The Strange Library

By: Haruki Murakami, Ted Goossen - translator

Narrated by: Kirby Heyborne

Length: 1 hr and 1 min

Publisher's summary

From internationally acclaimed author Haruki Murakami—a fantastical short novel about a boy imprisoned in a nightmarish library.

Listeners will find themselves immersed in the strange world of best-selling Haruki Murakami's wild imagination. The story of a lonely boy, a mysterious girl, and a tormented sheep man plotting their escape from a nightmarish library, the book is like nothing else Murakami has written.

©2014 Haruki Murakami (P)2014 Random House

Critic reviews

“As if the work of Japanese fiction master Haruki Murakami weren't strangely beautiful by itself, his American publisher has just put out a stand-alone edition of his 2008 novella The Strange Library, in a new trade paperback designed by the legendary Chip Kidd.... Some scholar may explain it to us all one day, diagram the roots of his work in the Japanese storytelling tradition, in fable and myth, the special effects he imports from American literature. For me, now, I'm just enjoying basking in the heat of this hypnotic short work by a master who is playing a long game.” —Alan Cheuse, NPR

“[A] charming, surreal story. . . . Cleverly designed and illustrated by Chip Kidd. . . . Whether he is writing for adults or children, [Murakami] remains a suspenseful and fantastical storyteller.” —The Washington Post

“It had me enthralled . . . a story of childhood, death and reading, drawn in both words and pictures, like a fairytale, yet there was nothing childish about it. . . . Let the Murakami-mania begin (again).” —Arifa Akbar, The Independent (London)

Truly Strange

I’m not sure I’d have chosen to read this if I’d known the general plot. I picked it randomly, and Murakami’s answer is perplexing. At several points I found myself thinking the title should really be “The Deranged Library.” As with his other works, the story makes less sense than more at the end. However, I do find it to be clearer in interpretation, if not intent, than other works of his. In no way do I mean these as negatives. If you are looking to disturb the quiet of your mind with something dark and confusing, I highly recommend this book. The story is well-written, and the audio performance is fantastic.

I enjoyed it

A very clever little short story. It was a good, brief adventure.

I’m a big fan of Haruki Murakami. It’s good to read another story by him

Wicked Fairy Tale

I overlook this audiobook many times before because it's only an hour long. Since Audible had a 50% off sale, I thought to myself that I should give "The Strange Library" a try. I've been telling my book club that they should read more Haruki Murakami because his writing style is so different that you can't help for wanting more. Thus far, I've listened to all of Murakami's titles that Audible has to offer.

"The Strange Library" is another strange one from Haruki Murakami. A boy going to a library, talking to the Sheep Man and somehow being in prison for not reading enough.

What a great wicked fairy tale!

You better read more before the Sheep Man gets you. Simply brilliant bedtime story for your little ones to do their school work.

It was okay

I swear Ive seen a Macaulay Culkin movie with a similar plot, its way okay. I would buy the print version instead.

Make people afraid of the library

Horrible presentation of a public library. Sorry I paid money for this one. If I had heard this as a child I might never have gone to the library again