Murakami's works. These are the most pitiful ones.

Murakami is undoubtedly one of the greatest poets of the modern world. The best of his novels suffuse the every-day with the fantastical, zany and yet accessible. Few writers are able to captivate the reader like Murakami.

The unnamed narrator is the kind of diffident and disaffected anti-hero who appears so often in Murakami’s novels. He perambulates mechanically through modern life until something extraordinary shocks him out of his perpetual somnabulation. In this case, the narrator receives three jolts. Firstly, he meets a woman with perfect ears. Secondly, he becomes entangled in the wondrous web of a sinister anonymous organisation who have zeroed in on him due to the publication of a seemingly innocuous picture of sheep in one of his adverts. Thirdly, is the indirect return of his friend, ‘the Rat’, perhaps the only other character whose sense of diffidence can match the narrator’s.

What follows is a weird and wonderful journey. It is an exploration of right-wing politics, the history of Japanese sheep, demonic possession, bovine academia, jazz music, ear-erotica, the novels of Yukio Mishima, god and discourses on office politics. It is hard to describe the plot without spoiling it, and as usual Murakami gives no definite answers. But it essentially revolves around the sinister machinations of a mysterious sheep.

Beneath the zaniness of the plot is the real sense of humanism which is embedded in Murakami’s works. The Ainu youth, who guides the penniless villagers to an isolated spot where they are able to create a new life for themselves, ends up embittered. This is in some ways symbolic of the mis-treatment of the Ainu by the Japanese or even of the decline of the town itself. As much as Murakami is seen as the poet of modernity, his novels are as much about the discombobulating effect of modernity. So whilst no writer captures the quotidian joys of modern life like Murakami, no writer quite captures the sense of alienation it engenders as well.

Murakami is often dismissed as being light-weight and irreverent. Yet, there is a deep sense of philosophy and profoundness which under-pins his works. His novels are not just entertaining but also thought-provoking, making the reader question the nature of reality, identity and the human condition.

The first long story of Murakami, Haruki.

As a fan of Murakami, I had to read this book, but it definitely didn't have the ripeness and appeal of his other books. However, I loved the world I had escaped into!

This book is truly incredibly imaginative. It features vibrant and colourful characters that I thoroughly enjoyed.

However, I have this feeling that Haruki Murakami added numerous layers of meaning to this work. If that's the case, then they manage to elude me completely.

If there indeed is an underlying meaning to this book, I'm at a loss to tell you what on earth it could be. Or perhaps, just perhaps, there is no such underlying meaning at all. Maybe it's simply a magical story, and my brain constantly desires there to be something more profound.

For the most part, "A Wild Sheep Chase" is an enjoyable story. In fact, I'll probably go back and read the first book in the series.

However, there were certain parts that really dragged on, which prevented me from awarding this book a full 5 stars.