Thas is one of my favorite books of all times. Thank you for recommending it, and I will echo your sentiment to others here on HN to read it. It's one of the few books I've actually reread after saying to myself "I should reread that.."
I think Murakami's writing has become repetitive and bloated in the last couple of decades (and even sort of creepy, in a bad way); he basically seems to have been writing on autopilot for many years. It's always a little annoying to see him trotted out as a great author by mentioning his recent stuff.
His early stuff, however, is much better: tighter, more subtle, more interesting, less overwrought. "Hard-boiled Wonderland and The End of The World" is my favorite. It's weird, thoughtful, and sad in way that doesn't feel manipulative or artificial.
I agree somewhat, but you should try out his latest book "Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and his Years of Pilgrimage: A novel", though apparently not yet available in English. I just started it and so far it feels very different from his other books, though still very great.
(And hard-boiled wonderland is indeed brilliant)
I'll keep it in hand for when there is an English translation. I can't read Japanese (except for a handful of go terms like black, white and "first to move".)
When I was a little younger (well, I'm only 31, so it's not like it was ages ago) I reread quite a lot, this one in particular got probably 4 re-reads. My most re-read book is probably Hyperion, by Dan Simmons (followed by HHGG). It's not for every sci-fi lover, but the first part of the Hyperion Chantos (that would be Hyperion and The Fall of Hyperion) are incredibly good books, not only for the science fiction, but also have a thick, interesting plot full of the "I wonder how this turns out" sci-fi.
Thas is one of my favorite books of all times. Thank you for recommending it, and I will echo your sentiment to others here on HN to read it. It's one of the few books I've actually reread after saying to myself "I should reread that.."