Pinball, 1973

Brief Overview

Haruki Murakami's novel «Pinball, 1973» tells the story of an unnamed narrator living in Tokyo who works as a translator. He reminisces about his youth and his fascination with pinball, as well as his connection with two twins who suddenly appear in his life. Parallel to this is the story of his friend, nicknamed the Rat, who lives in a small town and is experiencing an existential crisis. The central theme of the novel is the search for meaning and lost memories, as well as the characters' attempts to cope with loneliness and inner emptiness. Ultimately, the narrator sets out to find an old pinball machine, which symbolizes his past and nostalgia for bygone days.