By far one of the weirdest books I have ever read which is not a shocker coming from Kafka. The author tends to pick topics that are strange and very out there. The strange star mark sheep has the ability to take possession of people’s mind in order to control social and political power in the world. What makes the novel so appealing I believe is the authors ability to strike common chords between the modern Japanese and American middle classes within the younger generations. The book has its moments were I question the political system taking places in the locations and the ability and affect it has on the younger generation. While some have called A Wild Sheep Chase a fable or a myth, I would never regard it as such. Murakami uses the surreal to underscore what is wrong with reality. He is very much the critic, and everything he puts in his books is a comment on Japanese society and culture. The namelessness and blandness of many of the characters is part-and-parcel with Murakami's critique on Japanese uniformity and work-a-day lifestyle. Indeed, the protagonist's life prior to the beginning of his adventure is very much a prison--he goes to work, comes home, eats, sleeps, and repeats the process, simply passing time. The pointlessness of his existence demands the reader to ask if the man is simply waiting for death. Instead, Murakami delivers a Campbellian call to adventure, and the hero leaves to discover just how deep the rabbit-hole goes.
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