The Elephant Vanishes: Stories [Paperback]

His writing is boiled down so far it is like a truffle. The essence carries far more mass than the thing. I saw a review that chastised his stories for having little plot. This to me is like being upset your PC isn't also a telegraph machine. You cannot look for plot in his stories. If you want action-adventure look elsewhere, but to suggest that there is no plot in his work is unfair. There certainly are plots, they are mostly based in emotion rather than action and are even surrealistic at times but they exist and they are riveting. In the story "Barn Burning" plot is nearly impossible to see until you finish the story and think about it -- but I would not dare suggest that this story lacks a point, direction, or entertainment. It's one of the best stories in the book and it only functions completely when you finish. Perhaps, Murakami forces us to reconsider what goes into a plot. They certainly are standard plots but this doesn't make them any less compelling. I think plot is overrated. Whoever thinks this book lacks plot also must think that Seinfeld is really about nothing.

What is most striking about Murakami's writing is how strange, smart, and unique his characters are. There is such style in their meanderings. These characters are 'bored but never boring' reads one piece of praise inside the jacket. This could not be truer. There are many great stories, and sure some may be on a lower level than others, but this should not stop you from reading them. What pulls you into his writing is the deep emotional yet intellectual viewpoint of the characters. Each one is lovable in a zany, almost impossible and certainly improbably, way.

One last point, it is possible that you can learn more about Japanese culture from this book than from reading many history books or other material. This book deals with a range of issues in its bizarre way while never sounding moralistic or at all attacking.

It is a pleasure to read.

There was no difference with this book. I absolutely loved this collection of stories. Normally I just read through a book and let whatever thoughts I have process and fade away with time. With this book I absolutely had to write down my thoughts. The stories in this book are brilliant.

The anonymity of the characters and surrealness of their settings are so great that they really grasp the essence of the purpose of the stories. His themes and metaphors are really poignant through his lack of other purpose in the stories. So stripped down and raw in physical story and purpose, yet so laden with internal dillema and character development, these stories are unique in such a way that only Murakami could have written them. Thus I love them.

If you're an avid reader of world literature or just like a good, odd story, this is the author for you, and in my opinion this is the place to start with him. I would even recommend reading a story out of this at the book store. While I have declared Haruki Murakami as one of my favorite authors, others may find his work a bit intellectually oppresive and because of this I think it's important, especially for a jaded american audience to get a little taste of what you're getting before you buy this. But definately try it out. You don't even know what you are missing.

Highly recommended.