Mr. Wind-Up Bird - by Jessica

After in fast succession I noticed a reference in Old Boy to Norwegian Wood, and read an article on Takashi Murakami in some art mag which said Takashi's only real companion to bringing Japanese history and culture to the front line of the arts is Haruki Murakami, I decided, what the hell. I guess I'll read one of his books.
And so I began The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle. I am still in the thick of this noir-style mystery (think Pynchon) and I am both absorbed in and devoted to this story. It's a subtle commentary, with psychic war veterins, 16-year-olds in string bikinis and men in the bottom of dried up wells. And its lovely.