This collection of seventeen short stories shows Murakami's early imagination. In the title story, a man notices that an elephant has disappeared from a local zoo, and he becomes obsessed with it. Others include "The Second Bakery Attack," in which a couple robs a McDonald's to cure hunger, "The Dancing Dwarf," "Barn Burning," which inspired a film, and "TV People," in which small people bring a television into a man's apartment. Many stories deal with loneliness and sudden strangeness in ordinary life.
A good sampler for readers who want to try Murakami in short form. It suits fans of surreal fiction and people who like stories that do not explain their mysteries.
Deep, open-ended and thought-provoking; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Wisdom Collector. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1993
- ISBN
- 9780679750536
- Language
- EN
