the books of Haruki Murakami

Brian Gibbs -
Where to start reading Haruki Murakami’s books
If you haven’t yet ventured into the weird, wonderful world of Japan’s most globally celebrated author, start with this beginner’s guide to his incredible books.
Skip to ContentFeaturesBooksAuthorsAbout UsPenguin ShopSearchSubmitHome|Search Results|Where to start reading Haruki Murakami’s booksReading listsWhere to start reading Haruki Murakami’s booksIf you haven't yet ventured into the weird and wonderful world of Japan's most globally celebrated author, discover his writing with this beginner's guide to his incredible books. FacebookPinterestTwitterEmail Few authors have captured the world’s imagination like Haruki Murakami. The Japanese author, who at 29 ditched his day job running a jazz bar in Tokyo to write, is now recognised globally for his surrealist novels, which retain an air of magic and whimsy despite their sobering themes of human isolation. Since he published his first book in 1979, Murakami has won accolades and awards for his work, including the World Fantasy Award, the Franz Kafka Prize, the Jerusalem Prize and many others; in 2000, The Guardian referred to him as being “among the world’s greatest living novelists”. With such a vast oeuvre – Murakami has published over a dozen novels, not to mention his short stories and non-fiction – it can be daunting to know which of his books to read first. Here, we’ve chosen a handful of his most notable works to help guide you. <img alt="" sizes="100vw" srcSet="https://wp.penguin.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/MurakamiAllBooksGroupShotSquare-1024x1024.jpg?w=599&amp;q=75 599w, https://wp.penguin.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/MurakamiAllBooksGroupShotSquare-1024x1024.jpg?w=614&amp;q=75 614w, https://wp.penguin.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/MurakamiAllBooksGroupShotSquare-1024x1024.jpg?w=819&amp;q=75 819w, https://wp.penguin.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/MurakamiAllBooksGroupShotSquare-1024x1024.jpg?w=827&amp;q=75 827w, https://wp.penguin.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/MurakamiAllBooksGroupShotSquare-1024x1024.jpg?w=833&amp;q=75 833w, https://wp.penguin.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/MurakamiAllBooksGroupShotSquare-1024x1024.jpg?w=836&amp;q=75 836w, https://wp.penguin.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/MurakamiAllBooksGroupShotSquare-1024x1024.jpg?w=1290&amp;q=75 1290w, https://wp.penguin.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/MurakamiAllBooksGroupShotSquare-1024x1024.jpg?w=1440&amp;q=75 1440w, https://wp.penguin.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/MurakamiAllBooksGroupShotSquare-1024x1024.jpg?w=1550&amp;q=75 1550w, https://wp.penguin.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/MurakamiAllBooksGroupShotSquare-1024x1024.jpg?w=1920&amp;q=75 1920w, https://wp.penguin.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/MurakamiAllBooksGroupShotSquare-1024x1024.jpg?w=2048&amp;q=75 2048w, https://wp.penguin.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/MurakamiAllBooksGroupShotSquare-1024x1024.jpg?w=3840&amp;q=75 3840w" src="https://wp.penguin.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/MurakamiAllBooksGroupShotSquare-1024x1024.jpg?w=3840&amp;q=75" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%;object-fit:cover" loading="lazy"/>Penguin Shop bundleMurakami Collectible Classics(Re)discover Murakami's work with these collectible editions, featuring cover designs by Japanese artists and new introductions by the author himself.Learn moreHaruki MurakamiTopicsReading listsWhere to start with...Read More<img alt="" src="https://wp.penguin.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Guide-to-magical-realism.png" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%;object-fit:cover" loading="lazy"/>Reading listsA guide to magical realismWhat is magical realism? From Gabriel Garcia Marquez to Haruki Murakami, explore the key authors, themes, and must-read books of the genre. <img alt="" src="https://wp.penguin.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Japanese-fiction-in-translation-reading-list__Penguin.png" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%;object-fit:cover" loading="lazy"/>What to read nextThe best Japanese fiction in translationJapanese fiction is the UK’s most popular form of translated literature. Here’s our list of some of the best places to begin with the genre. <img alt="" src="https://wp.penguin.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Vintage-14.11.221497-575x335-1-scaled.jpg" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%;object-fit:cover" loading="lazy"/>RecommendationsFifteen non-fiction books to inspire youHow do we navigate the world around us? Where do we start if we want to learn something new? Here is a reading list of non-fiction books exploring ideas that matter, including books by Margaret Atwood, Haruki Murakami, Ai Weiwei, Chelsea Manning and more. Sign up to the Penguin NewsletterFor the latest books, recommendations, author interviews and moreBy signing up, I confirm that I'm over 16. 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