Rubin, a U.S. academic, is one of Murakami's main translators into English, as well as a friend of the author. As a result, he is one of the people best placed to write a study, effectively a lengthy piece of cogent criticism on Murakami's works through to Kafka on the Shore. Although it has been a long time since I read Hard-Boiled Wonderland, The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, et al., Rubin's descriptions and analysis of them brought the novels straight back to me. Most importantly, this work had the effect of making me want to reread almost everything Murakami had written in chronological order. This is both to appreciate the beauty (or ‘music’) of his writing, as well as tracing his evolution as an author. Although there is a distinct ‘Murakami style’ and many regularly occurring tropes (cats, elephants, wells, etc.), there is much more to Murakami too. Rubin is very effective in highlighting the increasing obligation Murakami feels to acknowledging Japan's troubled wartime history in his works. Arguably, even more importantly, there is a lengthy and valid discussion about the importance of the subconscious; our inner and outer selves, and the subtle distinction between real and dream worlds. Finally, there is a useful meditation on the role of the translator in reading Murakami. In all considerations, his importance to modern literature cannot be understated. Not rated.
By Jay Rubin