Six stories by Murakami are set in the weeks after the 1995 Kobe earthquake, though the quake itself happens off-stage. In one, a man's wife leaves him after watching the news coverage nonstop, and he is sent to deliver a mysterious box. In "Super-Frog Saves Tokyo," a giant frog asks a bank clerk to help him fight a worm underground. Other stories include a young woman who follows a man into a field of fire and a boy who is told by a woman that he is the son of God. They concern loss, fear and the odd hidden currents under daily life.
A strong pick for readers who like Murakami's short fiction and want something shorter than his novels. It suits anyone who wants quiet, haunting stories.
Inward-looking, contemplative, open-ended and thought-provoking; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Wisdom Collector. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2000
- Language
- EN
