It’s certainly a quieter and less surreal turn for Murakami. He presents this themes and ideas in a much less oblique manner. Yet don’t be fooled: Murakami works a lot into what may superficially just be a simple romance with the usual Murakami stamp. The novel has perfectly balanced tone and prose: quiet, introspective and incredibly ‘readable’. The flow was unstoppable. Definitely recommended for anyone who’s interested in getting a complete idea of Murakami’s style.