The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle (Nejimakitori Kuronikuru) is the eight novel by author Haruki Murakami, first published in Japanese in between the years 1994-1995, and was later released English by long-time Murakami translator Jay Rubin in 1997. The original Japanese edition was released in three parts, while the English language edition (and the most common one today) is a single volume of over 600 pages, making it one of Murakami’s longest yet.
While a few chapters from the novel were published in The New Yorker and a slightly altered version of the first chapter was featured in the short story collection The Elephant Vanishes (not to mention the novel’s protagonist, Noboru Wataya, appears in another short story in this collection), this novel is the where all these characters and story beats are placed together to create something more coherent.
Because of this novel’s (very) large page count, you’d likely assume that it’s rather dramatic and intense, plot and content wise – and it is, but not in the way you’d expect. Beginning with the protagonist (Noboru Wataya) being tasked by his wife to find their missing cat, the plot is suddenly turned upside-down as Noboru discovers one morning that his wife has mysteriously vanished, and the rest follows him as he uncovers the mysteries and intricacies of her disappearance, all the while encountering eccentric allies and antagonists. Although, yes, the novel does have its moments of melodrama and theatrics, Murakami takes a more subtle and nuanced approach to the situations faced by Noboru, with several scenes focusing on his loneliness and introspection, in classic Murakami style.
When it comes down to it, despite how intimidating its length and size appear, The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle is one of Murakami’s best, and will definitely stick with you a long time after you read it.
The Art Archive 