Quite memorable and interesting stories, except for the last one "Men Without Women" which was rather terrible. Probably the strongest of Murakamis short story collections which typically tends to be rather bland and quickly forgotten. This one carried some unique texts, for instance the reverse Metamorphosis. The idea in itself felt a little basic but it actually worked out pretty well and ended up being an enjoyable surreal read. The other stories, while not quite as strange and Kafkaesque, all contained some of their own high points. After reading 20+ works by Murakami, I have low expectations on his ability to portrait women, and to write non-cringe sex scenes. This collection did however exceed my expectations in this regard, but only by very little. These are still the weakest points. Over time I've learned to disregard these aspects and enjoy the rest, so this collection might not be for everyone.
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Elias Westerberg rated Les Foudres d'Hypsis: 3 stars
Les Foudres d'Hypsis by Pierre Christin
Grande réunion au château d'Inverloch, où le grand chef de Galaxity en personne s'est déplacé. Valérian et Laureline, ainsi que …
Elias Westerberg rated A House for Mr.Biswas: 4 stars
A House for Mr.Biswas by V. S. Naipaul
Naipaul’s breakthrough novel is a marvellous comic tale of a Trinidadian of Indian descent striving to improve his lot. Continually …
Elias Westerberg rated Les Spectres d'Inverloch: 3 stars
Les Spectres d'Inverloch by Pierre Christin (Valérian and Laureline, #11)
Galaxity’s orders are rather bizarre, lately. Laureline has been left on stand-by in a Scottish castle. Valerian, haunted by recurrent …
Elias Westerberg rated Saga: 4 stars
Saga by Brian K. Vaughan
"After the traumatic events of the War for Phang, Hazel, her parents, and their surviving companions embark on a life-changing …
Elias Westerberg rated The temple of the golden pavillion: 4 stars
The temple of the golden pavillion by 三島由紀夫 (Everyman's library ;)
Elias Westerberg rated Percevan, tome 4 : 3 stars
Elias Westerberg rated ok, amen: 4 stars
Elias Westerberg rated After the Banquet (Vintage Classics): 4 stars
After the Banquet (Vintage Classics) by 三島由紀夫
With vast psychological acuity and an unblinking insight into the nature of political and domestic warfare, Yukio Mishima creates a …
Elias Westerberg rated How Do You Live?: 3 stars
How Do You Live? by Neil Gaiman, Genzaburo Yoshino, Bruno Navasky
First published in 1937, Genzaburō Yoshino’s How Do You Live? has long been acknowledged in Japan as a crossover classic …
Elias Westerberg rated Beowulf: 3 stars
Elias Westerberg rated Njal's Saga (Penguin Classics): 3 stars
Elias Westerberg rated Palace walk: 4 stars
Palace walk by Najib Mahfuz (Cairo trilogy -- 1)
Volume I of the masterful Cairo Trilogy. A national best-seller in both hardcover and paperback, it introduces the engrossing saga …
Elias Westerberg rated Beloved: 4 stars
Beloved by Toni Morrison
Toni Morrison--author of Song of Solomon and Tar Baby--is a writer of remarkable powers: her novels, brilliantly acclaimed for their …