Title: Men Without Women
Author: Haruki Murakami
Publication Date: May 9, 2017
Pages: 240
Publisher: Knopf Publishing Group
Date Started: November 7, 2018
Date Finished: November 10, 2018
Format: Hardcover

And here’s the third book I’ve read for the N.E.W.T.s read-a-thon! I chose Men Without Women to meet the “Outstanding” requirement for Charms: “A book you think will leave a mark.” Murakami’s books have been known to leave me in a daze after I finish them, and I am a particular fan of his short stories, so I felt that this book would fit that description.

Men Without Women is a collection of seven short stories that all center around men who are lonely, or have lost women in their lives. As one might expect, this is not an uplifting set of stories. Additionally, these stories span the range of Murakami’s style of writing. Some are a narrative of human experience, whereas others breach into the surreal.

I’ve had this book on my shelf since the day it came out: my hubby and I were on our honeymoon when he bought it for me. ^.^ Yet it has taken this read-a-thon to force me to sit down and read it. And I’m really glad I did. For me, the stories ranged from interesting by not really what I’m interested in, to complete mind-blowing “I love this story” level. In particular, I adored the story titled “Kino,” which followed a man that started a bar after his wife cheated on him. Murakami has been known to turn short stories into full length novels (e.g.: Wind-Up Bird Chronicles) and this is one that I wouldn’t mind diving more into. All of the elements are there: a cat, a mysterious man, a women with scars, and of course the unknown threat that comes for the main character near the end. It would be perfect! There was also a retelling of Kafka’s Metamorphosis as one of the stories, where he wakes up a man instead of a roach. Which only reminds me I need to read that book as well.

Here’s to many more great books this year!

Overall, 3/5 moose