Rating: 
Summary: Trippy
Review: When Almost Transparent Blue came out in the late seventies, it was an important piece of literature and an important milestone in Japanese fiction. Almost Transparent Blue is not simply about drugs and sex; in fact the chilling but fascinating aspect of Murakami's writing style is how remarkably detached his protagonist is from the actions that he and the people around him are doing. This is a significant change from Coin Locker Babies, a book with similar themes, but much more proactive and passionate characters. This rift between what is real and surreal becomes more in focus as the story continues, and the book reaches its climax when the protagonist, in a self-induced semi-hallucinogenic state, realizes that the reality that exists in the surreal world (primary, the Bird's world) is much more real and urgent than the drugs and sex in the "real" world around him.While this book is still relevant today, as there is still an unnamable but nevertheless constant pressure on the youth of Japan (and around the world), the context it exists in has changed quite a bit. Ryu's world is not quite the world of today, and ATB is beginning to show its age. Nevertheless, Almost Transparent Blue is a very enjoyable book, and by the end it becomes clear that it is a much deeper and mature book than first meets the eye.
Rating: 
Summary: Quiet Down!
Review: You could skip the first half of this book and enjoy it much more. The beginning is basically just awkward sexuality. I suggest you don't, as you wont really know who is who, but then again, as much doesn't happen in the book, you don't really need to. But! The second half of this book is so incredible though. This whole work is essentially like reading a photograph. It is so image intensive that one begins to see within the story. You lose focus of what is going on in the dialogue and you just watch the piece unfold. A film with the sound turned off. And since the plot is quite thin, yet non existent, it leaves room for discovery. A very realistic image of a jaded man. Read it. Its one of my favorites. So the 5 score seems high for a book with no plot and excessive sex. But once you read it, you'll understand.
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