Ranking ALL of Murakami's Novels!

A video where I rank all 13 of Murakami's novels from #13 to #1! These are MY OPINIONS - I'm not sorry if your fave is at the bottom of the list because I'm allowed to think how I want :)
F.A.Q.
1. KATE you read so many Murakami novels?? Where do I start??
I have an entire video made for the purpose that I get asked this literally every video I mention Murakami - I have it in a playlist or you can easily search it on my channel!
2. How do you pronounce your username?
Pfeil is pronounced “file” - it’s German
3. What is your college major/what do you do in college?
I was originally a nutrition major and I’m now in English Education. I’m planning on teaching English in Korea
4. What languages do you know?
English, Spanish, German, Korean and ASL. Yes, feel free to leave comments in any of these languages and I’ll try my best to reply in that language - my German is a little rusty since I only use it with my Grandparents and I’m currently learning Korean soooo cut me some slack lol English and Spanish though I’m (basically) fluent.
5. YOU LIKE KPOP???? WHAT GROUPS/PEOPLE/SONGS?
Yes, I love Kpop - I post kpop related unboxings/MV reactions and first listens and stuff like that on this channel! My bias groups are BTS and EXO (and EXOCBX) and my UB is Zhang Yixing. I also fucking LOVE Bastarz, Seventeen, Blackpink, Dean, CL, and GD. I also watch kdramas so totally feel free to chat with me about them in the comments!

[@aamnapirzada2723]

Where would you place killing Commendatore in your rank?

[@murakamireads]

Probably between "South of the Border" and "After Dark"! So pretty dang high up

[@Joker200084]

@@murakamireads finally someone that likes After Dark....that was an interesting book and it's like people didn't notice the writing in it. That's one of my favorites and it's short enough to read over and over.

[@user-qi7oc7rm9m]

iamDecim I really enjoyed After Dark, too! It's a modern, sleek novel with a really fascinating atmosphere. First read it after coming back from a summer exchange in Tokyo. My host dad is a huge fan of Murakami, so I decided to search for a few of his books at my local library. After Dark was the only one checked-in, so I went with it. I definitely agree with Kate that it's not the best place to start reading Murakami, but it's still a good book in its own right. I must have read it four times over the past four years, and I don't usually reread books. If I had to rank the eight Murakami books I've read, I think it would be: 8) Dance, Dance, Dance 7) After the Quake 6) Norwegian Wood 5) Sputnik Sweetheart 4) Wind-Up Bird Chronicle 3) Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage 2) 1Q84 1) After Dark

[@artoriasaber7606]

@@Joker200084 I read after Dark many many years ago. When I try to say something about After Dark, all I can say is it is a good story and I don't remember any detail now...

[@roberthonour671]

@@Joker200084 After Dark is potentially his BEST writing, however, I think the disappointing ending is why it's rarely ranked among the best. I loved it though!

[@chachustv8416]

Idk dude. Norwegian Wood is one of my favourites due to a contrast between hectic city with protests going on and very calm countryside where nothing really happens. It also parallels with difference between Midori and Naoko.

[@vishaldas1762]

yeah mine too.. Toru Watanabe will forever be my most favourite character

[@studyfreak8429]

ikr, my first ever serious novel

[@AnneLien1987]

Norwegian Wood boring? It is so beautiful

[@murakamireads]

to me it was extremely boring. its called having differing opinions on something - you're allowed to think its beautiful and i'm allowed to think its boring :)

[@DocotrBayan]

yess i totally love murakami but that one was boring imo too x

[@AnneLien1987]

Ok, miss touchy, wow

[@chansungyuna]

I also found Norwegian Wood boring and it was my first Murakami book. Now I'm stuck, I don't know what to read next.

[@RatatRatR]

Yeah, the characters don't really work for me in it either. He's a pretty typical Murakami young man who answers questions with a "hmm, I wonder" -- and every woman around him reacts like everything about him is mind-blowingly deep and adorable.

[@berrygoodbooks9225]

Gahhhhh its so hard to rank these. Here goes anyway... 1. Wind Up Bird Chronicle 2. Kafka On The Shore 3. 1Q84 4. Norwegian Wood 5. Hard Boiled Wonderland and The End of The World 6. Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage 7. Wind/Pinball 8. A Wild Sheep Chase 9. Dance Dance Dance 10. South Of The Border, West Of The Sun 11. Sputnik Sweetheart 12. After Dark I could probably rearrange any of the ones past #5 given my mood or how recently I've read them. So hard to pick, and I really love all of them.

[@kenrabao7652]

I love your ranking! My ranking here 1. after dark 2.kafka on the shore 3.Hunting knife I'm Japanese. If you can read Japanese, Pinball, 1973 and Hear the wind sing may be more upper. His Japanese sentences very beautiful, especially in short stories. Sorry for my broken English.lol

[@numnum8357]

kenichi obara do you watch anime? Out of curiosity

[@DocotrBayan]

I have the same 1st and 2nd favs as you, I didn't "love" Norwegian wood and after the quake but maybe because I thought the later was a novel and it turned out to be short stories lol. He's an incredible writer, I really wish I could understand Japanese because I love to appreciate books in their original language, maybe one day

[@zlee001]

Kanji is so hard though.

[@locutusdborg126]

Eigo ga tsugoi.

[@Thissbetterwork]

I'm a couple chapters away from finishing Kafka on the Shore. I love it and can honestly say I've never been so absorbed in a book. I already got two more of his and they happen to be your top two! Kafka has been such a treat to read so I'm excited to dive into more.

[@poulhald5243]

I love to listen to the jazz recordings thar Murakami recomends!!

[@aritrachatterjee8650]

Yes you will get all his recommendation as a spotify play list like : open.spotify.com/user/samplish/playlist/3oN8FhiistRarRyRVo6z3Z

[@sabrinavandenberg3663]

I loved the Wind-up Bird too! Thanks for the rankings...I'm ready for #2 now.

[@toddturken7836]

Thanks! Wow, so nice to see such an engaging & thoughtful take on his novels, you do him justice🌈😊 📚❗️

[@arpitasingh7732]

I finished Norwegian Wood a couple of days ago and I too didn't like it as much as I thought I would and so I'm following your channel now because I think we have a pretty common taste. Keep up the good work. Love from India. ❤️

[@joycemarthacelajes9675]

NORWEGIAN WOOD WILL ALWAYS BE ONE OF MY FAVOURITE NOVELS OF ALL TIME 💜

[@SomashekharHanumanthaiah]

Awesome review. I have just started reading Murakami collection. This video will definitely help me prioteries my reading. Thanks

[@patb675]

I've read the Wind Up Bird Chronicle once before, maybe 5 years ago. I am currently rereading it and am about 3/4 the way through. Relatively, not much has happened in my life these last 5 years. But TWUBC is hitting me in so many different ways since reading it last. Some of the passages hit harder and in a more poignant way after a few years of life experience. Loved your rankings, hope you get to reread some of your Murakami favorites. It's very worth your time!

[@Clandry1990]

Norwegian Wood was my first read, it's ending really sold me on Murakami. Wind Up Bird was my second read and now I just want to check out every novel. Unfortunately, 1Q84 is such a lengthy read so it's taking me forever. Thanks for your Murakami breakdowns though, can't wait to check out Kafka and South of the Border.

[@murakamireads]

I hope you enjoy them when you get to them!!!

[@sowmyarasakula131]

I started with Norwegian wood and now I'm on wind up bird chronicle. I feel the same!

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Thanks for this! I’ve only read Norwegian Wood, which I really enjoyed, but I’ve not really known where to go next.

[@NehaSharma-eo9lc]

Loved your reviews. Thanks for the video. 💛😘

[@DillyD.]

My Murakami marathon is close to over! I only have two of his novels left that I saved for last, Wind/Pinball and Wind-Up Bird. What do you think is a more proper sendoff, ending where he started or ending with what everyone says is his best?

[@zyrrhos]

If you like the "takes place in one night" trope, check out the film "After Hours" by Martin Scorsese. Wonderful, surrealist film that feels like it could be a Murakami novel on celluloid.

[@shethewriter]

I've only read 3 so far, although I've read a lot of his short stories. Here's my list: 1) Kafka on the Shore 2) 1Q84 3) Hard Boiled...(I was really bored by this one).

[@eduardoanayatfschannel8498]

Loved your review!

[@abbyaguilar966]

5. Kafka on the Shore 4. Sputnik Sweetheart 3. SORBWOTS 2. Norwegian Wood 1. HBWATEOTW

[@gavincoleman6249]

I like your list, I’m obviously going to disagree with Norwegian as you’d expect. But really happy you rated After Dark highly, I also felt like it was a book aimed at what I needed from a story. Just finished 1Q84, and although I enjoyed it I feel like i need to reread it to grasp everything again... but rereading that is such a slog 😂

[@roberthonour671]

I too have read all of these and of course I don't COMPLETELY agree, but I do find myself nodding along to all of your thoughts on the novels. Also, WUBC is my number one :) Great video and great choices! Thanks for sharing :)

[@dannyponce4523]

Nice vid! 1-Wind Up 2-Kafka 3-South of the Border 4-Blind Willow 5-Elephant vanishes 6-1Q84 7- What I talk about when I talk about running 8-Colorless 9-Men Without Woman 10-Pinball/Wind 11-Norwegian Wood 12-After the Quake 13-Gas attack I was surprised by your top 5! I am now looking forward to After Dark and Wild Sleep Chase! =D Its hard to rate him because I feel like all his books are well written. =/

[@DaMaxchi]

Here's my ranking after I had read all of his English translated works earlier this year, back to back, one after another; although obviously not in the order below. When you have a chance, try and squeeze in after the quake. I think you will enjoy that one. I'm currently reading Killing Commendatore. 1 - Wind up Bird Chronicle 2 - Kafka on the Shore 3 - Hard Boiled Wonderland/End of the World 4 - A Wild Sheep Chase 5 - South of the Border/West of the Sun 6 - Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage 7 - Sputnik Sweetheart 8 - after the quake 9 - After Dark 10 - 1Q84 11 - Dance Dance Dance 12 - Norwegian Wood 13 - The Strange Library 14 - Pinball, 1973 15 - Underground 16 - Men Without Women 17 - The Elephant Vanishes 18 - Absolutely on Music; Conversations with Meiji Ozawa 19 - Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman 20 - Hear the Wind Sing 21 - What I Talk About When I Talk About Running

[@Honyachan]

Thanks for making this video!! I agree with many of your choices. 1- The wind up bird chronicles 2- A Wild sheep chase 3- Hard boiled wonderland 4- South of the border 5- Kafka on the shore 6- IQ84 7- After dark 8- The colourless tsukuru tazaki 9- Dance dance dance 10- Norwegian wood If I were to include his short stories, The elephant vanishes would be high on my list. I am about to start Sputnik Sweetheart but I'm also not a big fan of his contemporary novels, so my hopes aren't too high.

[@murakamireads]

heyyy we have a wicked similar list! I cant wait to get to his short stories - when i do i'll totally be making a video like this for those too! :)

[@austinj.decareaux8830]

Of what I've read: 4.) Wild Sheeps chase 2.) South of the Border West of the Sun 6.) Pinball/HTS 7.) After Dark 3.) Norwegian Wood 1.) Kafka on the Shore 5.) Hardboiled Wonderland

[@TheGolatho]

1- Hard-boiled wonderland and the end of the world (my all-time favorite book actually) 2- 1Q84 3- Norwegian Wood 4- Kafka on the shore 5- Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage 6- The wind-up bird chronicale

[@nightreader1264]

I just finished up 1Q84- I wish that he would come out with the continuation of Aonomine (spelling?) and Tengo's relationship, plus the baby.

[@murakamireads]

I would have LOVED that too! But unfortunately I doubt it'll ever happen. He's come out recently with a HUGE fantasy novel that has yet to be translated into English, so I think he's decidedly moved on from that story

[@AkirafromOden]

Out of the 5 Murakami books I've read, my list is: 1. Kafka 2. Wind-up Bird 3. Norwegian Wood 4. Hard-Boiled 5. South of the Border I dno, you liked south of the border a lot, to me, it was a little empty and severely depressing, although the transition of the character growing up was cool I have Sputnik Sweetheart sitting beside my bed for my next read :)

[@Kjp90]

1. Dance Dance Dance/Wind-up Bird/Norwegian Wood 4. After Dark 5. Hard Boiled 6. Underground 7. South of the Border 8. Sputnik 9. Kafka 10. Men without Women 11. Wild Sheep Chase

[@hilario4724]

1. Kafka on the shore 2. Hard boiled... 3. Wind up bird chronicle 4. Sputnik sweetheart 5. Dance dance dance 6. 1q84 7. After dark 8. A wild sheep chase (up to here they were all 5 stars!) 9. South of... (4 stars) 10. Norweigan wood (3 stars) 11. Wind/pinball (2 stars) (I haven't read colorless yet) I also have at first place the first murakami i've read; I think reading him for the first time definitely makes an impact on you. btw HOW can you dislike sputnik sweetheart D:?!? Honestly it was one of the best reading experience i've ever had. I agree with you that wind-pinball is SO boring but it's really nice to see how murakakami started :))) great video!!

[@murakamireads]

I SO agree with the first murakami you read DEFINITELY makes an impact!! And i'm not sure if i'm honest with Sputnik Sweetheart - i just thought it was horribly boring and I didn't really GET it. Like I understand what he was trying to do and i've chatted with people about it but i just couldn't get on board i guess - it was just a stretech for me! and thanks for your list - its also sooooo interesting seeing where everyone else places his novels :O I hope you love Colorless when u get to it!!

[@soitra]

I just finished "Norwegian Wood", thought it was really good. Not quite sure what to make of the ending, I guess it's left to the reader's own interpretation.

[@christinam6516]

Really enjoyed this video! I haven't read any of his work yet, but I've been very eager to! The only thing that bugs me is the darn cover change!! The previous covers looked so much better :'( But that won't stop me to read his books :D

[@murakamireads]

I really like both of covers tbh! The new ones are so beautiful and colorful and vibrant, but i also love the old ones with the photos personally :)

[@Misssha123]

Thanks to Kate i read 4 of his novels i love them , i never heard of him before

[@frankfeldman6657]

thanks for the inspiration re 1Q84, i'm feeling kinda intimidated, but your rave review helps.

[@Timpriestley]

You can cheat. I got Book 1 as a single volume, so I was warmed up for Books 2&3, which I tried to get separately but I don't think you can.

[@haarishmano1488]

i just finished kafaka on the shore and i think i found it bitt creepy and i liked it as you said its crazy.

[@diegoXSX2020]

It's my first time in your channel. Good job, Kate! I'm sure I Will come more times.

[@hanak69]

Will start today with reading Murakami, guess I will start with After Dark, Thx for the review.

[@burge2695]

I've only read the wind-up bird Chronicle which i loved! But am currently reading kafka on the shore 💕

[@matthews.9676]

I never enjoyed reading a story book until a workmate recommended Murakami to me, and then I bought 'South of the border..' and this was such a joy to read for me. It is a shame but only by Murakami I came to realize in my life what an exciting joy it can be to read. So I drank the book within three days Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I love Murakami's ideas and I especially have to glorify the last page with the wonderful happy end :)

[@OnieroNautilus]

Currently reading wind up bird for the second time and I’m in love. Listen to the song “Wind up bird” by Tunng.

[@silverhopeful]

Marakami has said that his favorite book is Hardboiled Wonderland, and that he wrote Kafka on the shore as a sequel, but that Kafka was more difficult to write as he had never written about a 15 year old as the protagonist. Reading his interviews gives one a really good insight into who he is and how he writes, which I find highly unusual and fantastic for a writer. I agree his work is best absorbed when older, but many of us who read him now are quite old, and we read Herman Hesse when we were 15, etc. Because he was good. But these kinds of boks most definitely need a re read . In general, a second read is more gratifying.

[@thegastrotraveler]

Interesting stuff. I've only read a couple of his books, really like them. Love Ryu Murakami too; the crazier the better. I live in Spain and books are expensive. There's 1Q84 and Dance Dance Dance in the local shop (in English). I've heard a lot of people saying 1Q84 is a bit ponderous, or repetitive, a slog, that he needed an editor etc. But judging from your views, maybe I will shell out the 20 euros for a paperback!

[@polywerden]

I've only read three Murakami novels so far (currently in the middle of reading The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle) and I totally see why you would rank The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle as your top. I read After Dark first, which was interesting, but I think it was a weird introduction to Murakami, since it's quite different from many of his other works. (Though maybe it was good for me to have that first reading experience be strange and disorienting - it prepared me for more.) Then I read Kafka on the Shore, which I really enjoyed, although some elements of the magical realism didn't work as well for me. South of the Border West of the Sun was good, but Wind-Up is such a masterpiece. It's an epic, like Kafka on the Shore, but it just seems to me like Murakami achieved the perfect balance between magical realism and connection to reality and real-life experiences. I'm really loving it. (Even if the war subplot is kind of dull for me.)

[@imashayykarunarathne5924]

Your video is superb I have read only two books norwegian wood and south of the border, my hope is to read all his novels and your video make more eager to read them all♥️

[@theUroshman]

We have such a similar taste in books that it's uncanny. I haven't read all his novels yet, as you did, but I think the same of the ones I did read, and would rank them the same. I keep recommending his "South of the Border, West of the Sun" as an introduction to Murakami, and then his masterpiece "1Q84", a real marble, that lingers on forever after you read it. I read it 5 years ago, and can still see and retell each of the important scenes from the novel. You could say that the book left a lasting impression on me. As we have remarkably similar taste, I am looking forward to reading the first two ones on your list, which I haven't read yet. P.S. Have you read any books by Niccolò Ammaniti, Erlend Loe, Jose Saramago or Amelie Nothomb, and if you have, how did you like them?

[@murakamireads]

i have read jose saramago's "Blindness" and really enjoyed it but it definitely wasn't my favorite. I've been told if I want to read him again I should read him in Spanish!

[@theUroshman]

Me, too. I enjoyed "Blindness", but it wasn't my favorite. You should definitely try his "The Double". I believe that would be your cup of tea, and his "Cain" is definitely funny, intriguing and an eye opener for lots of his reader. I think you would absolutely love Amelie Nothomb, a Belgium author, who lived in Japan as a child and then returned there after she graduated from university. She writes short novels (about 200-300 pg each) and each one is so ingeniously thought out and deals with a completely different subject and always given from her new and original and a bit eccentric, self-absorbed angle. You just never know what to expect with her. She's absolutely fascinating as a person, and she shares with us her unique thinking processes in each of her novels, plus her inside look at Japan and its people, who she adored and felt as being one of them, but then slowly realized they would never accept her as their own. If you are interested in Japan you can read "Fear and Trembling", "The Character of Rain" and “Tokyo Fiancée”, but I would definitely recommend "The Enemy's Cosmetique", "The Enemy's Cosmetique" and "Life Form", which I found absolutely spellbinding and thought provoking.

[@encompasschange4700]

Beautiful editions! Much nicer covers than the UK editions ❤️

[@Misssha123]

The queen of Haruki novels😊

[@murakamireads]

I aim to please :)

[@bujassim7273]

Well for me it might be a bit close to our list :1- 1Q842- after dark3- bird chronicle

[@BrianBakker]

Impossible to rank and some I can't fully recall, but here's a shot 1. Hard Boiled 2. Kafka On The Shore 3. Wind-Up Bird Chronicles 4. Dance Dance Dance (lacking in plot, but possibly his best writing imo) 5. Absolutely On Music 6. Norwegian Wood 7. A Wild Sheep Chase 8. IQ84 9. After Dark 10. Men Without Women 11. The Colourless Tsukuru 12. What I Talk About When I Talk About Running 13. South Of The Border 14. Blind Willow 15. The Elephant Vanishes 16. Strange Library Have yet to read Hear the Wind Sing, Pinball, Sputnik, After The Quake and some nonfictions

[@jaimealfonsopereznicia1879]

I read Norwegian Wood right after my ex girlfriend dumped me. And that book has a special place for me.😕

[@murakamireads]

See that sounds like a perfect time to read that book 😅 I’m going to be rereading it in 2020 - 4 years after I first did so hopefully I’ll enjoy it more !

[@kaushikbangshiary1129]

Same bro

[@paulandreigillesania5359]

Have you read After the Quake, The Strange Library, Cream or Underground?

[@-hannah-1731]

Would you recommend 1Q84 to someone who has read Kafka on the shore? I'd like to read more and I heard it's good. I really liked the story and plot in Kafka on the shore. I watched your video that said read the wind up bird chronicles next. What should I read!?

[@murakamireads]

hmmm i would probably say Wind Up Bird just cause Kafka, in my opinion, is one of Murakami's fastest paced novels - but 1Q84 is one of the slowest. Wind up Bird is probs in the middle of the two, so i think it would be a good stepping stone between kafka and 1Q84! Like i've mentioned in previous videos - 1Q84 is AMAZING, but I very nearly DNF'd it after 500 pages of extremely slow, boring world building.

[@-hannah-1731]

Kate Pfeil ah I see, thanks for the help 😊

[@timkjazz]

1) A Wild Sheep Chase 2) The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle 3) Kafka On The Shore 4) Dance Dance Dance 5) 1Q84 6) Sputnik Sweetheart 7) After Dark 8) Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World 9) South of the Border, West of the Sun 10) Hear the Wind Sing/Pinball 11) Norwegian Wood 12) Colorless Tsukura Tazaki - Murakami is stupendous!!!!

[@ohdannyboy4727]

I just finished 1q84. Out of what I read of his works my rank hits like this 1. Norwegian wood 5/5 2. 1q84 4/5 3. Dance Dance Dance 4/5 The unexplained supernatural/weird stuff bothers me a little. Maybe, if he did explain it that it would ruin the mystery of whats going on. I know the supernatural stuff is there for intrigue and doesn't always need explaining. I just want there to be some kind of meaning behind it. My smallest gripe from what I have read so far of his work. Small potatoes I still eat up what he writes. My next read is Kafka and Colorless.

[@homeslice8063]

1- Wind Up Bird Chronicle 2- Kafka on the Shore 3- A Wild Sheep Chase 4- 1Q84 5- Hard Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World 6- Sputnik Sweet Heart 7- Hear the Wind Sing/ Pinball 8- Norwegian Wood I agree, Wind Up Bird is an absolute masterpiece. I saw a live show for Kafka on the Shore and it was amazing. I'm getting a little tired of some aspects of Murakami's writing style, but I think I'll be reading be reading Dance Dance Dance or After Dark next. I'm currently almost finished with Norwegian Wood, and so far it is really boring compared to his other works.

[@HimeBaezChan]

I´ve read Murakami in English and Spanish and surprisingly the Spanish translation is so much better. And it´s always the same translator (Lourdes Porta, thanks). My first book from him was Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World when I was 13 and I absolutely loved it. From there I have read many others and some I liked pretty much like Norwegian Wood and Sputnik but there were some others that I just found so open and sometimes senseless like Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage and 1Q84. After Dark was refreshing and Dance Dance Dance was a good trip.

[@tasheenarose]

I just started reading Murakami, so I only Colorless Tazaki and Norwegian Wood. I probably like NW a tad bit more, but I really enjoyed Colorless Tazaki. I want more magician realism so my next one is Kafka. Also....did I miss number 6?

[@murakamireads]

i accidentally counted pinball/hear the wind sing as one book lol so i realized when I was counting down to 1 i was one book off so i went from 7 to 5

[@jacksonault5973]

colorless tsukuru tazaki is the best OK

[@columbus.6114]

1. Wind-up bird Chronicle 2. Elephant Vanishes 3. Wild Sheep Chase 4. Dance Dance Dance 5. Hear the Wind Sing/ Pinball 6. Sputnik Sweetheart 7. Kafka on the Shore 8. South of the Border, West of the Sun 9. Norwegian Wood 10. IQ84 11. Hardboiled Wonderland 12. Colorless Tsukuru Haven't read After dark yet, sorry but I had to include Elephant Vanishes as it is one of the best short stories collection I have ever read. Wind-up Bird is simply a masterpiece.

[@gmcenroe]

Wow , I pretty much agreed with your ranking but put Norwegian Wood higher maybe because it was the first one I read. I agree with the Rat series being lower on the list but was glad that they did not require a lot of time to read. I think I put top 3 the same as yours but put 1Q84 on the top of the list, Windup Bird Chronicles followed by Killing Commendatore at 3. I thought I had read all of his non fiction but discovered I hadn't read Kafka on the Sea and am reading it now.

[@zlee001]

My first murakami is 1Q84. Its awesome. Its hard to find his book here. Theres only 1Q84, colorless, men without women, norwegian wood and the two in one book of his first two novels.ive bought 1q84 and colorless. Which one should i get next?

[@ImrdIstt.SH.]

1Q84 is the only murakami I've read so far. it was one of my favorite books I've ever read and I cannot wait to dive into the rest of his bibliography

[@josefins3675]

The Wind-up Bird is my favourite aswell! I always give it to people for their birthdays :) Last time I did, though, the friend who got it came back to me after having tried to read it and was like "Um... is he just gonna keep sittning on the bottom of that well or...?" :p

[@murakamireads]

You should have been like yup, that’s the book - sitting at the bottom of a well 🤣

[@airishsitdown6825]

Reading Haruki Murakami's Norwegian Wood makes me feel uncomfortable and overwhelmed at the same time because I never read erotic novels before and the story is very unpredictable, maybe too sexual in my opinion... maybe because I'm not comfortable talking about sex and how stuff like that work etc. ,very illustrative and I HATE how the story ended! I'm like "No way!" The love story is very depressing urgh! Sorry spoiler alert! This is not the typical love story we used to see on TV and books. At first, I thought its boring but nah I'm starting to love this book so much.

[@shabitmontasir1773]

may be i'm a year late but let's try 1.1q84 2.the wind;up bird chronicle 3.south of the border, west of the sun 4.hard boiled wonderland and the end of the world 5.kafka on the shore 6.a wild sheep chase/dance dance dance 7.norwegian wood 8.sputnik sweetheart currently reading after dark.and yes,it was wicked hard.

[@ashwininivargi6668]

1.Kafka on the Shore 2.Wind up bird Chronicle 3.Sputnik Sweetheart 4.Norwegian wood 5. South of the Border, west of the sun

[@mitchellfoye1998]

I first started on murakami with after dark, his detailed descriptions of random strangers and their life’s ambitions spoken so casually really grabbed me. I started to notice entire walls of bookstores dedicated to him, that’s when I had to know. Norwegian wood was so so depressing to me though, even though it didn’t grab me so much, it’s a novel that stays with you. Hard boiled wonderland and the end of the world was so so impossibly abstract, I really got into that one. No other human on earth could write something like that. Pinball was fun , as a drinker I really enjoyed this an also knowing this was his first novel, written by hand. The rat trilogy really hits number one for me. It was so nutty and twisted. Major plot cross overs with Neil gaiman. In particular this half sheep character, gaiman had a strange half buffalo thing

[@jaydorota3625]

My only reading slums when I knew that I don't have a single book to read. . I'd finished my books in due time. . .I'm planning yo buy new books from Haruki Murakami, hopefully next month. . .

[@luismonterey6333]

Que tal... buen review... sólo he leído After Dark y me gustó mucho... para alguien que lee más libros de terror.. fue difícil adaptarme a su estilo... pienso en leer wild sheep chase, que te parece ?

[@murakamireads]

Realmente me encanto a wild sheep chase! Creo que deberias leerlo si te gusta After Dark! :)

[@luismonterey6333]

Gracias por la rápida respuesta... Mi esposa habla Coreano, Japones y Ingles, Somos profesores de Ingles en Sur América... Keep up the Good work... Cheers

[@eli_s315]

10.- South of the Border 9.- Norwegian Wood 8.- Hear the Wind Sing 7.- Pinball 1973 6.- After Dark 5.- Sputnik, Sweetheart 4.- Dance, Dance, Dance 3.- A Wild Sheep Chase 2.- Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki 1.- Kafka On the Shore I want to read 1Q84 and Hard-Boiled Wonderland, but I think I'll start with The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle.

[@ReachRoseReal]

1. Kafka on the shore 2. pilgrimage of colorless tsukuru tazaki 3. 1Q84

[@alyssak8985]

Have you read What I Talk About When I Talk About Running?(lol, a mouthful)

[@murakamireads]

no i havent! Its on my wishlist, but im not a huge memoir/nonfic person so ive been putting it off haha

[@irena7777777]

@@murakamireads It's a good book. Has a few nuggets of wisdom buried within it! Murakami is brilliant.

[@MoveYourCows]

what do you mean by contemporary?

[@BrandonLee-di9np]

Read 1Q84 and I need more MORE!

[@musik-ym8rk]

best murakami books are definetly coin locker babys and audition (just memeing boyes yall should still check out ryu murakami)

[@AlexA-qq7kk]

1. 1Q84 2. Kafka on the Shore 3. A Wild Sheep Chase 4. Norwegian Wood 5. The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle.

[@beetrf]

agree with you 100%!

[@cindy_le1106]

My personal ranking: 1. 1Q84 - My favorite book of all time 2. After dark - I really really wish this was longer (I liked the atmosphere in this book. Reminds me of the anime Durarara somehow with the city life 3. Wind up bird 4. Kafka 5. Killing commendatore 6. Colorless tsukuru 7. Dance dance dance 8. South of the Border 9. Norwegian Wood (my 1st book, I read more cause I loved his writing style) 10. Hard boiled - Too confusing and fantasy-like for my taste and not in a good way I'm having trouble deciding which book I should read next, I'm reading his books in order of recommendations/ratings

[@majormackenzie834]

I agree with your rank, specially the wind up bird

[@maxartist3d]

Nice video, My ranking for these books goes as follows: 1- Wild Sheep Chase 2- Kafka on the Shore 3- 1Q84 4- After Dark 5- Wind-up Bird Chronicles 6- Tsukuru Tazaki aHYoP. I like fiction books and those are Haruku's books i read I also finished Three Souls, because of your recommendations, and i loved it, THANKS 🌹👍

[@maxartist3d]

I loved norwegian wood, i don't know what you disliked about it. I enjoyed it its awesome

[@tofinotack4664]

I read after dark, wind up bird chronicle, strange library and colorless tsukuru tazaki and his years of pilgrimage. I didn't like colorless though,... i prefer the others so much more

[@ologyzoo8643]

1. Kafka on the Shore 2. After Dark 3. 1Q84 4. The wind up bird chronicle 5. Dance dance dance 6. Men without women

[@elizabethtan4221]

I love Norwegian Wood! I think the beauty is really in its simplicity, subtlety, which mirrors so much of Japanese culture, and Asian values. As an Asian myself, I can appreciate this from Murakami. Its probably his most contemporary work and therefore may be in comparison “boring” to his other more fantastical ones, but I appreciate the simplicity and quiet elegance that the story brings. Also, if you can take a step back, you’ll realise there are so many interpretations to the characters in the story, its no longer just one-dimensional or boring vs entertaining, and the novel is more than just its plot.

[@gs547]

I agree with your #1 & #2.

[@GamingDreamer]

I Have Kafka for years now in my pile of shame

[@suivezlesquais]

Thank you :) Generally the sequence like mine. But my personal number one ... A Wild Sheep Chase :) 'Przygoda z owcą' - in translation to ... what language?;) Best wishes for you! I'll return there:)

[@lilvels2429]

I thought I was alone in not liking Sputnik Sweetheart... my least favorite too. Also HTWS/Pinball are down there for me too. Wow, just typing this as I watch but I totally agree with you so far. I think Norwegian wood and South of the Border west of the sun are tied for the 3rd to last. NOOOOOOooooo Hardboiled Wonderland is my second favorite AH you lost me haha. I love that one so much. Colorless is my third though that's so sad. My ranking (high to low): Wind-up Bird (this book changed my life and my relationship to reading) Hardboiled Wonderland Colorless Tsukuru 1Q84 Kafka (I kind of hate this one but love it at the same time? I couldn't get past the creepy incest stuff but at the same time its a master piece) Norwegian Wood After the Quake Men Without Women South of the Border West of the Sun The Strange Library HTWS/Pinball Sputnik Sweetheart Looking forward to finally finishing the trilogy of the rat, After Dark, Elephant Vanishes, Blind Willow Sleeping Woman. I also think that its so strange how similar our thoughts about Wind-up Bird Chronicle are. I was extrememly depressed and didn't read for 6 months before finding Wind-up Bird Chronicle in a thrift store and it chnaged my life, got me back into reading, and changed my relationship with books and what I was into genre wise. Funny enough, I read it and recommended it to my teacher so in that way its opposite, but I think it interesting how this book really has affected so many people. I have shared it and continue to share it with people close to me. It really is a special book.

[@judebautista5925]

Norwegian Wood is my number one book off him. 🔥

[@ankitdhasmana8788]

I have read only a memoir " What i talk about when i talk about running". Its average.

[@DarthAndylus]

New reader and i started with after dark. Its pretty good but is already getting a little weird

[@murakamireads]

I would probably not suggest starting with after dark lol but if you're already into it i suppose you should finish it! I did do a whole recs video for murakami if you were interested~~

[@soitra]

Check out this list...."Dance Dance Dance" is at the top and Jeff Somers says that "if it's not in your top 3, your list is cancelled", yet you don't seem to rate it very highly at all. Thanks for your review though, it's got me interested in buying a copy of "A Wild Sheep Chase" What's your opinion of "After the Quake"?

[@soitra]

Sorry, I forgot to post the link to the Barnes and Noble list..www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/definitive-ranking-every-book-haruki-murakami-ever/

[@murakamireads]

I’ve never seen this list before - thanks for sending it it was an interesting read! Of course, I’m also not someone who is easily persuaded in opinions so although it was an interesting list and I enjoyed seeing what this blogger thought of his books - it def didn’t change my mind! I rank and rate books based off lit value but ALSO my personal enjoyment. My list might be dif if I was to ever look at them from a more literary perspective but I can’t get away from my own enjoyment of books I have yet to read any of his short stories because I personally hate short story collections so I’ve been putting them off! I will hopefully be getting to a few of them this summer though !

[@soitra]

@@murakamireads Thanks Kate; I also like your "Top 10 books" video. I think I may buy a copy of "I the Cat", sounds like a very unique book. All the best.

[@44y4l4]

yas! your ranking is super subjective, but I agree that wind-up bird is #1

[@CT-sy4wj]

1.1Q84 2. Wind Up Bird Chronicles 3. Kafka on the shore Dead Last: Killing Commentadore

[@musik-ym8rk]

1Q84 sucks because something happens and muramami cant write aboht happening things in my opinion, what he does best is just describing boredom

[@_.you._1215]

Should I read "the rat series " by it’s chronological order!!?? I want to read Dance dance dance first...would that be a problem in understanding the story?? Someone help me😥

[@murakamireads]

Anika Tabassum Upoma do not start with DDD. Read them in order if you can, if you can’t get the first 2 novellas then at least start with WSC.

[@_.you._1215]

@@murakamireads Okay. Thank you ❤❤

[@superokapi5950]

I’m almost done with the Wind-Up Bird. Seems like I have started with the desert :D By the way, if you like weird books taking place in a single day, you better try Ulysses.

[@murakamireads]

woahhhhh are you inside my brain? i legit started Ulysses TODAY

[@superokapi5950]

Kate Pfeil haha what are the odds!? I got to the halfway point of Ulysses some weeks ago and don’t know if I have the willpower to continue. Maybe I just need a long break from it... In any case, good luck on your odyssey!

[@johnvetromile4273]

A Wild Sheep Chase is the G.O.A.T.

[@murakamireads]

John V i agree AWSC is Tom Brady

[@bbens999]

Ended up being my least favorite so far

[@cookiecrumblesss]

i love ur passion! idk, i can hear smth from ur the way ur describing the books and i thought.. passion? hehe. AND I READ UR DESCRIPT! u like bts, so i guess u can understand when i say i read my first marukami based on rm's and it was kafka on the shore, and (honestlyyyy) i havent finished it, i am in the slump of reading and i thought by pausing marukami works is kinda understandable. but anyway i got inspired to actually reading marukami works again, ur south of the border west of the sun descript kinda hooked me, im looking forward to reading it! keep reading kate! xoxo

[@victoralvarez4787]

He said that writing a wild sheep chase was the first time he felt like he wrote something good

[@virgilgreen3108]

Will he be awarded a Nobel Prize for Literature?