Tab Article

Ratings: ★★★★☆ (3.9/5 on Goodreads)
Genre: Short Stories, Literary Fiction, Contemporary Fiction

Book Review:
“Men Without Women” is a masterful collection of seven short stories by Haruki Murakami, each exploring the peculiar, painful, and often surreal terrain of male loneliness in the absence of women. From a grieving actor who becomes obsessed with his female chauffeur, to a jazz bar owner haunted by memories of an ex-lover, to a Kafkaesque tale of Samsa (from The Metamorphosis) waking as a human — these stories are quintessential Murakami: melancholic, witty, dreamlike, and quietly profound. The title story, “Men Without Women,” directly engages with Hemingway’s同名 collection. Standouts include “Drive My Car” (adapted into an Oscar-winning film) and “An Independent Organ,” a devastating portrait of a man who cannot love. Perfect for Murakami fans and newcomers alike. “Murakami at his whimsical, romantic best” – Financial Times. “Utterly perfect” – Independent.