South of the Border, West of the Sun

Interesting Facts

• The book explores themes of nostalgia and lost opportunities through the lens of the protagonist's memories of his youth and first love.
• The title of the book refers to Nat King Cole's song «South of the Border», which plays an important role in the plot and symbolizes the protagonist's dreams and illusions.
• The main character, Hajime, owns a jazz bar, reflecting Murakami's love for jazz music, which often features in his works.
• The book touches on the theme of midlife crisis and the search for life's meaning, which is one of the central themes in Murakami's work.
• The work contains elements of mysticism and mystery, characteristic of Murakami's style, leaving the reader with questions and reflections.