Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World

By: Haruki Murakami

Narrated by: Adam Sims, Ian Porter

Length: 14 hrs

Publisher's summary

Information is everything in "Hard-Boiled Wonderland". A specialist encrypter is attacked by thugs with orders from an unknown source, is chased by invisible predators, and dates an insatiably hungry librarian who never puts on weight. In "The End of the World" a new arrival is learning his role as dream-reader. But there is something eerily disquieting about the changeless nature of the town and its fable-like inhabitants. Told in alternate chapters, the two stories converge and combine to create a novel that is surreal, beautiful, thrilling, and extraordinary.

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©2010 Naxos AudioBooks (P)2010 Naxos AudioBooks

Classic Murakami, No Ultraviolence

No spoilers in this review -- important as this book is full of surprises.

It gives nothing away to say that there are two side-by-side realities in this novel, neither of which is the one we live in. Or think we live in, which is a major theme of Hardboiled Wonderland.

If you only read one Murakami novel, this may not be the place to start (I'd recommend Kafka by the Shore). But Murakami enthusiasts should love this one. So should those interested in depth psychology.

There's little actual violence in this one, at least compared to, say, Wind-Up Bird Chronicle. Not the same as no violence, but nothing that horrified me.

Without giving anything away, I should note that the ending of this book keeps opening up in your mind long after you finish the novel. In short, it's not over when you get to the end.

Murakami at his best

The favorite Murakami character, a regular man with no ambition to be noted, find himself in two bizarre words at the same time

what a wild journey

unexpected original storyline...and unicorns...everything I never knew I wanted...great book I highly recommend to those looking for a journey in Japan and the end of the world

the psychology of mind

Haruki Murakami seems to have an endless imagination! In this novel he manages to create an intense examination of the meaning of 'mind' in a world ruled by the control of information collection. At times I needed to go back and re-listen to paragraphs as the deep and oblique and sometimes beautiful images float from his words and touch something deep inside.
This is no ordinary story and if you have ever questioned what it means to be 'mindful', both literally and psychologically, this book will take you away.

Magical

I love Murakami. I think this is up there with The Wind up Bird Chronicle for me. Having two actors read each voice made the distinction between them even more stark, one sounded young and modern and the other older and more solemn. How the mystery of both parallel worlds unfolds and the descriptions are totally riveting. Had a surreal experience running at dawn through a park as the second narrator described the Town and the unicorns, I felt like I could see the scene in front of me as the sun began to tint the sky and the trees. Not your typical novel and go for a runner

Good dreamlike book with alot of thilling turns

I likes the dreamstyle of murakami. Alot of psychology. There is also a good two story in one books moving together. The characters are a little shallow exept the main character but well written. You really get into the mind of the main character when moving deeper into his endevour.

Had to listen twice...

First time I didn't get in to it, but it was so worth to try again... I now think this book is a little masterpiece!

Still Haunting Me

Would you consider the audio edition of Hard-boiled Wonderland and the End of the World to be better than the print version?

This was my first Murakami, and I've since read Kafka on the Shore. I enjoyed both, but this is the one that's lingered more in my imagination. I enjoyed listening to it, but it's been the 'aftertaste,' the lingering effect of its mystery, that I've especially enjoyed. I don't know whether I'll literally re-read it, but I've certainly done so already in my daydreams.

What about Adam Sims and Ian Porter ’s performance did you like?

The back and forth is striking. It's a feature I wasn't used to in an audiobook. I don't know how well others would pull it off, but they complement each other very well.

Murakami makes breaks from reality feel natural

Any additional comments?

Wow, this was an awesome listen. I became a Murakami fan after listening to "1q84" and this was my second Murakami title. I am just as impressed. I found the story riveting, and I couldn't wait to see what happened next.

From the very start, the main character is introduced in full disclosure of all his neurotic, quirky traits. The coin counting, the immediate racing worries regarding the elevator being stuck, and everything else just makes him likable. He isn't like me at all, yet he is relatable, because I have my own weird eccentric quirks and habits. He is not an obnoxious caricature of a person.

The story involves a break from reality of sorts, in which suddenly, strange phenomena is described and we learn of unusual brain implants that the main character had, which exposed him to the domino effect of all that occurs within the story. The tale jumps between the eccentric, colorful man we are first introduced to, to a flat, droll, somewhat lifeless man in a gray and eerie landscape. We begin to learn how these two men are connected, and there is much symbolism and concepts of what consciousness, souls, reality and existence really are.

I don't want to spoil it, so all I will say is, it is a great listen and a fantastic book. Also, the very last few sentences (the bird flying off into the sky lines) really hit me for some reason, tears ran down my cheeks, I felt an eerie understanding of the soul and was reminded of one of my favorite quotes, by Herman Hesse, "The bird fights its way out of the egg. The egg is the world. Who would be born must destroy a world. The bird flies to God." That is one of my favorite quotes, and it felt strange to see something so reminiscent of it in the ending of Murakami's book, and it left me thinking about the story for days after finishing it.

Time well spent

Both narrators are excellent, and the storyline is enchanting and incredible. 10/10, I highly recommend