The Wind-Up Bird ChronicleThe Wind-Up Bird Chronicle
Score Modern
What it's about
Haruki Murakami's heroically imaginative novel is at once a detective story, an account of a disintegrating marriage and an excavation of the buried secrets of World War II, as an ordinary man's search for what he has lost leads him into a strange hidden world.
Why it's worth reading
It's widely considered Murakami's masterpiece and established him as a major international writer.
You'll love it if you liked
Kafka on the Shore
1Q84
Norwegian WoodGood to know
It's long and surreal, with some very violent war scenes. Not every mystery is explained.
By the numbers
- Readers65 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller35 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #182 of the 309 literary novels we rank
- #209 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #799 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1490 of the 2,816 books we rank
Reads as
Epic, Moving
More by Haruki Murakami
Kafka on the ShoreNorwegian Wood1Q84If you like this, read next
The Overstory
Piranesi
Circe
The Underground Railroad
Acheron
AnathemExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle worth reading?
Yes. It's widely considered Murakami's masterpiece and established him as a major international writer. It ranks #1,490 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 68.3 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle about?
Haruki Murakami's heroically imaginative novel is at once a detective story, an account of a disintegrating marriage and an excavation of the buried secrets of World War II, as an ordinary man's search for what he has lost leads him into a strange hidden world.
How long does it take to read The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle?
About 15 hours (607 pages), or about 4 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle?
If you liked it, try Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami, 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami or Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami.