Two great chrarcters and two great storylines. I'm really exited to find out where this is going and how Aomame and Tengo are connected. Murakami's writing is again flawless and amazing to read (I wish I could read it in japanese). Merged review: So storywise the second book was much more exciting than the first one. I hope this continues in the third part since it's the longest. But even though this triology is that long and takes me forever to read I'm really looking forward on how Murakami is going to end this because I have no idea where the story is heading for. Actaul Rating: 4.5 stars Merged review: I did it! I'm finally done with this triology. Sadly the third book couldn't live up to my expectations after the second part. There wasn't much happening despite the third vantage point. And even though I was expecting that Tengo and Aomame wouldn't meet too soon less than 50 pages of story together were a bit dissapointing. But I liked the ending (i feard it was going to be some kind of open end which would have been unsatisfying).

I'm surprised that the book managed to keep me on my toes for more than 1000 pages. The story was told in a deliciously slow way, but it wasn't boring at all. A few questions were left open for interpretation (which left me personally a little unsatisfied). Although I disliked the author's obsession with boobs and the inclusion of child abuse, this book was overall a positive experience for me.

My first introduction to Murakami and i love his prose. You hitchhike a ride with him and he seems to be weaving a blanket of magic riding shotgun while making you drive the car instead. But in the end you realize, the car has not moved at all. Merged review: The story is moving a bit with the side characters taking initiatives while the protagonists want to just breeze through the story. Still the two novels do not make up a convincing plot. I should have given it up but the beautiful style has me hooked.