Try free for 30 days

1 credit a month to use on any title, yours to keep (you’ll use your first credit on this title).
Stream or download thousands of included titles.
Access to exclusive deals and discounts.
$16.45 a month after 30 day trial. Cancel anytime.
First Person Singular cover art

First Person Singular

By: Haruki Murakami, Philip Gabriel - translator
Narrated by: Kotaro Watanabe
Try for $0.00

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $21.99

Buy Now for $21.99

Pay using voucher balance (if applicable) then card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions Of Use and Privacy Notice and authorise Audible to charge your designated credit card or another available credit card on file.

Publisher's Summary

Brought to you by Penguin.

THE SUNDAY TIMES BEST SELLER

A GUARDIAN AND SUNDAY TIMES 'BOOKS OF 2021' PICK

A mindbending new collection of short stories from the unique, internationally acclaimed author of Norwegian Wood and The Wind-up Bird Chronicle.

The eight masterly stories in this new collection are all told in the first person by a classic Murakami narrator. From nostalgic memories of youth, meditations on music and an ardent love of baseball to dreamlike scenarios, an encounter with a talking monkey and invented jazz albums, together these stories challenge the boundaries between our minds and the exterior world. Occasionally, a narrator who may or may not be Murakami himself is present. Is it memoir or fiction? The listener decides.

Philosophical and mysterious, the stories in First Person Singular all touch beautifully on love and solitude, childhood and memory...all with a signature Murakami twist.

©2021 Haruki Murakami (P)2021 Penguin Audio

What listeners say about First Person Singular

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    8
  • 4 Stars
    8
  • 3 Stars
    3
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    10
  • 4 Stars
    5
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    6
  • 4 Stars
    8
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars
  • ST
  • 27-10-2021

For mega fans only

I found this a chore to finish. I love Murakami’s work and have read all his novels. But this, along with his first two stories (Wind/Pinball) are his weakest works by far.
There’s some good moments, like in the stories Cream, Charlie Parker and Shinagawa Monkey. But over half the stories were forgettable.
I’d suggest trying some of his many other brilliant works instead. I’d only get this if you’ve already read all his other novels and story collections first and still want more.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

More mesmerising Murakami short stories

Absolutely love Murakami's work as always, his surreal yet everyday stories work really well in this first person format.
Kotaro Watanabe did a great job telling the story. While he didn't quite have the voice and inflections that I've projected onto Murakami while reading his other books, I can't fault the performance.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

What is real and what is not?

Probably, you need to be a fan and I admit to that..
These short stories are easy to listen to, even seemingly low key stories and play with the reality of Muraki's memories but really the reality of all of our memories. Did Charlie Psrker plays Bossa Nova really exist? You can decide. Murakami is a playful, witty storyteller and he likes to play with the reader.
i really enjoyed the nuanced performance in Japanese English, it added to the way the stories are personal memories.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.