I really loved this book. After reading AWSC I thought this lead on perfectly- I wouldn't advise reading this first. I agree that it was perhaps one of the more 'aimless' books, but I felt that the threads of connection held up. It felt like a literary journey through a huge web. Sometimes with Murakami the characters don't feel especially real or distinct, but I found these characters and the protagonist really intriguing. The only thing I will say is that although I enjoyed the different threads connecting as they felt like being lead down a path, I would have perhaps liked a couple of them to be 'tied up' more. Probably one of my favourite Murakami works.