I would like to read more Murakami, but as several reviewers stated, this may not have been the place to start after reading his memoir. The stories were odd, but mostly interesting, and I think I probably should have read them more slowly, as I’ve been doing with Amor Towles’ Table for Two in order to fully appreciate each story for what it offered. In fact, I enjoyed most of the stories, even as I was confused by them, and I also appreciated the blurred perspective of author and narrator. I am certainly curious about the inspiration for each of these stories and the characters in them. For me, the standouts are Carnaval and Confessions of a Shinagawa Monkey.