A narrative particle accelerator that zooms between Wild Turkey Whiskey and Bob Dylan, unicorn skulls and voracious librarians, John Coltrane and Lord Jim. Science fiction, detective story and post-modern manifesto all rolled into one rip-roaring novel, Hard-boiled Wonderland and the End of the World is the tour de force that expanded Haruki Murakami's international following. Tracking one man's descent into the Kafkaesque underworld of contemporary Tokyo, Murakami unites East and West, tragedy and farce, compassion and ...
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A narrative particle accelerator that zooms between Wild Turkey Whiskey and Bob Dylan, unicorn skulls and voracious librarians, John Coltrane and Lord Jim. Science fiction, detective story and post-modern manifesto all rolled into one rip-roaring novel, Hard-boiled Wonderland and the End of the World is the tour de force that expanded Haruki Murakami's international following. Tracking one man's descent into the Kafkaesque underworld of contemporary Tokyo, Murakami unites East and West, tragedy and farce, compassion and detachment, slang and philosophy.
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The item is fairly worn but still readable. The book may have some cosmetic wear (i.e. creased spine/cover, scratches, curled corners, folded pages, sunburn, stains, water damage, bent, torn, damaged binding, dent). -The dust jacket if present, may be marked, and have considerable heavy wear. -The book might be ex-library copy, and may have the markings and stickers associated from the library-The book may have considerable highlights/notes/underlined pages but the text is legible-Accessories such as CD, codes, toys, may not be included-Safe and Secure Mailer-No Hassle Return.
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May have some shelf-wear due to normal use. Your purchase funds free job training and education in the greater Seattle area. Thank you for supporting Goodwill's nonprofit mission!
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New. B-format paperback. In Stock. 100% Money Back Guarantee. Brand New, Perfect Condition, allow 4-14 business days for standard shipping. To Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. protectorate, P.O. box, and APO/FPO addresses allow 4-28 business days for Standard shipping. No expedited shipping. All orders placed with expedited shipping will be cancelled. Over 3, 000, 000 happy customers.
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I just finished Hard-Boiled Wonderland And The End Of The World, and though it took me awhile to get into it, it?s one of Murakami?s best. Each chapter alternates between two seemingly separate stories, one called Hard Boiled Wonderland and the other (wait for it) The End Of The World.
The first story involves an unnamed narrator who works as a Calcutec, someone who encrypts data by mentally separating it (into right-brain and left-brain data), then recompiling it. He does some work for a professor, and immediately falls into a path that makes him learn more about who he is, and his supposed destiny.
The second story is much, much, MUCH more surreal, taking place in an unnamed town, where a Gatekeeper shepherds some unicorns (yes, unicorns), and the protagonist has his eyes severed so that he can read the dreams of the town. (Told it you it was surreal.)
One starts suspecting early on that the stories are connected, as they are thematically similar in key ways, and the way the stories converge and eventually resolve themselves. The ending is very satisfying, and feels like it?s the only possible way to complete the story.
It?s a novel that actually asks some very interesting questions, and weaves an amusing and creative story along the way. Murakami is truly one of the masters out there right now (and was justly considered for this years Nobel Prize for Literature), and it?s consistently a pleasure to read his works.
Twin2
May 28, 2007
Stunning style....
Grab a coffee and hop back into to bed and snuggle into your blankets with this book! Murakami is an amazing writer. He combines modern day concerns with a 'reality' pushed to the extreem and then some. His style is engaging. I can only imagine that it would be better before translation - though I'm sure Alfred Birnbaum has done a great job. Murakami might not be for everyone, but if you like something a little different and intriguing, anything by Murakami is a sure bet. :) Enjoy!