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Book Review of Killing Commendatore: A novel

Killing Commendatore: A novel
reviewed on + 630 more book reviews


This novel is perfectly structured and both down to earth and quite enigmatic at the same time. If you haven't read Murakami yet, I don't think this makes a good starter volume; instead I would recommend Norwegian Wood or Kafka on the Shore for a first read. But if you've enjoyed one or more of the author's unique brand of magical realism and metaphysical exploration, this is probably his best yet. As good as IQ84 and better than Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki.

The story involves an unnamed young artist, newly divorced, who moves to a remote house in the country where the father of his good friend worked as a famous painter. The artist gets to know some of his neighbors in a very deep way and faces some abnormal circumstances. Everything gets resolved by the end of the book but in a way that keeps you musing about what it all means.