Explore Surreal Worlds with Strong Female Voices
Dive into these captivating novels that echo Murakami's surreal style while offering richly developed female characters. Each book presents a unique blend of magical realism and profound storytelling, ensuring you experience the depth and complexity often missing in traditional narratives. Discover stories that celebrate women's experiences and perspectives in extraordinary ways.
Die Stadt und ihre ungewisse Mauer
494 pages
Mieko Kawakami has acknowledged Haruki Murakami as an influence, but she also critiques his portrayal of women, which adds an interesting layer to his work.
Isabel Allende
361 pages
Isabel Allende--"la Famosa" to her fellow Chileans--is the world's most widely read Spanish language author. Her career coincides with the emergence of multiculturalism and global feminism, and her powerfully honest, revelatory works touch the pulse points of humankind. Her bravura study of the interwoven roles of women in family history opens the minds of outsiders to the sufferings of women and their children during years of social and political nightmare. This reference work provides an introduction to Allende's life as well as a guided overview of her body of work. Designed for the fan and scholar alike, this text features an alphabetized, fully-annotated listing of major terms in the Allende canon, including fictional characters, motifs, historical events and themes. A comprehensive index is included.
The Art and Craft of Asian Stories
281 pages
Banana Yoshimoto's books offer a meditative tone and an interesting take on mundane aspects of life, making them a captivating read.
A Tale for the Time Being
621 pages
With its strong female co-leads, this book delves into profound themes, making it a highly recommended read.
My Year of Meats
402 pages
This novel offers a surreal yet grounded exploration of the meat industry and the experiences of Asian Americans, making it a compelling read.
One Hundred Years of Solitude
342 pages
Marquez's work is a must-read for its rich storytelling and magical realism that captivates the imagination.
Convenience Store Woman
110 pages
Murata's unique perspective on societal norms and individuality makes her work stand out in contemporary literature.
The House of the Spirits
512 pages
Allende's blend of personal and political narratives in a magical realism setting creates an unforgettable reading experience.
Steppenwolf
224 pages
Hesse's writing offers profound insights into the human psyche, making it a compelling read for those seeking depth.
The Sound of Things Falling
322 pages
Winner of the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award 2014 Winner of the Alfaguara Prize 2011 Winner of the Gregor von Rezzori Prize 2013 No sooner does he get to know Ricardo Laverde in a seedy billiard hall in Bogot� than Antonio Yammara realises that the ex-pilot has a secret. Antonio's fascination with his new friend's life grows until the day Ricardo receives a mysterious, unmarked cassette. Shortly afterwards, he is shot dead on a street corner. Yammara's investigation into what happened leads back to the early 1960s, marijuana smuggling and a time before the cocaine trade trapped Colombia in a living nightmare.
The Metamorphosis
370 pages
Kafka's exploration of alienation and identity in a surreal context is both haunting and thought-provoking.
The Woman in the Dunes
258 pages
Abe's surreal storytelling and exploration of existential themes provide a thought-provoking journey.
The Book of Form and Emptiness
561 pages
WINNER OF THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION 2022 When a book and a reader are meant for each other, both of them know it . . . After the tragic death of his father, fourteen-year-old Benny Oh begins to hear voices. The voices belong to the things in his house and sound variously pleasant, angry or sad. Then his mother develops a hoarding problem, and the voices grow more clamorous. So Benny seeks refuge in the silence of a large public library. There he meets a mesmerising street artist with a smug pet ferret; a homeless philosopher-poet; and his very own Book, who narrates Benny’s life and teaches him to listen to the things that truly matter. Blending unforgettable characters with jazz, climate change and our attachment to material possessions, this is classic Ruth Ozeki – bold, humane and heartbreaking.
A Tale for the Time Being
500 pages
If you're into metafictional stories, A Tale For The Time Being is a fantastic read that beautifully blends cultural elements and a coming-of-age philosophy.
The Briefcase
148 pages
Tsukiko, thirty–eight, works in an office and lives alone. One night, she happens to meet one of her former high school teachers, "Sensei" in a local bar. Tsukiko had only ever called him "Sensei" ("Teacher"). He is thirty years her senior, retired, and presumably a widower. Their relationship–traced by Kawakami's gentle hints at the changing seasons–develops from a perfunctory acknowledgment of each other as they eat and drink alone at the bar, to an enjoyable sense of companionship, and finally into a deeply sentimental love affair. As Tsukiko and Sensei grow to know and love one another, time's passing comes across through the seasons and the food and beverages they consume together. From warm sake to chilled beer, from the buds on the trees to the blooming of the cherry blossoms, the reader is enveloped by a keen sense of pathos and both characters' keen loneliness.
Number9Dream
493 pages
David Mitchell's 'Number 9 Dream' is a beautifully crafted novel where each character is intricately developed, reminiscent of the style of Murakami.
Life Ceremony
220 pages
Similar to 'Earthlings', 'Life Ceremony' explores darker narratives, so it's advisable to be prepared for its challenging content.
Before the Coffee Gets Cold
229 pages
If you enjoy Banana Yoshimoto's lighter, magical realism, you might find 'Before The Coffee Gets Cold' to be an engaging read, even if the author's name slips your mind.
Convenience Store Woman
114 pages
Sayaka Murata's 'Convenience Store Woman' is a fascinating read that showcases her unique and intriguing style, making it a must-start for anyone interested in her work.
Earthlings
256 pages
Be cautious with 'Earthlings' as it delves into darker themes, so it's best approached if you're comfortable with intense subject matter.
Strange Weather in Tokyo
227 pages
It's one of my favorite books of all time, and it beautifully captures the nuances of human relationships.
Victory City
348 pages
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The epic tale of a woman who breathes a fantastical empire into existence, only to be consumed by it over the centuries—from the transcendent imagination of Booker Prize–winning, internationally bestselling author Salman Rushdie Salman Rushdie is one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People of the Year • “Victory City is a triumph—not because it exists, but because it is utterly enchanting.”—The Atlantic A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: The New York Times Book Review, The New Yorker, Time, NPR, The Washington Post, Chicago Public Library, Polygon, The Globe and Mail, Bookreporter In the wake of an unimportant battle between two long-forgotten kingdoms in fourteenth-century southern India, a nine-year-old girl has a divine encounter that will change the course of history. After witnessing the death of her mother, the grief-stricken Pampa Kampana becomes a vessel for a goddess, who begins to speak out of the girl’s mouth. Granting her powers beyond Pampa Kampana’s comprehension, the goddess tells her that she will be instrumental in the rise of a great city called Bisnaga—“victory city”—the wonder of the world. Over the next 250 years, Pampa Kampana’s life becomes deeply interwoven with Bisnaga’s, from its literal sowing from a bag of magic seeds to its tragic ruination in the most human of ways: the hubris of those in power. Whispering Bisnaga and its citizens into existence, Pampa Kampana attempts to make good on the task that the goddess set for her: to give women equal agency in a patriarchal world. But all stories have a way of getting away from their creator, and Bisnaga is no exception. As years pass, rulers come and go, battles are won and lost, and allegiances shift, the very fabric of Bisnaga becomes an ever more complex tapestry—with Pampa Kampana at its center. Brilliantly styled as a translation of an ancient epic, Victory City is a saga of love, adventure, and myth that is in itself a testament to the power of storytelling.
The Ground Beneath Her Feet
594 pages
"The first great rock ’n’ roll novel in the English language." --The Times On Valentine’s Day, 1989, Vina Apsara, a famous and much-loved singer, disappears in a devastating earthquake. Her lover, the singer Ormus Cama, cannot accept that he has lost her, and so begins his eternal quest to find her and bring her back. His journey takes him across the globe and through cities pulsating with the power of rock ’n’ roll, to Bombay, London and New York. But around the star-crossed lover and his quest, the uncertain world itself is beginning to tremble and break. Cracks and tears are appearing in the very fabric of reality, and exposing the abyss beyond. And Ormus has to confront just how far he is willing to go for love. In this epic romance that stretches across whole lives, and even beyond death, Salman Rushdie's most accessible novel is also a vivid account of the intimate, flawed encounter between East and West, a remaking of the myth of Orpheus, and an exploration of the extremities of comedy, culture and desire. The Ground Beneath Her Feet is a gripping story that encapsulates the history, dreams and passions of the last half century as no other novel has done.
The Ocean at the End of the Lane
194 pages
This book is dreamy and features a well-treated girl character, making it a captivating read.
After Dark
258 pages
It's a really moody, dreamlike book that portrays women pretty well, making it a worthwhile read!
Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman
351 pages
From the surreal to the mundane, an anthology of short fiction captures a full range of human experience, emotion, and relationship in works that chronicle a chance reunion in Italy, a holiday in Hawaii, and a romantic exile in Greece.
What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours
195 pages
"Transcendent." —The New York Times Book Review "Flawless. . . another masterpiece from an author who seems incapable of writing anything that's less than brilliant." —NPR From the award-winning author of Boy, Snow, Bird and Peaces comes an enchanting collection of intertwined stories. Playful, ambitious, and exquisitely imagined, What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours is cleverly built around the idea of keys, literal and metaphorical. The key to a house, the key to a heart, the key to a secret—Oyeyemi’s keys not only unlock elements of her characters’ lives, they promise further labyrinths on the other side. In “Books and Roses” one special key opens a library, a garden, and clues to at least two lovers’ fates. In “Is Your Blood as Red as This?” an unlikely key opens the heart of a student at a puppeteering school. “‘Sorry’ Doesn’t Sweeten Her Tea” involves a “house of locks,” where doors can be closed only with a key—with surprising, unobservable developments. And in “If a Book Is Locked There’s Probably a Good Reason for That Don't You Think,” a key keeps a mystical diary locked (for good reason). Oyeyemi’s tales span multiple times and landscapes as they tease boundaries between coexisting realities. Is a key a gate, a gift, or an invitation? What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours captivates as it explores the many possible answers.
The Complete Cosmicomics
368 pages
The complete collection of “nimble and often hilarious” short stories exploring the cosmos by the acclaimed author of Invisible Cities (Colin Dwyer, NPR). Italo Calvino’s beloved cosmicomics cross planets and traverse galaxies, speed up time or slow it down to the particles of an instant. Through the eyes of a “cosmic know-it-all” with the unpronounceable name of Qfwfq, Calvino explores natural phenomena and tells the story of the origins of the universe. Relating complex scientific and mathematical concepts to our everyday world, they are an indelible and delightful literary achievement. Originally published in Italian in three separate volumes—including the Asti d’Appello Prize-winning first volume, Cosmicomics—these thirty-four dazzling stories are collected here in one definitive English-language anthology. “Trying to describe such a diverse and entertaining mix, I have to admit, just as Calvino does so often, that my words fail here, too. There’s no way I—or anyone, really—can muster enough of them to quite capture the magic of these stories . . . Read this book, please.” —Colin Dwyer, NPR
Our Share of Night
609 pages
Mariana Enriquez's writing is captivating with its dreamy contemporary surrealist style, making her books a must-read for those who enjoy unique and imaginative storytelling.
Invisible Cities
184 pages
In Kublai Khan's garden, at sunset, the young Marco Polo diverts the aged emperor from his obsession with the impending end of his empire with tales of countless cities past, present, and future.
If on a Winter's Night a Traveler
280 pages
Italo Calvino's classic, multifaceted novel about writing and readers.
The Age of Goodbyes
350 pages
This book captures the elements of vagueness, surrealism, and magic realism, making it a unique read.
Breasts and Eggs
359 pages
A novel that “considers the agency . . . women exert over their bodies and charts the emotional underpinnings of physical changes . . . with humor and empathy” (The New Yorker). On a sweltering summer day, Makiko travels from Osaka to Tokyo, where her sister Natsu lives. She is in the company of her daughter, Midoriko, who has lately grown silent, finding herself unable to voice the vague yet overwhelming pressures associated with adolescence. Over the course of their few days together in the capital, Midoriko’s silence will prove a catalyst for each woman to confront her fears and family secrets. On yet another summer’s day eight years later, Natsu, during a journey back to her native city, confronts her anxieties about growing old alone and childless. Bestselling author Mieko Kawakami mixes stylistic inventiveness and riveting emotional depth to tell a story of contemporary womanhood in Japan. “Took my breath away.” —Haruki Murakami, #1 New York Times–bestselling author The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle “Kawakami lobbed a literary grenade into the fusty, male-dominated world of Japanese fiction with Breast and Eggs.” —The Economist “A sharply observed and heartbreaking portrait of what it means to be a woman.” —TIME “Raw, funny, mundane, heartbreaking.” —The Atlantic “A bracing, feminist exploration of daily life in Japan.” —Entertainment Weekly “Timely feminist themes; strange, surreal prose; and wonderful characters will transcend cultural barriers and enchant readers.” —The New York Observer “Bracing and evocative, tender yet unflinching.” —Publishers Weekly “Kawakami writes with unsettling precision about the body—its discomforts, its appetites, its smells and secretions. And she is especially good at capturing its longings.” —The New York Times Book Review
Men Without Women
219 pages
DISCOVER THE SHORT STORY COLLECTION THAT GAVE THE WORLD DRIVE MY CAR, THE BAFTA AND OSCAR WINNING FILM A dazzling Sunday Times bestselling collection of short stories from the beloved internationally acclaimed Haruki Murakami. Across seven tales, Haruki Murakami brings his powers of observation to bear on the lives of men who, in their own ways, find themselves alone. Here are vanishing cats and smoky bars, lonely hearts and mysterious women, baseball and the Beatles, woven together to tell stories that speak to us all. Marked by the same wry humour that has defined his entire body of work, in this collection Murakami has crafted another contemporary classic. 'Supremely enjoyable, philosophical and pitch-perfect new collection of short stories...Murakami has a marvelous understanding of youth and age' Observer 'Murakami at his whimsical, romantic best' Financial Times
Lapvona
321 pages
This book features unrealistic happenings, but be prepared for unlikeable characters and a lack of a central figure.
A Pale View of Hills
174 pages
This book is noted for its vagueness, offering a different reading experience.
The Buried Giant
337 pages
While it has all three components of vagueness, surrealism, and magic realism, it's the least favorite among Ishiguro's works.
