I have been a persistent follower and fan of Murakami’s various works, and his new novel, Killing Commendatore, has proven to be another absorbing exploration of the furtive human experience. The novel follows an aspiring artist who abandons his domestic life after his wife abruptly leaves him.

In pursuit of artistic integrity, he seeks out solitude and rents an old classmate’s house in the mountains, which was formerly owned by Tomohiko Amada, a famous artist. After uncovering one of Amada’s old and unknown paintings, surreal incidents begin to play out.

These include a mysterious and wealthy neighbour imposing on the narrator and commissioning a portrait of himself, the appearance of an old ghost, and finally, the emergence of the Commendatore of the title himself. As the novel progresses, we see that it begins to extend beyond the physical realm. As the various subplots increase in intricacy, Murakami steers this complex novel by focusing on an exploration of the incompleteness of being.

This is a theme that resonates through much of Murakami’s work. Yet despite his highly whimsical narrative he successfully retains relatability in his work. This is executed through his admirable ability to transform the mundane into a surreal and almost majestic experience.

This novel uses a similar formula and character development to his former works, yet this is what I have found so consistently appealing. He captures the most basic and fundamental activities of life; eating, drinking, listening to music, sex and contemplation, with the upmost sensibility and detail.

This is a wildly imaginative novel that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Reviewed by Akina Hansen