All Intensive Purposes

Jay Rubin, a professor of Japanese literature at Harvard University and one of Haruki Murakami's translators, has written this overview of Murakami's work, from the early novels not available in English translation through After the Quake and Underground. (Kafka on the Shore was published after this book came out in 2002.) I can't imagine wanting to read it if you've have read much of Murakami's work, but this fan thought it was wonderful. Rubin relates themes across his short stories and novels, and gives a glimpse of the man. I've repeated a few items here, and these were certainly not the only choice bits.

Amazon doesn't have any copies, but as I write it's in stock at Powell's -- buy it there.