發條鳥年代記

I was initially drawn to this book by its striking Vintage edition cover illustrated by John Gall—but I never expected it to become one of my all-time favourites.Where do I even begin? It feels like a vivid, surreal dream disguised in the simple clothing of everyday life. The story opens with a couple’s cat going missing, prompting the woman to hire a professional psychic to find it. From there, reality begins to unravel.Not much is clearly explained—Murakami doesn’t follow traditional storytelling rules. At times, you’ll find yourself wondering why you're spending so much time on something that feels like nonsense. But slowly, imperceptibly, the story takes root. It weaves itself into your thoughts until you realize you can’t shake it off.As Murakami writes: “Sometimes when I think of life, I feel like a piece of driftwood washed up on shore. You can go with the flow, or you can lie still.” This book embodies that tension—between movement and stillness, clarity and mystery.People, emotions, and meanings shift and blur, pulling you into a mesmerizing world that’s part mystery, part introspection.