A Wild Sheep Chase

I only recently began exploring Japan's culture as far as movies and literature, and I was really excited to start A Wild Sheep Chase. I started it while I was at work, in the library, and immediately fell in love with Murakami's style of writing. He really let me delve into his character's thoughts, and I didn't question any of it, because the way he writes is really how people think. The lack of names in the novel was both intriguing and almost difficult for me. It truly felt like the main character was just getting through his life without bothering to familiarize himself too much with any of it. Near the middle of the book, I started getting confused. I didn't know where the main character was a lot of the time, and it left me feeling on edge, and like I had accidently skipped over an important part of the puzzle, but when I went back to try and find out what that part might have been, I couldn't.

One of the most memorable parts of this novel to me had to do with the main character's girlfriend, and her ears. I actually laughed a little when I was reading it, but it occurred to me later that, hey, I never would've thought twice about it if the man had fallen in love with this girl's breasts, or butt, or something. But it was her ears, and that is so out of the ordinary, I loved it, and how, according to the man, this girl simply transformed whenever her ears were showing. I thought it was so bizarre. What could have possibly influenced Murakami into making a woman with seductive ears? I did a little online research regarding this subject, and was disappointed to turn up empty handed. I'll have to try another time; I'm still really curious.