Hmm... I don't know whether it's because I'm growing out of Murakami or this book doesn't *nail* it, but I think this book is just okay. Some parts are really good but others are pretty average or feel pointless. (view spoiler)[And since sex plays a huge part in this story, it makes me wonder if sex is all that Murakami thinks about. Seriously! It's like he's running out of ideas or something. Maybe he is. (hide spoiler)] It certainly didn't give me as much effect as he did after I read Kafka on the Shore. Still, I like how his language is so easy to absorb that it gets me right into the flow.