South of the Border, West of the Sun

Set in Post-War Japan, the book revolves around two single children Hajime and Shimamoto, the latter of whom is affected by polio. They both share a close bond since their kindergarten days but are forced apart when Hajime moves away. A decade later, we meet Hajime who lives in Tokyo. He has become a successful businessman and is married and has two wonderful children. The story takes a turn with the reappearance of Shimamoto.

The beautiful Shimamoto captures the fancy of Hajime yet again and Hajime is deeply overwhelmed by her return. Their mutual attraction threatens to change their lives.

Is Shimamoto living in the past? Is he living a fantasy? Is Shimamoto real or a figment of his imagination? Which one will he chose - his current family or his love from the past? The questions are complex, and so are the answers.

The unforgettable memories of the past, the sweet fantasies of ideal love and the many unanswerable questions in the lives of protagonist unveil the surrealism in the novel.

The book, South Of The Border, West Of The Sun, was first published in 1992. The novel has been well received for its interesting portrayal of complex emotions and for its contemplative tone.

About Haruki Murakami
A critically acclaimed writer and translator, Haruki Murakami is an important postmodern literary figure. He is rightly regarded as one of the greatest living writers.

Other than South Of The Border, West Of The Sun, Murakami has written other short stories and novels. His prominent works include Hear The Wind Sing, Sputnik Sweetheart, The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, Pinball, Hard-Boiled Wonderland And The End of the World, and Kafka on the Shore.

Murakami is known for his surrealistic style of writing and for his recurrent themes of loneliness, and isolation.
Born in Japan, Murakami has a passion for western music and literature. Many of his novels have the titles of songs. He is the recipient of many prestigious awards like the Jerusalem Prize, Noma Literary Prize, and the Franz Kafka prize.