Murakami did it to me again. I feel like I have come up against the profound pain of unknowability and alienation so characteristic of modern life through these series of short stories. This book is also instructive, teaching you how to accept the absurd and senseless. The pleasure of reading this book is in delving into the words of each short story and coming out the other end enriched, entertained, and sometimes moved. I found myself reflecting on memories and emotions long forgotten or left behind too soon. I like how this writing was able to draw this out of me.