We follow an emotionally struggling artist who is currently dealing with divorce and feels like he’s lost his passion for portrait painting. After an evening fling with a woman, he meets a friend of his father’s at a nursing home who happens to be famous painter Tomohiko Amada and finds an unknown painting. While currently working as an art teacher, a wealthy man asks him to paint a portrait that encourages him to do one of a mysterious man that he saw the night of his fling who drives a white Subaru. He’ll soon find his life changing when he makes an unexpected discovery that will be the beginning of something mind-bending.

Murakami’s writing in his novels, which I’ve read a few of in the past, always has so many complex elements and “KC” is one with those and awfully deep while being a bit suggestive. Our protagonist’s story does take a long while for it to be established, but it does become a very mysterious and human story full of emotions and complexities. There’s plenty of surprises found that can make the story compelling while also a bit hard to follow at times as I did get a bit lost.

While not as excellent as some of Murakami’s other works I read, it’s still a very spiritual and mind opening read that has that deep Murakami feel.

B+ (83%/Very Good)

Originally published five years after the first novel, “Big Bad Wool” follows our large of sheep again with their new shepherd who happens to be the daughter of their old shepherd named Rebecca. She and her mother have taken the flock to France, which is what Miss Maple and the sheep has been wanting to do for some time. The mysterious troubles begin when the herd discover a dead deer in a forest near the chateau they’re staying near and hear some of the humans talk about a possible “werewolf” creature being responsible for other dead animals. Now they’ll put themselves in possible danger to find out who the killer is.

It’s a sequel that delivers the same outlandish but cunning feel as the first one. We have our same flock of sheep who are still a charming bunch while we follow plenty of new characters. The story has a few more small surprises than the first, while it slowly blends a bit of thriller vibes to its mystery.

Plenty more wool flying again with something new and intense.

B+ (83%/Very Good)

This novel from the man behind one of my favorite series “A Series of Unfortunate Events”, we follow the story of a teen girl named Min and her now her ex-boyfriend Ed. It all starts when she delivers him a box of mementos from their relationship that spanned a few months and started through a friend’s birthday. These items include odd things such as bottle caps, a paper star, movie tickets and some sugar. Through them, we learn from Min’s perspective of the moments in their obtuse romance and what caused her breakup with Ed.

“WWBU” is a unique take on teen romance that’s fine but can be arather angsty and strange. Handler’s writing is vastly different than his more iconic book series, though there are a few drops of similar black humor found still. There are moments that are very relatable when we had to deal with adolescence with some that can drag. Min is one of the few likable characters we find but Ed is mainly smug and rowdy. Kalman’s art is roughly nice but nothing artsy.

A good choice for those who’re dealing with a spurned romance, as it does show love is a very complicated thing.

B- (67%/Decent)