"Murakami's writing perfectly captures the way surreal, even seemingly supernatural, encounters can subtly alter the terrain of everyday life." — The Washington post book world... "In that instant, for no reason and based on no grounds whatsoever, it suddenly struck me: I think I can write a novel. "I can still recall the exact sensation. It felt as if something had come fluttering down from the sky, and i had caught it cleanly in my hands. I had no idea why it had chanced to fall into my grasp. I didn't know then, and i don't know now. Whatever the reason, it had taken place. It was like a revelation. Or maybe epiphany' is a better word. All i can say is that my life was drastically and permanently altered in that instant—when Dave Hilton belted that beautiful, ringing double at jingu stadium." —from Haruki Murakami's introduction to wind/pinball.