The Strange Library

Name: The Strange Library
Brand: Vintage Publishing
SKU: 9781846559211
Price: 37.0 NZD
Availability: InStock

By Haruki Murakami

3.55

( 64,826 ratings, 9,182 reviews)

Summary

The Strange Library by Haruki Murakami tells the story of a lonely boy who visits his local library to return some books. He is led to a mysterious, labyrinthine section where he meets a series of peculiar characters and faces fantastical challenges. The tale blends magical realism with a haunting atmosphere, capturing the reader's imagination.
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Format: Hardback

$37⁰⁰

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The Strange Library

$37⁰⁰

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you love surreal and whimsical stories that blend mystery with a touch of the fantastical. The narrative is imaginative and visually engaging, perfect for those who appreciate unique storytelling and Murakami's signature dreamlike style.

The Strange Library

On his way home from school, the young narrator finds himself wondering how taxes were collected in the Ottoman Empire. He pops into the local library to see if it has a book on the subject. This is his first mistake. Led to a special 'reading room' in a maze under the library by a strange old man, he finds himself imprisoned.

Fully illustrated and beautifully designed, this is a unique and wonderfully creepy tale that is sure to delight Murakami fans.

Description

Fully illustrated and beautifully designed, The Strange Library by Haruki Murakami is a unique and wonderfully eerie tale that promises to captivate and haunt the minds of readers. With Murakami’s characteristic blend of surrealism and dark whimsy, this novella has become a treasure for his fans and a testament to his storytelling genius.

On his way home from school, a young boy finds himself curious about the methods of tax collection in the Ottoman Empire. His innocent inquiry leads him to the local library, believing he can simply borrow a book on the subject. Little does he know, this seemingly mundane visit will spiral into a bizarre and chilling adventure, marking his first grave mistake.

Directed by a peculiar old man to a "special reading room" within a labyrinth beneath the library, the young narrator soon realises the true nature of his situation. Imprisoned within this maze, he encounters an enigmatic girl who communicates with her hands and a sheep man who bakes excellent doughnuts. As the hours tick by, his mother's concern grows, and the old man's sinister appetite for the boy’s brains becomes increasingly apparent. How will he escape this nightmarish predicament?

Interspersed with haunting and evocative illustrations, The Strange Library immerses readers in a world that is both fantastical and macabre. Murakami’s distinctive prose, combined with richly detailed visuals, creates an unforgettable reading experience. This story not only explores themes of curiosity, isolation, and the bizarre but also highlights Murakami's talent for blending the ordinary with the extraordinary.

Described by The Observer as 'the best novelist on the planet', Murakami continues to enchant and bewilder readers with his unparalleled narrative style. The Strange Library stands as a testament to his ability to weave magic, menace, and mystery into the everyday, turning a simple trip to the library into a darkly fantastical journey.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The best novelist on the planet according to the Observer, Haruki Murakami, is likened to a magician by the New York Times Book Review for his ability to craft dreamlike stories. Catherine Kelly from Cherwell Newspaper describes The Strange Library as a dark and memorable fairytale exploring childhood fears and adult isolation. We Were Raised By Wolves recommends the book as a perfect short, dark fantasy read for an hour's respite.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781846559211

Publisher: Vintage Publishing

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 02 December 2014

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Harvill Secker

Contributors:

Translated by Ted Goossen

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 13.0mm

Width: 135.0mm

Height: 206.0mm

Weight: 267g

Pages: 88

Collections

Fantasy Featured Books Fiction General Fiction Haruki Murakami Horror & Supernatural Literary Fiction Sci-Fi & Fantasy

About the Author

In 1978, Haruki Murakami was 29 and running a jazz bar in downtown Tokyo. One April day, the impulse to write a novel came to him suddenly while watching a baseball game. That first novel, Hear the Wind Sing, won a new writers' award and was published the following year. More followed, including A Wild Sheep Chase and Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World, but it was Norwegian Wood, published in 1987, which turned Murakami from a writer into a phenomenon. His books became bestsellers, were translated into many languages, including English, and the door was thrown wide open to Murakami's unique and addictive fictional universe. Murakami writes with admirable discipline, producing ten pages a day, after which he runs ten kilometres (he began long-distance running in 1982 and has participated in numerous marathons and races), works on translations, and then reads, listens to records and cooks. His passions colour his non-fiction output, from What I Talk About When I Talk About Running to Absolutely On Music, and they also seep into his novels and short stories, providing quotidian moments in his otherwise freewheeling flights of imaginative inquiry. In works such as The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, 1Q84 and Men Without Women, his distinctive blend of the mysterious and the everyday, of melancholy and humour, continues to enchant readers, ensuring Murakami's place as one of the world's most acclaimed and well-loved writers.