• The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle

  • A Novel
  • By: Haruki Murakami
  • Narrated by: Rupert Degas
  • Length: 26 hrs and 11 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (5,372 ratings)

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The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle  By  cover art

The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle

By: Haruki Murakami
Narrated by: Rupert Degas
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Publisher's summary

A "dreamlike and compelling” tour de force (Chicago Tribune)—an astonishingly imaginative detective story, an account of a disintegrating marriage, and an excavation of the buried secrets from Japan’s forgotten campaign in Manchuria during World War II.

In a Tokyo suburb, a young man named Toru Okada searches for his wife’s missing cat—and then for his wife as well—in a netherworld beneath the city’s placid surface. As these searches intersect, he encounters a bizarre group of allies and antagonists. Gripping, prophetic, and suffused with comedy and menace, this is one of Haruki Murakami’s most acclaimed and beloved novels.

©1997 Haruki Murakami (P)2013 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Dreamlike and compelling.... Murakami is a genius." (Chicago Tribune)

“Mesmerizing.... Murakami’s most ambitious attempt yet to stuff all of modern Japan into a single fictional edifice.” (The Washington Post Book World)

“A significant advance in Murakami’s art ... a bold and generous book.” (The New York Times Book Review)

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Thanks to the work of translators and publishers, Japanese literature is now more accessible than ever to English-speaking audiences. If you've ever wanted to learn more about Japanese culture and literature, you cannot go wrong with listening to audiobooks from Japan. We've compiled a list of the most famous Japanese authors who have helped define Japanese literature, and their notable works across genres and time periods.

What listeners say about The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

entertaining plot but comical narration

the narration (of every character besides the protagonist) was distracting....maybe it was suppose to be that exaggeratedly absurd to portray the whimsical plot

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2 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Don’t bother with audio book

I’m well on my way to reading every Muakami. I don’t know how this book was because it was literally unbearable. I thought countless times in the first few hours to stop listening but in denial forged forward because the story piqued my interest. But his lady voices really just did me in. I was embarrassed to listening to this guy - like, even on my headphones. Buy this book and read it. They should re-record this, seriously.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

The audio aspect of this book was horrible.

There were times that I wanted to just skip ahead because of how annoying he would the make voices. Women don't have a high pitch obnoxious voice and shouldn't be read as such. The story is beautiful and I really enjoyed it and I would have enjoyed it even more if another person had done the audio.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing narration

Thoroughly enjoyed listening this. Story is beautiful, mysterious and written in a beautiful way which keeps you hooked up as the small mysteries are unraveled slowly. Narration was outstanding! So many different voices, spoken out so convincingly, it really felt like I know who exactly is speaking just by hearing the voice.
At the end of the book, it left me wanting for more. I wish Mr.Okada's interesting life continued with more mysteries. I too much of anything makes you not liking it, this was just the right amount of pleasure.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

loved it

amazing story lines and well developed characters. highly recommend. Degas was masterful with unique voices for each character....which added to the enjoyment of the story. bravoooooo!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Confusing

Found it a little confusing to follow along with but as I went along everything started to tie together.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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masterclass

sublime example of literary genius. Probably one of Murakami's best. This is a must read (listen)

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

women depictions

I love his writing, but there's always weird depictions of women in his books. Women whos main character traits are that she's a women and the main (male) characters life, and she always is sexualized. unfortunately. it really is a well writien book otherwise.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Highest recommendation

This is my first Haruki Murakami book and I will read every title by this author. Bravo! The characters are so rich and fully developed on many, entertaining levels...the sheer number of characters was never an issue because of the skill and intrigue, with which each was developed, their unique and memorable significance to the overall story....truly amazing, clever development and unfolding of the narrative. Thank you!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Don’t know how to feel.

What a weird book liked and hated it. Guy definitely could use a editor but it might be a cultural thing. But boy oh boy the author sure does have some complicated complex with women. All the female characters are hype sexualized many for no reason and there all sort of powerless or crippled in some way. Yeah I’ll just say it he hates women. Would not recommend it to a friend. You should read it though.

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