Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World

By: Haruki Murakami

Narrated by: Adam Sims, Ian Porter

Information is everything in "Hard-Boiled Wonderland". A specialist encrypter is attacked by thugs with orders from an unknown source, is chased by invisible predators, and dates an insatiably hungry librarian who never puts on weight. In "The End of the World" a new arrival is learning his role as dream-reader. But there is something eerily disquieting about the changeless nature of the town and its fable-like inhabitants. Told in alternate chapters, the two stories converge and combine to create a novel that is surreal, beautiful, thrilling, and extraordinary.

Download the accompanying reference guide.©2010 Naxos AudioBooks (P)2010 Naxos AudioBooks

Great book and decent narration.

I love Murakami's books and this one is no exception. I didn't quite fall for the separate narration, and in hindsight would probably have read the book myself rather than to listen to the audiobook. But all in all, great experience.

one of murakamis best

keeps you guessing until the very end. full of philosophical depth.would read and read again.

This was more SFish than his other books I've read

Murakami's books are often categorized in "Sci-Fi/Fantasy", but I believe that is mis-labeling. I have read (well, listened to) "Kafka on the shore", "1Q84", "Wind-up bird chronicle", and "Dance, Dance, Dance", and they are not SF, in my opinion - they have core elements other than SF.

However, this book actually reads like SF. The characters actually spend time trying to explain why all these can make sense scientifically (up to a point). But, to me, that's not Murakami's strength, and his effort to build "rational" aspects of the story was wasted as far as I was concerned. Despite this, I could enjoy many of the Murakami's usual funny, scary, sad, and sweet exchanges among the characters. I should also point out the contrast of the vastly different voice characteristics of the two narrators was effective in delivering the two parallel stories that converge towards the end. My favorite Murakami book is still "Kafka on the shore", but this book does add to my understanding of Murakami's paths and style.

Overhyped

What did you like best about Hard-boiled Wonderland and the End of the World? What did you like least?

I liked Hard-Boiled Wonderland more than the End of the World. What I liked least about it was the typical "oh I'm so literary let me write about a bunch of superfluous sex because that's how you know I'm literary" bullshit Murakami pulls.

What do you think your next listen will be?

Not more Murakami.

What about Adam Sims and Ian Porter ’s performance did you like?

They were competent performances.

Was Hard-boiled Wonderland and the End of the World worth the listening time?

Sure. I mean, Murakami isn't a terrible writer, he's just not as good as some people. This is a good story, but not a great one.

Any additional comments?

Yet more fantasy fiction that has pretensions to literacy. Which is fine. As far as stories go, this one was not terrible, but not exactly great either. The narrative structure was fairly cool, and there were some great scenes, but overall Murakami was being his usual slightly-better-than-mediocre self.

Great dual narration and wonderful story

This was one of my most enjoyable Murakami reads in that he doesn’t have any inappropriate comments about an underage girl and instead really creates a different world and deftly combines two different narratives into one. The narrators are great and especially the baritone voiced narrator of the dream-like story is a nice contrast to the other reader. Highly recommend!

My favourite Murakami

I have read many Murakami books and loved them. This, to me, was the most meaningful and enjoyable. It is a modern version of a stream of consciousness novel and a wonderful voyage into the modern mind. It was very readable: I was torn between not wanting to stop listening and the wish to savour it longer.

Amazing writing style, excellent voice acting

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would definitely recommend this book to a friend. The casual way in which Murakami illustrates the incredible and fantastical happenings is enthralling. Also, the dual voice actors really add to the contrast between alternating stories in alternating chapters.

What other book might you compare Hard-boiled Wonderland and the End of the World to and why?

I think that the closest thing I've read would have to be Snakes and Earrings and I believe they are similar just by style and maybe Japanese voice. Things seem to just happen to the main characters rather than them playing a strong active role.

Have you listened to any of Adam Sims and Ian Porter ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not, but they did an excellent job with the characters of this book.

Who was the most memorable character of Hard-boiled Wonderland and the End of the World and why?

Its interesting because he is not anyone extraordinary, but I think the main character just because you are constantly witnessing the incredible happenings from his eyes.

Story is decent, narrators are irritating

I like Haruki Murakami; even at his worst he entertains. This novel is pretty decent and I’m glad to have heard it. I’ll continue to read his books.

On the other hand, are the narrators. They do an okay job at the voices, BUT throughout the entire book I can hear background noises that sound like shuffling fabric, both of them mispronounced words, so many that I lost track, I’m guessing around twenty-five to thirty, one of them sounded like he’s holding his breath most of the time or stifling his own voice like he’s afraid of talking into a microphone, all of which happened so often that I was never able to get lost in the book, as those things pull the reader back out of it like a slap in the face.

So, overall, I like the story, but I’ll never again listen to anything read by either of these two narrators.

Allegory In a Hard Boiled Shell

This novel has the standard trappings of a type of metaphysical/quirky detective story that has become somewhat common since this book was written (published 1985). What separates this novel, though, is that all the setting entirely serves the more important allegorical elements of the text. This is not to imply that the work is obtuse, as a lot of allegorical pieces are, it's actually very easy to get into and follow. If you expect the book to follow the standard course of most detective stories, however, you may be disappointed when the plot does not end in an action filled climax. Rather, the themes are allowed to play themselves out as best serves them, and the novel is far greater for it. Having just finished the book, I think I have a decent grasp on what the book is "about" but there is plenty of room for individual interpretation, discussion and re-reading, without being so ambiguous as to throw off more casual reading.

A fun and thought provoking adventure

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Definitely. I got forced into reading this book by a book club - I hate sci-fi, or anything "not real," this however transcended genres and felt like a fun adventure that constantly was making me think.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I liked how real and relatable the main character felt.

What does Adam Sims and Ian Porter bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Hearing the two different reading styles was a constant reminder of what world you were in. Helpful and also creative

Who was the most memorable character of Hard-boiled Wonderland and the End of the World and why?

I liked the shadow - he was sassy.

Any additional comments?

Loved this book!