The Strange Library by Haruki Murakami - A Flights of Fantasy Book Review

I was really surprised to see on my Facebook feed one day, an announcement that The Strange Library by Haruki Murakami had just been released in Fully Booked. I had no idea that Murakami was releasing a new book, much less a short story. And there I was thinking I was in the know about what was happening regarding one of my favorite authors. Being a loyal Murakamist, I drove to the Fully Booked branch in Power Plant Mall after work and bought myself a copy of the book. 

The Strange Library is also a library book. "For internal use only," reads the book's spine. The book also sports a different design, with flaps at the bottom and top featuring colored illustrations, as can be seen in the photograph below. These flaps can be folded inwards, so they don't detract from the reading process. Several other illustrations can be found throughout the book. The text in the book is in a larger, 'typewriter' font, which lends it an old-school feel. The book pages are quite thick and sturdy. In many ways, this book is extraordinary, and so is the short story itself. 

This story is narrated by a young teenage boy, who is visiting his neighborhood library, so he can return some books. After inquiring about where he can find certain books to read, he finds himself in a mysterious room, with a strange old man, who means to imprison him in the nightmarish library, and eat his brain! But first, he wants the boy to completely memorize the content of certain books because, you know, well-exercised, information-filled brains are tastier.

In comes the Sheep Man, who takes care of the boy. The Sheep Man prepares delicious meals for the boy, so he can get more reading done. Then, there's a mysterious luminescent girl, who's around the boy's age, who the boy can see, but the Sheep Man cannot. Together, the three unlikely companions plot their escape from the library.

What I Liked:

The Strange Library is the stuff of nightmares especially for children and young adults. Of course, younger readers may take away something very different than adults would from this story. I like how The Sheep Man and the mysterious girl, two key characters from other Murakami stories appear in this story as well. This short story has all the strangeness of a Murakami work, without the extended narrations and internal dialogues.

Of course, the design of the book is delightful and enhances the reading experience. Even though the top and bottom flaps look unwieldy, they don't distract from the reading process. Though children may end up tearing the pages, no matter how sturdy they look.

What I Didn't Like:

I'm utterly confused by the story's ending. Aside from being a strange read, it doesn't seem to lend some specific insight, other than the the fact that the protagonist is utterly confused at the end. Well lost boy endings are very Murakami, after all. I'll have to read the story again. Maybe I'll understand it differently the second time around.

My Rating:

Flights of Fantasy is a reading challenge hosted by book bloggers Alexa Loves Books and Hello Chelly. Here are my goals for the Flights of Fantasy Reading Challenge 2015.