Great! I also agree. One phrase always stuck with me, when talking about the leader of the cult, Murakami said, paraphrasing, "imagine the bloodbath of internal conflicts that must need to happen to give rise to someone like that". For some reason, I've always remembered it. "Bloodbath of internal conflicts" was a line that always stuck with me. :P ;) xx ;p
Also, I recommend getting hands on the very early (and short) English translations of, "Hear the Wind Sing", and "Pinball 1973" -- just really strange, bizarre and cool. Like a distilled pure essence of all his works to come, but these were (I think) his first two. You can sort of see all his themes, style and everything in those first two. Really great! :) ;p xx ;p
Also, I recommend getting hands on the very early (and short) English translations of, "Hear the Wind Sing", and "Pinball 1973" -- just really strange, bizarre and cool. Like a distilled pure essence of all his works to come, but these were (I think) his first two. You can sort of see all his themes, style and everything in those first two. Really great! :) ;p xx ;p