The 7 stories told across Murakami’s Men Without Women, tell the tales of men, who each in their own way, have found themselves alone. And although there is definitely something to take from each story on it’s own, I have to admit this wasn’t my favorite. Not to say that I didn’t enjoy this read, but I’m not sure that Murakami’s quirky style is my cup of tea.

I’m not going to lie, I chose this book so that I would feel less guilty about the amount of TV I’ve been watching during quarantine, and I find something rewarding about being able to experience one piece of writing in two different mediums. And let me just cut to the chase, the book was definitely better than the series.

This book is an exploration of what it means to come of age in urban Chicago while grappling with the duality of identity. It touches on themes, of mental health, poverty, race, and even death in the most subtle and authentic ways.