I must be the only person in the world who doesn't like Murakami's books. I'm not drawn to the style, the stories, or anything else. I realize that the style may be attributable to the translator, but I just can't get into any of it.

@1 you are not the only one, I've tried, and I just can't get into them, I find the rhythm of the text jarring

It's still gotta be Wind-Up Bird. I wish that someone had been monitoring my Murakami intake and convinced me not to read that and Kafka first. I hate starting with a writer's best novels and then wishing that all the others were as good. (Though I like his B-reel novels, too.)

I would love if the first two books were put out in English. I have Pinball 1973 in Thai, but my Thai is too rusty to make it much fun.

Kafka on the Shore! SOOOO DAMN GOOD

I've read most of his novels, and I like them fine, but I never placed him on my personal list of "favorite writers." It's always surprised me that he is as popular as he is. The only one of his books that I would call arguably great is "Wind Up Bird Chronicle," though I think Hard Boiled Wonderland and Kafka also have some staying power. Admittedly I haven't read any of the last three on this list, so maybe I'm missing something wonderful?

@7. The new one is quite a bit shorter than 1Q84, if that's any encouragement. It clocks in under 400.

It is Wind Up Bird ,isn't it.

I felt like if I clicked that choice I'd be doing what everyone else had done. Like I should really acknowledge that a deeper cut is the best (even if I'm the only one smart enough to know it...you know,k the "I liked their first album better" syndrome.)

But really it seems clear. Any strong disagrements ? Someone wanna send me back to school on this one?

A more important question: who is holding the mask in this picture?

Wind Up Bird, but HBWATEOTW, Kafka, and even the Sheep Chase duo are all runners up.

I found both After Dark and 10Q84 tremendously unsatisfying.

Seconding the love for his playlists... I'd also like to add love for the foodstuffs. I'd buy a Murakami cookbook!

@4

I sort of suspect that Murakami is one of those authors where for a lot of readers, the first book they read is the one they like the most. I'd put Tom Robbins in this bin, too.

@1, @2, You are not alone. Sigh. I've tried. But just, no.

Oh yeah, pretty sure that would be Wind Up Bird.

Windup, but Hard Boiled is a *very* close second for me (possibly because it was the first one I read.)

I hated Kafka on the Shore with a passion. So disappointed. Lots of friends talked this book up but I found it gross and disturbing (you know what I'm talking about) without any brilliant prose to redeem itself.

1Q84 bored me out of my mind. Finished half of it then put it down for good.

One of the most beloved authors? Or one of the most over-rated?

I've read them all, but Wild Sheep Chase always sticks out for me. Maybe just because it was the first one I read...

Came here for the mutual "Am I the only one who can't stand Murakami?" support. Thanks everyone! I no longer feel alone!

(Seriously, I thought I was alone.) I read 2 of his books and tried a third. Hate, hate, hate. So deeply puzzled by his popularity, esp. by smart people I respect and like.

@11, I agree about After Dark. It was the first of his that I read and I felt simply hmmmm.

I find I can't read fiction anymore that is NOT written by Murakami. Especially modern American fiction as it's SO overwritten, tries SO hard, and the writing is so frantic and busy, like a Jonathan Franzen or David Foster Wallace. Exhausting. Murakami is such a refreshing alternative with it's sparseness and emotional depth.

@18 Don't worry, I'm just as deeply puzzled but instead by people who don't find his writing amazing. Makes me question whether they actually have a soul in there. Like coming across a person who says "they don't listen to music" or something. Are you, like, a cyborg??

That is overwhelming. Just read Sputnik Sweetheart to make sure it wasn't better than Windup Bird, and it's not even close. So one note. It started well, but I find it hard to believe that could be someone's favorite.