A Wild Sheep Chase

A Novel

By: Haruki Murakami

Narrated by: Rupert Degas

A New York Times bestselling author—and “a mythmaker for the millennium, a wiseacre wiseman” (New York Times Book Review)—delivers a surreal and elaborate quest that takes readers from Tokyo to the remote mountains of northern Japan, where the unnamed protagonist has a surprising confrontation with his demons.

An advertising executive receives a postcard from a friend and casually appropriates the image for an advertisement. What he doesn’t realize is that included in the scene is a mutant sheep with a star on its back, and in using this photo he has unwittingly captured the attention of a man who offers a menacing ultimatum: find the sheep or face dire consequences.

Critic reviews

“Murakami is a mythmaker for the millennium, a wiseacre wiseman.” —New York Times Book Review

"A delight ... equal parts screwball comedy, detective story, and heroic quest." —USA Today

“A witty adventure ... a piece of verbal anarchy ... a labyrinthine mystery from start to finish.” —San Francisco Chronicle

"Marvelously engaging, at turns witty, dry, wicked, even loopy. Reading A Wild Sheep Chase is like spending a splendidly foul weekend with the Four Raymonds—Chandler, Carver, Massey, and Queneau." —Frederick Barthelme

Distracting performance

Chapter 13 was the last straw! I struggled with the female voices early on. But I persisted. But then came Chapter 13. The voices used for the performance sounded nothing like the voice in my head as I heard the words. The rat sounded thuggish and unintelligent, while the prose was intelligent and clearly from an educated person. He even compares his writing to literary greats, so why would he sound like a mob bosses henchman? I wish we had a choice of performers.

magical

He needs a sheep, some odd characters and some snow. Plus excellent narration. Then we have magical times.

Good book. Better narration. Original and strange.

I only purchased this audiobook after meeting up with an old college friend. He reminded me that he had suggested I read it 10 years ago. I regret not having done so then. The story is original and strange (in a good way). It is unlike anything you'll read/hear from an American voice. The narration is top notch. Worth listening to twice, which I might do after I finish writing this review.

A nice escape from COVID-ridden world

I enjoyed listening to this with a new friend.

The story keeps you guessing the entire length with witty, quirky characters you're not sure what to think about.

I don't know what I just read

I am usually a big fan of murakami but this one just didn't hit