Murakami Advice

[Snowflake]

Okay, I live on a strange planet and was only now exposed to Haruki Murakami (thanks € & NA). I'm buying the book I started this weekend, The Elephant Vanishes, what else should I get, what is the next best in line?

[Ghoulish Delight]

You'll likely get a different answer from every one of us. They're all great, but they've all got their own appeal and different people will give different answers.

My personal favorite is Hard Boiled Wonderland.

[Not Afraid]

I've read all but one.
Wind Up Bird Chronicles
Sputnik Sweetheart
Kafka on the Shore
Norwegian Wood

Those are probably my favorites.

[Moonliner]

I'm still reeling from Puffy Yumi, I don't know what Haruki Murakami is but I think I better pass for now...

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

I loved both The Wind Up Bird Chronicles and Sputnik Sweetheart. The latter may mean more to me personally, and I almost wish I'd read that one first because I think it's a lovely introduction to his kind of storytelling. I felt overwhelmed by Wind Up at first, but something happened about 300 pages in and the experience was almost live altering.

Just purchased Hard Boiled Wonderland to read over the holiday break.

[tracilicious]

I've only read Wind Up Bird Chronicle and Kafka on the Shore. Oh, and part of After the Quake. Next on my list is Norwegian Wood. I LOVE Murakami. He's my favorite author, and I think I'm going to be really sad when I've read the whole collection. I want to pace myself.

[Snowflake]

Okay, started with Hard Boiled Wonderland and Sputnik Sweetheart, as well as The Elephant Vanishes. I'm looking forward to these showing up in the mail., soon.

[€uroMeinke]

Hard Boiled is my next one - Sputnik Sweetheart is a great intro to Murakami style, but since you already started with the short stories, I think you picked a great collection to start with.