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The Rat #3-4
A Wild Sheep Chase / Dance Dance Dance
"A Wild Sheep Chase" - His life was like his recurring nightmare: a train to nowhere. But an ordinary life has a way of taking an extraordinary turn. Add a girl whose ears are so exquisite that, when uncovered, they improve sex a thousand-fold, a runaway friend, a right-wing politico, an ovine-obsessed professor and a manic-depressive in a sheep outfit, implicate them in a hunt for a sheep, that may or may not be running the world, and the upshot is another singular masterpiece from Haruki Murakami. "Dance Dance Dance" - High-class call girls billed to Mastercard; a psychic thirteen-year-old drop-out with a passion for Talking Heads; a hunky matinee idol doomed to play dentists and teachers; a one-armed beach-combing poet, an uptight hotel clerk and one very bemused narrator caught in the web of advanced capitalist mayhem; combine this offbeat cast of characters with Murakami's idiosyncratic prose and out comes "Dance Dance Dance". It is an assault on the senses, part murder mystery, part metaphysical speculation; a fable for our times as catchy as a rock song blasting from the window of a sports car.
695 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
77 people are currently reading
1827 people want to read
About the author
Haruki Murakami
603 books132k followersHaruki Murakami (村上春樹) is a Japanese writer. His novels, essays, and short stories have been best-sellers in Japan and internationally, with his work translated into 50 languages and having sold millions of copies outside Japan. He has received numerous awards for his work, including the Gunzo Prize for New Writers, the World Fantasy Award, the Tanizaki Prize, Yomiuri Prize for Literature, the Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award, the Noma Literary Prize, the Franz Kafka Prize, the Kiriyama Prize for Fiction, the Goodreads Choice Awards for Best Fiction, the Jerusalem Prize, and the Princess of Asturias Awards.
Growing up in Ashiya, near Kobe before moving to Tokyo to attend Waseda University, he published his first novel Hear the Wind Sing (1979) after working as the owner of a small jazz bar for seven years. His notable works include the novels Norwegian Wood (1987), The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle (1994–95), Kafka on the Shore (2002) and 1Q84 (2009–10); the last was ranked as the best work of Japan's Heisei era (1989–2019) by the national newspaper Asahi Shimbun's survey of literary experts. His work spans genres including science fiction, fantasy, and crime fiction, and has become known for his use of magical realist elements. His official website cites Raymond Chandler, Kurt Vonnegut and Richard Brautigan as key inspirations to his work, while Murakami himself has named Kazuo Ishiguro, Cormac McCarthy and Dag Solstad as his favourite currently active writers. Murakami has also published five short story collections, including First Person Singular (2020), and non-fiction works including Underground (1997), an oral history of the Tokyo subway sarin attack, and What I Talk About When I Talk About Running (2007), a memoir about his experience as a long distance runner.
His fiction has polarized literary critics and the reading public. He has sometimes been criticised by Japan's literary establishment as un-Japanese, leading to Murakami's recalling that he was a "black sheep in the Japanese literary world". Meanwhile, Murakami has been described by Gary Fisketjon, the editor of Murakami's collection The Elephant Vanishes (1993), as a "truly extraordinary writer", while Steven Poole of The Guardian praised Murakami as "among the world's greatest living novelists" for his oeuvre.
Growing up in Ashiya, near Kobe before moving to Tokyo to attend Waseda University, he published his first novel Hear the Wind Sing (1979) after working as the owner of a small jazz bar for seven years. His notable works include the novels Norwegian Wood (1987), The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle (1994–95), Kafka on the Shore (2002) and 1Q84 (2009–10); the last was ranked as the best work of Japan's Heisei era (1989–2019) by the national newspaper Asahi Shimbun's survey of literary experts. His work spans genres including science fiction, fantasy, and crime fiction, and has become known for his use of magical realist elements. His official website cites Raymond Chandler, Kurt Vonnegut and Richard Brautigan as key inspirations to his work, while Murakami himself has named Kazuo Ishiguro, Cormac McCarthy and Dag Solstad as his favourite currently active writers. Murakami has also published five short story collections, including First Person Singular (2020), and non-fiction works including Underground (1997), an oral history of the Tokyo subway sarin attack, and What I Talk About When I Talk About Running (2007), a memoir about his experience as a long distance runner.
His fiction has polarized literary critics and the reading public. He has sometimes been criticised by Japan's literary establishment as un-Japanese, leading to Murakami's recalling that he was a "black sheep in the Japanese literary world". Meanwhile, Murakami has been described by Gary Fisketjon, the editor of Murakami's collection The Elephant Vanishes (1993), as a "truly extraordinary writer", while Steven Poole of The Guardian praised Murakami as "among the world's greatest living novelists" for his oeuvre.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
October 5, 2009
So Goodreads lists _one_ Murakami book? WTF??? Well, this is a good one (two) to have, but geez. He's one of my favorite authors; I think I have only not gotten around to reading his book on running. I read Wild Sheep Chase when I was looking for books on Hokkaido, prior to moving there. I found it in a library search with Hokkaido as a keyword. Turns out, although they had eight million copies of it, I still had to wait months on a list to get it, and I think had to move to Japan before I got it. So I guess he is a lot of people's favorite author. I have heard he is the most popular Japanese author in the U.S., which confused some of my Japanese friends: 'Why? We have so many other authors, and he's so . . . ' So iconoclastic in his culture? Yesssss.
Reading it shortly thereafter, I was so impressed with the weird, Hokkaido-y feeling it gave me .. . Let me unpack that: the melancholy, the Japanese uncomfortable formality mixed with psychosexual angst, the loneliness, the preoccupation with ghosts, the creeping cold that you can't shake, and Hokkaido's odd history as the Wild West of Japan - the last frontier, a place where only strange people and sheep end up. Baaaaaa!
During WWII, Hokkaido was used as a giant sheep farm to provide soldiers with wool uniforms. In ancient times, it was the home of Japan's native people, the Ainu, before the Chinese that would become today's Japanese moved there. Today, people in Japan think of it like we think of Montana - backwards and uneducated, wild, rugged, you might go there for the scenery but for no other reason. It's popular with Oregonians, because it looks like home: forests, mountains, agricultural valleys and fields.
Wild Sheep Chase is proto-Murakami: a spare, odd, creepy, lonely tale about a repressed, depressed social misfit seeking a lost woman, moving into the realm of metaphysical mystery and magic. Like all his books, don't come here seeking closure. His mysteries are not meant to be solved. But if it's sheep you seek, there are sheep. And if you read this, you must read _Dance Dance Dance_, because . . there are more sheep. And magic. Magical sheep, haunted hotels with floors in another dimension, death, the end of the world, and even love. It's a sequel of the best kind - it can stand on its own two feet, but is so fun to read after the first one.
Like Windup Bird, a great Murakami to start out with, but much shorter and therefore less of a commitment. Check it out!
Reading it shortly thereafter, I was so impressed with the weird, Hokkaido-y feeling it gave me .. . Let me unpack that: the melancholy, the Japanese uncomfortable formality mixed with psychosexual angst, the loneliness, the preoccupation with ghosts, the creeping cold that you can't shake, and Hokkaido's odd history as the Wild West of Japan - the last frontier, a place where only strange people and sheep end up. Baaaaaa!
During WWII, Hokkaido was used as a giant sheep farm to provide soldiers with wool uniforms. In ancient times, it was the home of Japan's native people, the Ainu, before the Chinese that would become today's Japanese moved there. Today, people in Japan think of it like we think of Montana - backwards and uneducated, wild, rugged, you might go there for the scenery but for no other reason. It's popular with Oregonians, because it looks like home: forests, mountains, agricultural valleys and fields.
Wild Sheep Chase is proto-Murakami: a spare, odd, creepy, lonely tale about a repressed, depressed social misfit seeking a lost woman, moving into the realm of metaphysical mystery and magic. Like all his books, don't come here seeking closure. His mysteries are not meant to be solved. But if it's sheep you seek, there are sheep. And if you read this, you must read _Dance Dance Dance_, because . . there are more sheep. And magic. Magical sheep, haunted hotels with floors in another dimension, death, the end of the world, and even love. It's a sequel of the best kind - it can stand on its own two feet, but is so fun to read after the first one.
Like Windup Bird, a great Murakami to start out with, but much shorter and therefore less of a commitment. Check it out!
May 21, 2020
I hope Murakami wins the Nobel Prize for Literature one day. I love so many of his books.
May 26, 2024
i clowned myself reading this because it didn't occur to me that murakami wrote a series. that murakami ever did anything beyond a standalone. therefore, u can imagine my confusion when i opened to the first page of 'dance, dance, dance' to be told of a mysterious sheep man in an elevator fever dream with little to no context, only to later google and find out that 'dance, dance, dance' is a sequel to 'a wild sheep chase'.
August 1, 2018
A Wild Sheep chase was the most interesting book I read this summer, as everything about it was unique from the writing style to the unconventional plot which is what drew me further into the book and really made me enjoy it. The book stands out from other novels I've read before since it has no specific genre. The story is about a man with lots of problems and not much direction or purpose in life who runs an ad agency. His life takes a turn when a mysterious man sends him off to find a "special sheep" by threatening to ruin his life even more if he doesn't do it. The narrative then follows the protagonist on his search for the sheep and the places it takes him and his experiences on his adventure. I gave the book 5 stars since it follows an unconventional plot which kept it interesting with unexpected and creative turns throughout the story.
April 1, 2021
Interesting read about easy to digest topics. Definitely written with a younger reader in mind. Upon finishing, I am still not sure if there is a deeper meaning in this book that I missed but I enjoyed it at face value all the same.
November 7, 2022
Much easier read than some of his other books; less trippy weird analogy. Good closure on most threads, but lacking a bit on main character end result. Pulls you in and makes you want to keep reading.
July 27, 2020
After reading Haruki Murakami’s Wind Up Bird, I swore I will not read another one of his books because it was such an intense experience! A week later I got all of his other books despite myself. I found an article that recommended his top 10 books and the order that I should read them. It did warm that Wild Sheep Chase was one of his earlier books but still an amazing read, after painfully finishing it, here are my thoughts: I liked the twist and the shocking factor at the end, but the first 50% of the book was confusing and hard to read. It was my “put me to sleep” read before bed. It didn’t start to get interesting until he found the house, which was maybe 70% into the book. I could tell the spirit, style and the psychological inconsistency that is so addicting was same as the Wind UP bird, but the engagement and how all the pieces subtly connect together wasn’t quite there, which I am guessing it was a writing skill that matured overtime for Murakami. Nevertheless I still like this author. He makes you think. His books are a good Book Club choice as there are many psychological suggestions and you can even argue, there are a lot of possible symbolism imbedded all over the book for interesting discussion. His book to me feels like it’s about nothing, at the same time everything that we experience in life.
This one, I can’t say I liked, if it weren’t for the fact that it’s written by this author and I appreciate his writing style itself, I would’ve given it maybe even a 2 star. I am glad I checked this one off my list.
This one, I can’t say I liked, if it weren’t for the fact that it’s written by this author and I appreciate his writing style itself, I would’ve given it maybe even a 2 star. I am glad I checked this one off my list.
Want to read
July 30, 2021Murakami's surrealist novels are best read in this order:
1. Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World
2. Kafka on the Shore
3. 1Q84
4. The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle
5. After Dark
6. Killing Commendatore
Pepper in the real(ish) novels:
A. Norwegian Wood
B. Sputnik Sweetheart
C. South of the Border, West of the Sun
D. Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage
Then, return to the Rat Trilogy and Dance, Dance, Dance:
7. Hear the Wind Sing
8. Pinball, 1973
9. A Wild Sheep Chase
10. Dance, Dance, Dance
Recommendation of order by Jessica Manuel at https://bookoblivion.com/2015/05/13/t...
1. Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World
2. Kafka on the Shore
3. 1Q84
4. The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle
5. After Dark
6. Killing Commendatore
Pepper in the real(ish) novels:
A. Norwegian Wood
B. Sputnik Sweetheart
C. South of the Border, West of the Sun
D. Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage
Then, return to the Rat Trilogy and Dance, Dance, Dance:
7. Hear the Wind Sing
8. Pinball, 1973
9. A Wild Sheep Chase
10. Dance, Dance, Dance
Recommendation of order by Jessica Manuel at https://bookoblivion.com/2015/05/13/t...
June 15, 2024
This is a reread. I read this book in 2020 and never left my mind ever since and had to read it again I felt like I was reading it for the first time due to the density of the plot.
The book follow a nameless narrator who has a successful career however is freshly divorced. He is now in a hunt to look for a sheep.
Can you imagine that the whole book talks about him finding sheep however I gave it five stars.
The dialogue is in the book, as well as the writing captivates me every time. The way the characters in the book are accepting abnormal things however contemplating over arbitrary and mundane things is beyond beautiful.
This book is my definition for magical realism
The book follow a nameless narrator who has a successful career however is freshly divorced. He is now in a hunt to look for a sheep.
Can you imagine that the whole book talks about him finding sheep however I gave it five stars.
The dialogue is in the book, as well as the writing captivates me every time. The way the characters in the book are accepting abnormal things however contemplating over arbitrary and mundane things is beyond beautiful.
This book is my definition for magical realism
December 26, 2021
After reading 8 of Murakami books, i may say that this is the least favorite one. I started to notice the things that other female readers felt as well, which is his weird obsession of Women’s body part. I mentioned it in the previous review (Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki). But this is different. In previous book, i was sinked to the story and forget this part. But in this story, i couldnot ignore it. (Spoiler alert)
But apart from that, i also don’t think that the story is captivated enough. But still, you can find the typical of Murakami work in here as well. Such as, he can make a boring protagonist life still be an interesting one. The guy here is someone in early thirty, divorced, no kid, met a girlfriend in his work, and then involved in a weird mission, which is (you got it) to chase a wild sheep. He and his girl friend then started their adventure. They met a sheep professor and a sheep man. If it is not weird enough he then meet a ghost friend. And the story finished. m
Some unimportant thoughts of this novel: Murakami didnot name many of the characters including the guy and the girl friend. But, surprisingly, i as the reader, didnot bother it, or even notice until the middle of the story. There was a line mentioned about: why city bus had no names, and they said that people will ride this name and not this one. Funny since this exactly happened during my child hood and early teenagers. We got ‘bemo ‘with names, and my friends would be picky to choose what bemo they wanted to ride in :p.
Anyway, i don’t really enjoy this book.
But apart from that, i also don’t think that the story is captivated enough. But still, you can find the typical of Murakami work in here as well. Such as, he can make a boring protagonist life still be an interesting one. The guy here is someone in early thirty, divorced, no kid, met a girlfriend in his work, and then involved in a weird mission, which is (you got it) to chase a wild sheep. He and his girl friend then started their adventure. They met a sheep professor and a sheep man. If it is not weird enough he then meet a ghost friend. And the story finished. m
Some unimportant thoughts of this novel: Murakami didnot name many of the characters including the guy and the girl friend. But, surprisingly, i as the reader, didnot bother it, or even notice until the middle of the story. There was a line mentioned about: why city bus had no names, and they said that people will ride this name and not this one. Funny since this exactly happened during my child hood and early teenagers. We got ‘bemo ‘with names, and my friends would be picky to choose what bemo they wanted to ride in :p.
Anyway, i don’t really enjoy this book.
February 13, 2024
Tonight I'm leaving a good friend of mine. Our journey came to its end as my protagonist came to his wild sheep chase's end. So sweet, were the moments I lived while reading this sublime book. It took me to japan through time, took me to that place between reality and fantasy. With that young man who can never be involved with a mystery because of his tranquil life, or should I say borring one. The appearance of his girlfriend (with powers) wasn't the whole matter to be dragged into a mysterious journey ...the odd photograph was the only reason lead him onto the path of chasing ...what sheep the strange-strong man wanted him to find? Who's the sick boss and what good would bring him the search of wild sheep?? Should the protagonist dig after the photograph's source which was his friend : The Rat?? Besides, where was the rat being?? ... and would a month be enough for this long journey: a wild sheep chase?? .. read the following novel and you'll have no regret. You're going to enjoy understanding and configuring the deepest emotions lonely people can experience in their lives, and maybe was the rat's talking about weakness what affected me the most reading the book. Haruki Murakami did touch enormously the most unspoken feelings and bring them to life and dress them clarification and bright existence...
All I can say is that I hope you'll all enjoy reading this friendly book.
All I can say is that I hope you'll all enjoy reading this friendly book.
May 10, 2022
First of all, I’m not sure if I’m reviewing the correct title. I listened to Dance Dance Dance by Haruki Murakami. The top corner says “the complete works”. All the characters mentioned in the description were in the book, so I’m guessing this is it.
Anyway, it was strange. The first part was magically alluring. I loved his use of language and the strange story unfolding. I’ve been in a bit of a book slump, and this helped pull me out of it. The thirteen year old girl was my favorite character, and I was very happy with the direction he took the character. Frankly, I was nervous about that one.
About 3/4 through the book it turned a huge corner and basically became a story about call girls with heaps of symbolism. This is where he lost me. I wanted to know what happened and who was killing people and where KiKi was and what everything meant. I didn’t want to hear about his erection or the details of his sexual encounters.
I also wasn’t thrilled with the ending, but in an effort not to spoil it for anyone I won’t mention why.
I’m trying not to rate the book based on my own moral compass. It was a solid 4+ star book based on the writing and story.
The narrator was also fantastic.
Do all his books books go this direction? Wondering if I should read more of his works.
Anyway, it was strange. The first part was magically alluring. I loved his use of language and the strange story unfolding. I’ve been in a bit of a book slump, and this helped pull me out of it. The thirteen year old girl was my favorite character, and I was very happy with the direction he took the character. Frankly, I was nervous about that one.
About 3/4 through the book it turned a huge corner and basically became a story about call girls with heaps of symbolism. This is where he lost me. I wanted to know what happened and who was killing people and where KiKi was and what everything meant. I didn’t want to hear about his erection or the details of his sexual encounters.
I also wasn’t thrilled with the ending, but in an effort not to spoil it for anyone I won’t mention why.
I’m trying not to rate the book based on my own moral compass. It was a solid 4+ star book based on the writing and story.
The narrator was also fantastic.
Do all his books books go this direction? Wondering if I should read more of his works.
March 24, 2025
Haruki Murakami’s A Wild Sheep Chase is one of his earlier works, and it’s immediately noticeable: The language is more vibrant, faster-paced, and filled with slang—less detached than in his later books, but all the more direct and youthful.
The story begins innocently enough with an ad copywriter who receives a mysterious photo of a sheep with a star-shaped marking. But it soon becomes clear that this sheep is more than just an animal—it pulls our nameless protagonist into a mystical journey through rural Japan and straight into a parallel world of conspiracies, ghosts, and existential riddles.
Murakami’s signature themes are all here: talking to the dead, slipping into a surreal reality, the sudden disappearance of loved ones, and the protagonist’s melancholic solitude. Yet, A Wild Sheep Chase feels wilder, rawer, and more playful than his later works.
What makes this book so highly recommended is its unusual mix of thriller, road trip, and metaphysical quest. It’s exciting, vivid, and constantly surprising. If you enjoy Murakami you won't want to miss this work.
The story begins innocently enough with an ad copywriter who receives a mysterious photo of a sheep with a star-shaped marking. But it soon becomes clear that this sheep is more than just an animal—it pulls our nameless protagonist into a mystical journey through rural Japan and straight into a parallel world of conspiracies, ghosts, and existential riddles.
Murakami’s signature themes are all here: talking to the dead, slipping into a surreal reality, the sudden disappearance of loved ones, and the protagonist’s melancholic solitude. Yet, A Wild Sheep Chase feels wilder, rawer, and more playful than his later works.
What makes this book so highly recommended is its unusual mix of thriller, road trip, and metaphysical quest. It’s exciting, vivid, and constantly surprising. If you enjoy Murakami you won't want to miss this work.
March 23, 2023
I've read Murakami before and been bewildered and impressed, but this time around I was reading for academic purposes. This book was included in the course readings for a history course on modern Japan, and when studied in this light reveals some deeply intriguing things about how the undeclared war and the Second World War were processed, managed, and remembered by the citizens, government, and military of Japan.
I would recommend this book to almost anyone - it is absolutely a challenging read and many of the small details can be lost in the meandering way that the narrator guides the story. Take a second pass through it, once you think you're done.
I would recommend this book to almost anyone - it is absolutely a challenging read and many of the small details can be lost in the meandering way that the narrator guides the story. Take a second pass through it, once you think you're done.
January 12, 2024
At first I was hesitant. Reading Wind/Pinball seemed like a chore, and I was worried the next two would be much of the same. I am so happy to say I was VERY wrong. A Wild Sheep’s Chase was a fever dream, so detailed yet not revealing any bit of information to spoil what would happen next. At no point in either of these stories did I know what would have happened just on the next page. Dance Dance Dance is the reason I’m giving this set 5 stars, though. It’s up there for me with Killing Commendatore. Mysterious, disturbing at times, and completely enticing throughout. Murakami can somehow take mundane details and create something that I just can’t look away from.
June 7, 2018
One of those books that I had trouble putting down not because the writing was good but because I wanted to know what happens next (which isn't to say the writing was bad). I like magical realism so I enjoyed this one.
A few bits of dialogue seemed mostly there to convey ideology rather than to further the plot, although there isn't necessarily anything wrong with that.
And since my memory is so bad, I also appreciated that none of the characters really had names.
A few bits of dialogue seemed mostly there to convey ideology rather than to further the plot, although there isn't necessarily anything wrong with that.
And since my memory is so bad, I also appreciated that none of the characters really had names.
February 17, 2025
So good! I just love how he wrote his characters, the main character to the most insignificant side characters are drawn with such depth and cleverness. Beautiful and atmospheric descriptions of some locations appear alongside a hilarious dragging of architectural choices in order places. Kinda a bizarre plot but I was instantly sucked in I’ll be reading lots more by Murakami soon, already picked up IQ84.
July 8, 2018
Phần đầu truyện rời rạc kể về một cuộc đời tẻ nhạt của nhân vật “tôi”. Nhưng mọi thứ thay đổi khi anh vướng vào một hành trình tìm con cừu có ngôi sao đen trên lưng. Đọc đoạn kết vào thời điểm lạnh lẽo một mình khiến mình rợn cả người.
September 11, 2018
Beautifully written. It's more meandering and minutia-centric than I usually like. It really only detracted from the story when half of the plot had to be packed into the last chapter in order to make it all make sense. In spite of that, it is a thoroughly enjoyable and innovative read.
June 30, 2023
i read this book a few years ago, and i didnt understand it. i reread it, and i still dont understand it. is that the point? ive placed my copy in the naknek free little library, and im hoping the next person to pick it up will understand it
August 21, 2023
This started off as a very strange book. As I continued to read, some of the prior storylines started to make sense, but some remain strange and seemingly irrelevant to the plot. The main character is considered a very ordinary person, but he is led on a wild sheep chase.
July 2, 2017
I really Murakami's writing style
October 14, 2017
I love the main character and I LOVE this set of books. Haruki is my favorite.
April 16, 2018
Slow for me at the start, stretching the bounds of credibility at times, but the protagonist won me over by the end. Unlike anything I can remember reading. Is it the author or the country?
June 18, 2019
Overwhelming with joyful and thoughts after finishing this book, as same as his others.
March 28, 2020
Average read. Haruki is senseless but addictive. Pulls you in for the idea he wishes to convey.
May 17, 2020
Such a wild story and the scenes were perfectly portrayed. I really thought I could guess the ending plots but that wasn't even close! Not an ordinary sheep indeed.
June 14, 2020
Read both of these books in order.
My new favorite Murakami book, second being Kafka on the Shore.
My new favorite Murakami book, second being Kafka on the Shore.
August 25, 2020
Another Murakami masterpiece!
Read
September 8, 2021As only Murakami can do - surreal, realistic and authentic.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews