Author: Haruki Murakami
Genre: Short Stories, Fiction
First Published: 2006 (in English)
Pages: 436

Everyone in my creative writing class at university was constantly talking about how brilliant Haruki Murakami is. Having never read any Murakami before, I decided to try his collection of short stories 'Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman.' Initially, I found the stories hard to engage with, as I felt that they lacked a plot or even a purpose for reading them. As I reached the end of each story I was left thinking, 'what was the point in that?' as there was no moral conclusion or even an explanation of the events.

Admittedly, some of the stories were enjoyable, my favourite being 'Chance Traveller,' in which the narrator and his friend discuss coincidental encounters they have had, which leads to a family reunion. This tale was more uplifting and had a sense of purpose and closure at the end, which I felt was lacking in some of the other tales. Other stories that I enjoyed include, 'The Mirror,' which captures a ghostly experience in an abandoned school, 'A Perfect Day For Kangaroos,' which literally discusses what is said in the title, but it makes a pleasant read, and 'The Ice Man,' whose mythic elements I associated with Angela Carter's collection, 'The Bloody Chamber.'

I found that the stories towards the end of the book were much better than the first ones, and were much more complete in their structure. However, from my experience of reading Murakami, I wouldn't feel compelled to read another one of his books, which I was disappointed about as everyone had recommended him so highly. I know that there are plenty of Murakami fans out there who love his work, but I'm afraid I just didn't quite 'click' or understand the appeal of it.

Favourite quote: 'What I saw wasn't a ghost. It was simply - myself. I can never forget how terrified I was that night, and whenever I remember it, this thought always springs to mind: that the most frightening thing in the world is our own self. What do you think?'

Rating: 5/10