An introspective Murakami for the fans, while melancholy has always been a signature element in Haruki Murakami's stories, its dominance in The City and Its Uncertain Walls is unlike anything I've read from him thus far; while it's nothing suffocating or oppressive, it lacks the levity and outright 'weirdness' of his more popular titles.

The whole thing can also be interpreted as a meta retrospective of the author's body of work, considering it is partially based off the same short story that has already been 'remade' once as Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World, as well as appearances of some of his iconic themes (romantic yearning during youth / middle age), and elements (literature, music, spaghetti, etc.). The magical realism flavor is still present, but takes a backseat with the story's more muted tone and quiet pacing.

I wouldn't recommend newcomers starting with this as their first foray into Haruki Murakami's universe, as the self-referential aspect will be difficult to grasp / appreciate, its leisurely pacing can be testing even for experienced readers (the story can easily be told under 350 pages), and the overall structure a little fragmented and under-told. But for vibes, I sink into The City and Its Uncertain Walls like a cozy, familiar sweater, and I'm left feeling bittersweet as this can easily be interpreted as a career closure of sorts.

**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**