This book was a lucky find at a garage sale. I haven't read any of Murakami's work yet, but from what I have heard, I am going to love it!

"With the same deadpan mania and genius for dislocation that he brought to his internationally acclaimed novels A Wild Sheep Chase and Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World, Haruki Murakami makes this collection of stories a determined assault on the normal. A man sees his favorite elephant vanish into thin air; a newlywed couple suffers attacks of hunger that drive them to hold up a McDonald's in the middle of the night; and a young woman discovers that she has become irresistible to a little green monster who burrows up through her backyard.

By turns haunting and hilarious, The Elephant Vanishes is further proof of Murakami's ability to cross the border between separate realities -- and to come back bearing treasure."

This book has been claimed by Rebemdee in a BookRelay. To be read after I finish my current book, and sent on ASAP!

Murakami lives up to his reputation with this collection of short stories: they are funny, surprising and melancholy all at once. I especially enjoy Murakami's descriptions of women characters. Early favorites are Sleep, a story about a housewife with an insomnia that leaves her feeling more alive than ever, and Lederhosen, a story about a pair of Lederhosen that leads to a couple's divorce. Litte Green Monster was the most heartbreaking story so far. I have read about 2/3 of these stories, and will journal once more when I have finished them.

After this introduction, I can't wait to read more of Murakami's work. I have Norwegian Wood on my TBR shelf right now.

Things in Murakami's world are ever so slightly off. At his best, Murakami made me sit up in my chair, dying to find out, "what the hell is going on?" At his worst, he left me wondering, "Who cares? What's the point?" Unfortunately, the end of this book seemed like more of the latter. I loved the surreal quality of The Dancing Dwarf, but then the story went off the deep end and lost me. This was my first Murakami book, so I am interested to hear what others who have read more of his work will think.

Mailed to Rebemdee.

Will write more after I've read it. Thank you for the book, Flashgirl, and the beautiful postcard.

I just couldn't get into this book. I read the first few stories, and then decided it wasn't for me. I had to stop berating myself for not enjoying it; it's odd how I think I'm SUPPOSSED to like something because it's so popular or acclaimed, and then if I don't, there must be something wrong with my sensibilities. The truth is, I just didn't like this book. I'm going to offer it on bookrelay, as it may be enjoyed more by somebody else.

3/5 Mailed through bookrelay.com!

This arrived in yesterday's mail -- thanks, Rebemdee! So far, I've loved everything I've read of Murakami's, so I'm looking forward to this.

I love the twisted universe of Murakami's imagination. This collection begins with a story that eventually becomes The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, one of my favorite novels. Many of the stories gave me the impression that they were sketches for longer pieces, which may be why some readers are lest unsatisfied by them. But I enjoyed this glimpse into the fleeting thoughts of a literary genius. I particularly enjoyed "The Little Green Monster," "TV People," and "The Elephant Vanishes." If I had more time, I'd elaborate on the "vanishing elephant" as a figure for the shape of Murakami's narratives, but I'm too hopped up on caffeine to write that many coherent sentences right now anyway. Maybe later.

Sending to ZZZ in Serbia.

I just came back from my vacation and this book was waiting for me.
I'm totally bewitched by Murakami so zugenia I cannot thank you enough for sharing this one with me!
(oh, and thank you so much for so lovely and original post-card)