First Person Singular

Murakami is the protean author of novels including 1Q84 and The City and Its Uncertain Walls.

We got to know him through his short story collections, including First Person Singular, and have featured a lot of his work, which often pushes reality to its limits and seems to bring out the best in our readers.

"The Year of Spaghetti" is deceptively plain.

Our narrator shares his nightly pasta rituals, but after a few mouthfuls you know you are in emotionally complex territory, moving from spaghetti alla parmigiana, spaghetti alla Napoletana, spaghetti alla carbonara to relationships that aren't as easy to prepare or repair.