I am a sucker for magic realism, and this was my first Murakami book I ever read. Since reading it, I have thought about this book at least once per month. It is a gripping book filled with weirdness and magic and existentialism. There are so many scenes I cannot get out of my head. Everything I have written thus far is not necessarily good or bad but to me, it is the epitome of what to look for in a magic realism modern book. It is a book that is deep and transcendent, and will stay with you for a long time after reading, which to me, is an ultimate compliment.