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Another favorite book coming from favorite author. Yes, he is my first choice for fiction genre novel, Haruki Murakami. For the first time I will review his novel titled "Sputnik Sweetheart". At the beginning when I start to read this book, I have no idea why the title is Sputnik Sweetheart and what's the relation between Russian satellite named Sputnik with Haruki Murakami's story? Well, along the story of this book you'll start to understand why the title is Sputnik Sweetheart and in the end you'll agree that Haruki Murakami is one of the genius novelists ever!! And so do I. ^^

Tip before reading Haruki Murakami's books:
Most of his stories are all about mental-minded problem and contain sexual adult content. Make sure you're ready and mature enough to understand the plot and the way he writes a story, because sometimes it doesn't make sense at all but that's the unique point of his typical.

Synopsis:
"Twenty-two-years-old Sumire is in love with a woman seventeen years her senior. But whereas Miu is glamorous and successful, Sumire is an aspiring writer who dresses in an oversized second-hand coat and heavy boots like a character in a Kerouac novel.

Surprised that she might, after all, be a lesbian, Sumire spends hours on the phone talking to her best friend K about the big question in life: what is sexual desire and should she ever tell Miu how she feels about her.

Frustated in his own love for Sumire, K consoles himself by having an affair with the mother of one of his pupils. Then a desperate Miu calls from a small Greek Island and asks for his help, and he discovers that something very strange has happened to Sumire."




After all, this book is one of his typical crafts...out of the world. I feel related both to Sumire and Miu. Sumire is a passionate writer but sometimes when she finished her writing that is something bother her. Her novel has no 'life' in it. And Miu has a secret she never told to anyone (except to Sumire in this story) that confused her and has changed her into an empty shell with no sexual desire. In other hand K is fallen in love with Sumire but with Sumire turned out to be a lesbian, K feels he couldn't ever reach Sumire no matter what. By a coincident Sumire turned out to be Miu's companion as her assistant to run her wine business. Since Miu has to maintain her business relations around the Eroupe, so Sumire will go whenever Miu go and that's what makes Sumire feel happy and continue to fall deeply in love and has sexual desire with Miu Until one day, when something so strange happened in Greek Island and Sumire has disappeared like smoke.

It looks complicated and truly it is. As I told before, this is one of Haruki Murakami typical story. Very different from other genre, out of the box, and unexpected. That's what make me want to read from the very first page until the last page without stopping.

With this unusual story, it will leaves a big question after read all of its pages. Really hard to be understood but very impressive. I recommend this book and give 3.5/5 stars rate. ^^

Download the English version of Haruki Murakami's Sputnik Sweetheart e-books HERE.

(FYI, Sputnik in Russian means a traveler companion and in this book Haruki Murakami writes a beautiful metaphor of its. It is also the reason behind one of my blog's title. ^^)

"I turned face-up on the slab of stone, gazed at the sky, and thought about all the man-made satellites spinning around the Earth. The horizon was still etched in the faint glow, and stars began to blink on in the deep, wine-coloured sky. I gazed among them for the light of a satellite, but it was still too bright out to spot one with the naked eye. The sprinkling of stars looked nailed to the spot, unmoving. I closed my eyes and listened carefully for the descendants of Sputnik, even now circling the Earth, gravity their only tie to the planet. Lonely metal souls in the unimpeded darkness of space, they meet, pass each other, and part, never to meet again. No words passing between them. No promise to keep."