While reminiscent of Murakami's earlier work, this is a truly unusual tale. There is a quiet, but compelling pace as the main character relates his teenage love and loss, his mysterious transfer to a fantastical town, and then his equally mysterious return to an unfulfilled existence in Tokyo to be followed by life working in a rural library. The relatively small cast of characters and their unusual circumstances will stick with me for a while. As a reader I felt I was always searching for a kind of meaning in the story, just as the characters themselves are. I might need to read it several more times to notice all of the parallelism, references and recursive elements, but reading it once has provided a lot for me to think about.

I doubt everyone would give this book 5 stars and it's not the kind of book I typically would, but I think it's changed how I think of things, and that seems like enough.

This was difficult to get into but I’m glad I saw it through. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for gifting this arc.

This seems like it will be a very divisive read. I haven’t read this author before, and I feel like I’m at a disadvantage. I loved the writing, the story, and the characters, but I’m also left feeling confused.

I found it very interesting to learn that this was originally a short story written 40 years ago, and then reworked into this novel starting in 2020. The reader can feel the isolation that he was feeling while writing. I found the story to be very unique. I’ve always been fascinated by dreams, and I like the questions that are presented in this book about dream worlds and shadow selves.

Overall I really loved it. The writing was excellent, and although this was a long book, I never felt bored while reading. I do think this will be a love it or hate it kind of book based on reading preferences.

Magical realism at its best.

Future publication date November 19, 2024

You’ll want to read this if:
-you’ve enjoyed Murakami‘s other work.
-you love magical realism.
-you like waxing philosophical.
-libraries, egg shaped dreams, unicorns, ghosts, and shadows are images you want to see in your books.

Is the imagined city of these two love struck teenagers more real than the life that they are living?

The first time I finished a Murakami novel I had more questions than answers, and now, with this being the fifth novel I’ve finished by him, I can confidently say that Murakami is not in the business of supplying the reader with any kind of answers. If you’re ok with not knowing all the answers (in terms of life and with where this novel is going) then there’s no better novel for you than The City and its Uncertain Walls.

Besides pondering the concepts of time, death, souls, consciousness, and reality, Murakami also takes time to appreciate ritual. It seems almost contradictory to write a story about these abstract concepts and also write so lovingly about routine and ritual, but Murakami loves to dote on the mundane and does it so well here: blueberry muffins and coffee, lighting a fire, taking the same route home every day, the same yellow submarine hoodie, a single cigarette and drink at the end of every shift.

What didn’t work for me was the way he wrote Mrs.Soeda: overqualified and very capable, yet she basically functions as an assistant. He may not have the best handle on writing women.

His writing is very simple and easy to follow, which I think is why I’m always willing to embark on these absurd journeys that force me to contemplate things we will never have answers to. It’s slow and meditative and the perfect book to read in the winter with lots of attractive descriptions of cozy fires lit in libraries on snowy evenings.

Thank you @netgalley and @knopf for this e-ARC

Thoroughly enjoyed this book! So glad I gave Murakami another try. A reflective novel of Self and the internal search for deeper meaning.

The main character’s search and restlessness for this unknown point is such an understood universal experience. A wonderful read for magical realism.

Surreal and Existential.

This dreamlike narrative is esoteric at times and not necessarily meant for the consumption of the average reader. The concepts within are heady and probing, delving deep into how we move through this world or even possibly the next. A consideration of the roles love and loss, isolation and connectivity . . . how these blurred spectrums affect our lives, at times healing and occasionally causing us harm . . . and not always able to differentiate these states as being either. A dispassionate rumination, a quiet nostalgia for the people we lose touch with over the years of our lives, including who we once were or could have been. Some sections offer thoughtful verse on how much or rather little control we have . . . only a sense of reactivity whether it's knee-jerk or volitional. Great book for group discussions. I recommend this novel to those who enjoy magical realism, self-discovery, and deep thinking.

I thank NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of The City and its Uncertain Walls for my unbiased evaluation.  3.5 stars

I was impressed with this book of course is well written, it’s Murakami. It’s incredible how he writes magic realism, he truly makes you feel like you’re in a dream. Beautiful Novel about a 45 year old men that can’t forget his first love, when he was 17, together they imagen their own city with high walls. All this world has a second meaning in this men life, it does take a lot of thinking to get it all together. I do think it’s missing the climax of the story just to keep you interested because the book does feel extended. But over all a really enjoy this book and the teachings, like how we need to let go of our past to start a new life. I still can’t fully connect or understand the boy with the yellow submarine sweater and the main character but I think this is the cool part of Murakami, that he leaves you thinking about his book for days, love it.

As someone for whom this novel served both as an entryway into Murakami's work, and into the greater sphere of magical realism—"The City and Its Uncertain Walls" was an engrossing, enriching, and oftentimes challenging reading experience. The translation was brimming with evocative imagery: pastel environments, introspective and heady narration, as well as a dreamlike, meandering structure. Upon reading the author's note, one can easily identify that the heft of the story was painstakingly crafted over a lengthy swath of his adult life, and granted words over two years indoors, during a consequential shift in social life and global flux.

This is certainly a book that cares about its readers, as well as the transformative power of literature to bind and connect (specific characters finding a safe haven through the library, even from across chasms). The prose feels painstakingly dialed-in, crafting something between a dissociative spell whilst lying out in the sun, and a psychotherapy session from the comfort of a chaise lounge. Much of the novel concerns itsel with the bleeding edges between the reality each of us occupies, and the myriad fantasies we construct to understand our respective lives. This was unexpectedly moody and esoteric, and the flowery prose in no way shied away from the darker facets that this type of storytelling presupposes. The book even faithfully weaves together various trains of psychological thought, going so far as to explicitly deal with the "shadow self", personified, in true Jungian form.

Murakami, rather than offering yet another in what seems like a deluge of proposed theories as to what seems to be ailing each of us, offers instead respite through the act of loosening that of which we were once sure of. For better or worse, this book reads very much the way a Rorschach test feels: stark black thoughts laid against the backdrop of snowy white canvases. Due to the sheer length of the novel, and its two act structure (acknowledged by Murakami himself as a kind of "extension" of what was initially his "finished" story), this could prove frustrating for the average reader. When committed to, though, it can prove to be a labor of love, and yield a rich amount of personal development through working through its trove of questions.

Granted the nature of the book itself, and the often less-than-pleasant subject matter, the portions that meander on setting can feel somewhat inaccessible. Murakami certainly leaves no stone unturned in describing the world(s) he's probing, but a bit of tighter, punchier verbiage would grant longer chapters some necessary levity. This, of course, might also be sheerly due to the act of translating. All in all, this is a wonderful book—one that asks much of readers, and returns a space to reflect on the relationships that changed us, the voids left behind in loss, and the ways we contend with the world around us once we uncouple ourselves from how we understand the world, only to find ourselves unable to come back.

I would recommend this to patient readers, those in desperate need of connection, and anyone with enough free space in their week to immerse themselves in the deep well of this novel's imagined world. My one caveat is that, granted the novel's heady motifs, dreamlike narrative structure, and distinct language style, this would perhaps be best read for those already well-acquainted with Murakami's singular flare for rich storytelling. This might prove inaccessible to the average reader, unacquainted with magical realism as a literary movement. It did, however, pique my interest in the rest of Murakami's work, as he clearly has had many years to ponder his interests—existence, fulfillment, connectivity across barriers (language and otherwise), as well as the power of our stories to both sustain and isolate us. For all it's pain and rumination, Murakami's voice bursts forth like a beam of sunlight. This is an earnest, tender-hearted book, and it will be on my mind for a long while—perhaps for the rest of my life/lives.

Thank you the publisher and Net Galley for letting me review this book.

A Dreamlike Journey Through Time and Space

Haruki Murakami's The City and Its Uncertain Walls is a captivating exploration of love, loss, and the enigmatic nature of reality. This latest offering from the acclaimed author invites readers into a world where dreams intertwine with waking life, and the boundaries between past, present, and future blur.

The novel centers around a young man who finds himself drawn to a mysterious city beyond a seemingly impenetrable wall. As he ventures into this timeless realm, he encounters a girl who holds the key to his past, present, and future. The narrative unfolds with a dreamlike quality, filled with surreal imagery and philosophical musings that leave a lasting impression.

Murakami's signature style, characterized by a blend of realism and magical realism, is on full display in this novel. His prose is both evocative and thought-provoking, painting vivid pictures of the city and its inhabitants. The author's exploration of themes such as memory, time, and the human condition is both profound and accessible.

While some readers may find the novel's pacing to be slow at times, its meditative quality is a significant part of its appeal. The City and Its Uncertain Walls is a book that rewards patient readers with a rich and rewarding experience. It is a testament to Murakami's enduring talent as a storyteller and his ability to create unforgettable worlds.

Overall, The City and Its Uncertain Walls is a must-read for fans of Haruki Murakami and anyone seeking a thought-provoking and imaginative literary journey.

Classic murakami share, returning to an old world in a brilliant shining new way. I found this at times oddly hilarious. The love story was bizarre and grim to me. But i think murakami kinda does his thing best in longer form. I think this is a good format for him. His shorter works are fun but i prefer him like this. He gets to really dig into a vibe.

This is a truly lovely story about the power of imagination and libraries. Wonderful characters and setting. I felt the pacing of the story fit the vibe of the book overall, however, the pacing is a little slow, especially in part one. If you are looking for a relaxing atmospheric story, then this is the book for you!

This book has all of the elements of a great story. It is beautifully written and you feel every emotion Mr. Murakami wants you to feel. I felt loneliness, hope, heartbreak, and joy. It is a wonderful read.

I found The City and Its Uncertain Walls to be extremely contemplative yet approachable. Murakami’s writing is like none I have read before, and I really enjoyed getting to read his new book. If you are a fan of magical realism, I highly recommend The City and Its Uncertain Walls by Haruki Murakami.

Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for the opportunity to read this advance readers copy, in exchange for an honest review. The City and Its Uncertain Walls is a phenomenal book, one that is a shining example of Murakami at his best with elements of magical realism. It is difficult to summarize the plot so, I won’t try (read the jacket blurb) but, it is so worth it to jump into this book and just let yourself get lost in it. Every time I set this book down, I kept thinking about it and could not wait to pick it back up.

While the story does not have an fast paced plot, Murakami builds out the story so well and creates such interesting worlds here, both in what is intended to represent reality (with elements of magical realism) and a mysterious other-worldly city. There were many themes and questions raised in this book that left a lot for the reader to explore— it is even more interesting to consider this book in a post-pandemic light and to consider what this might be saying about the state of the world we’re living in and generally about the human condition. Emotions and experiences like grief and deep love were also covered throughout this book and it’s interesting to consider where exactly Murakami wants to leave the reader with these concepts, as we move between realities and as the story concludes. I know I will be thinking about this book for a while and will need more time to mull over what to take from this reading experience.

While I can understand that this book might not be for everyone, I absolutely loved it. The slow pace, deep character introspection, and truly visceral tone of this story (sometimes joyous, sometimes so unbearably sad, ominous, troubled, etc etc.) felt so real and close to me— truly unlike anything I’ve read before. I am not entirely sure what to make of the ending at this point but, it did feel like a satisfying conclusion. I will be so interested to see what other readers make of this book and I can’t wait to pick up more of Murakami’s work in the future. I would definitely recommend this to lit fic fans (lots to unpack here), magical realism fans, and those who like the authors previous works.

Elements of the writing that has made so many of Murakami's previous books wonderful are present in this novel as well: ordinary life, ordinary people, deep characterization, deep introspection, and normal characters with slightly strange happenings. I really like the passage near the end when he discusses magical realism - it felt like a very on the nose way of inserting himself and his beliefs into the story.

One of my favorite things about Murakami's writing is that sometimes the distinction between real and imaginary is blurred. There were times when I was confused whether the "real" world was the town with the wall or the mountain town with the library. He touches on this aspect of his writing when discussing the other magical realism passage, but it is one of my favorite things about his novels. I like slow writing that builds deep knowledge of the characters and writing that makes me feel present in the fictional worlds, and I think Murakami does this well. The City and Its Uncertain Walls is no exception - I wish I lived in the mountainous town with the library and the cafe.

Murakami at his most cerebral and dense. He's never an easy read, but I always feel like his worlds are "lived in." I'm not sure my high schoolers would get the point of his stories, so I likely won't buy it, but I enjoyed it.

Haruki Murakami's "The City and Its Uncertain Walls" is a contemplative and mystical novel that takes readers on a slow, meditative journey through a world where reality and fantasy blur. The story follows a boy and a girl who meet during a high school essay contest and create an imagined city where the girl believes her true self resides. Decades later, the boy, now a middle-aged man, finds himself in this mysterious city, grappling with questions of identity, memory, and the human psyche.

The novel starts slowly, with a repetitive and distant prose style that may challenge readers initially. However, as the story progresses, the rhythm becomes more engaging, drawing readers into the dreamlike world Murakami crafts. The narrative is deeply introspective, exploring themes of duality, the sense of self, and unresolved emotions.

While the novel has its moments of brilliance, it also feels at times like a metaphor in search of a meaning, with characters often restating key ideas without much resolution. The ending, though not entirely satisfying, leaves readers with a sense of having walked through a calm, mysterious landscape without a clear destination.

Overall, "The City and Its Uncertain Walls" is quintessential Murakami—rich in magical realism and introspection—but it may not be the best starting point for those new to his work. Longtime fans will appreciate its depth and the return to themes explored in "Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World," while others might find it slow and meandering. Despite its flaws, the novel is a thought-provoking read that will resonate with those who enjoy Murakami's unique style.

The Short of It:

Dreamlike. Ethereal.

The Rest of It:

Murakami’s books are always thought-provoking and often serve as a palate cleanser for me because they are so different from most books. The City and Its Uncertain Walls is no different in that regard.

This is a story involving two worlds. One is seemingly reality, the other a simpler existence behind a large wall. In this other world people must give up their shadows to exist there, unicorns roam free only to die from the harsh elements. Dreams are read by a Dream Reader.

This is an odd story. There is a quest to find truth, and also a love story split between two worlds. Lovers of libraries will find comfort in these pages because this town, enclosed by a wall centers around a library, a very special one.

Murakami fans might recognize this story as it began as a short story but there are many references to previous books. Mentions of a “well” a la The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World, and The Strange Library. Murakami is known to include these essentials in his stories:

Cats (there are a few mentions of cats, none talking though)
Ears (Murakami has a thing for ears. He describes them just so)
Women’s fashion. Attention to what women wear.
Lonely, everyman type of character
Mysterious worlds
The one thing that stood out to me is the mention of the pandemic. Many of my favorite novelists, Stephen King included have included the pandemic in their storytelling. I mean, it was such a critical point in our lives, how can you not? But this mention of it was interesting because the wall that surrounds this town, forces them into isolation, much the same way that the pandemic did. It DID seem very surreal, those pandemic years.

I was talking to another blogger about this book. Nadia, and I love Murakami but at 16 chapters in, I reached out to her. This one seemed a little different and it was taking me a while to get into it. Initially, the alternating chapters were challenging because I wasn’t able to discern who was speaking. The two main characters are nameless and since the story bounces between two worlds, I felt that it was a little hard to get to know them. Eventually, I did but it wasn’t until about chapter 36 or so.

Murakami fans wait so long for new books because the translation process usually takes two plus years, so when a book drops, we jump on it! I was lucky enough to snag a review copy but this book releases on November 19th.

My fave Murakami book to date is Kafka on the Shore but by the time I got to the last page of this one, I was smitten and already missing that strange world.

After having completed Murakami’s huge opus “1Q84” recently and enjoyed it, I was very happy to get my hands on this ARC. I didn’t know he had anything new coming out, and the afterword for this revealed that it was actually a story he had written much earlier in his life and reworked into this longer novel. I feel very lucky that I was able to read it before publication.

This book feels like an interesting dream. And strange dreams also happen in the story, making the plot feel like a dream WITHIN a dream. Almost a sort of fairytale setting for adults in a way, with the bizarre city that may or may not actually exist in the real world. But what’s real and what isn’t? And does it REALLY matter?

Murakami is still writing about younger women in a questionable way. Here’s a thing you should probably know: the two main characters meet when he is 17 and she is 16, but they are then separated by the wall of a magical town and he ages but she does not. So when they meet again, he is much older but she is still 16. And he remains fixated on her. Despite this, though, I was shaking my head a lot less throughout the read than I did during “1Q84.” It was a cozy story with a mildly ominous undertone. I really enjoyed reading it before bed.

The middle section of the book will probably be a bit slow for some people, as it follows one character for a while and frankly not a whole lot happens during that time. It didn’t bother me much because I still enjoyed the vibes and a library was involved. But there was quite a bit of repetition and following along with the character’s day-to-day, so I could easily see people growing bored with it. I think a lot of stuff probably could’ve been edited down, but who am I to question?

Eventually there’s a twist that was pretty farfetched, even for a Murakami book, and I had trouble accepting it, but I tried to just go with the flow and let the story carry me where it wanted to. The whimsy and darkness at times could be very unbalanced in this book, suddenly going from a relaxing atmosphere to something so sad it was jarring. But really, that’s a mild complaint. (And to be fair, cozy and sad are two of my favorite things.)

A few more minor nitpicks: There was a character that was Neurodivergent and I think that Murakami mostly handled it with sensitivity. Another character, though, seemed to come across as Asexual (or at the very least suffered from a restrictive medical condition) and I couldn’t decide if this one was handled as well because he made a couple of strange choices. There was also a minor plot inconsistency involving a piece of clothing and it didn’t really change anything story wise but it was distracting because it kept coming up. And honestly, the main character is likable enough but his obsession with his high school sweetheart was supposed to be romantic and instead had me giving him the skeptical side eye for the entire book.

What this novel does very well is handle complicated themes such as identity, grief, and when literally the only thing in life that you can be bothered to care about anymore is your local library. Murakami also writes lovely prose. It’s like a warm mug of soothing tea.

I liked the ending. It had a nice balance of “This is SO WEIRD” and just enough closure without things being wrapped up too neatly. (For ME, anyway.) I still like 1Q84 quite a bit more, for numerous reasons, but I enjoyed the journey here and the oddly chill and dreamlike atmosphere. Even if I did want just a bit more. Less repetition and more of the strange plot action would have bumped up my rating, for sure! But I think Murakami is an excellent writer. Slightly pervy tendencies aside, (*though they were toned WAY down in this book), he really knows his way around a narrative. I would only recommend this to people who are very patient when it comes to a slow pace and characters that repeat themselves, though!
I’m really in the mood for a blueberry muffin now.

Thanks so much to Netgalley and to the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.

TW: Depression, Animal death (off screen), Suicide, Child death

It's a town that you will remember as a Murakami fan - the dream reading and library of our dreams

There are unicorns and Beatles references and lots of love for libraries as well as a love story. The boy Boku, now a man, searches for his first friend, his pen pal his love when they were teens and she told him where to find "her real self." Now in his 40's, the man has entered the city walls and searches for the girl. The City is filled with references of older Murakami books and they emerge like bright Easter Eggs in the inconsistent, trademark pacing of the novel. Murakami is exploring his own magical realism style and questioning whether it is actually just reality.

It's effervescent, its magical, it's a beautiful vapor of a story #knopf #knopfvintagepantheonanchor #thecityanditsuncertainwalls #harukimurakami