There's a special sort of secret shame reserved for a twenty-something year-old who has never read Murakami. After years of hearing about how amazing his writing was, I decided to take the plunge with "South of the Border, West of the Sun". I was not disappointed.

I was pleasantly surprised with the frankness of the language, the understated way he paints everyday life and the realism of the characters. The novel kept me engaged up until the very end and once there, left me feeling like something unknown was missing from my own life. I'm not sure if this feeling was pleasant or not, hence the four stars. Looking forward to checking out his other works. ( )

Dù xét trên danh nghĩa là một sự tiếp nối của Cuộc săn cừu hoang hay là một tác phẩm độc lập thì Nhảy nhảy nhảy vẫn là một cuốn sách thành công. Dễ chịu và khá nhẹ nhàng. Có gì đó giống với Phía Nam biên giới, phía Tây mặt trời. Không khí truyện, âm nhạc, hơi thở của quá khứ giữa dòng chảy thời gian,... Cá nhân mình rất thích tình bạn giữa nhân vật chính với cô bé Yuki. ( )

Would I read more books by this author?
Definitely!

Would I recommend this book to anyone?
Yes.

Who would I recommend it to?
Someone who likes books that deal with real emotions and makes you think.

Has this book inspired me to do anything?
Not particularly, other than to continue reading books written by Haruki Murakami.

I have just finished South of the Border, West of the Sun. As with every one of Murakami's books that I have read, I have found this one puts you in the mind of its main protagonist and makes you feel his emotions and share his thoughts. The book is a narration of the main character's life from early childhood to his late thirties. It does not hide his failings or his mistakes, and it exposes his uncertainty about his decisions as he grows from childhood, through puberty, into adulthood.

It traces his path through life and brings to light the delights and regrets he experiences, and addressed how past life, and how we remember it, can affect one's later life.

At first I felt it was slow moving, and was not typical of the Murakamis I have read in the past. Then it picked up the interest level, and earned its four stars.

I recommended this book for our Book Club so I was a bit anxious that it would not be a typical Murakami.

I have just come across a quote from Hilary Mantel's memoir, Giving Up The Ghost, which captures the essence of what South of the Border, West of the Sun is about.

‘When you turn and look back down the years, you glimpse the ghosts of other lives you might have led; all houses are haunted.’

A not very likeable main character; a succession of interesting and attractive women who love him. Overlapping love stories that make it hard to know whether they celebrate love or warn against it - or both. As usual, Murakami grips you from the start - even though sometimes he is dealing with the ordinary he never loses you. Short and satisfying to read, but might leave you dissatisfied with life! ( )

South of the Border, West of the Sun is a truly fine title. I wish the book had lived up to this promise.

As the first and only Murakami book I've read, it will be the last since obsessive, selfish male adultery doesn't interest me
anymore than women entering a man's life knowing that will destroy his family.

The author's delving into the inner life of only children was insightful, as was his early friendship with Shimamoto.

That the plot delved into sleazy lies and cheating was very disappointing.
readers may also tire of hearing about his girlfriend's Salems and her endless smile.as she tries too hard to be enigmatic.

No Will Power? ( )