Why read The City and Its Uncertain Walls?

Book cover of The City and Its Uncertain Walls

Book description

STEP INTO THE CITY

When a young man's girlfriend mysteriously vanishes, he sets his heart on finding the imaginary city where her true self lives. His search will lead him to take a job in a remote library with mysteries of its own.

When he finally makes it to the…

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Why read it?

3 authors picked The City and Its Uncertain Walls as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Judith Teitelman

Author

I have been a huge fan of Murakami's novels and essays since I first read Kafka on the Shore, one of my all-time favorite tales. And, while I've not read everything he's written, The City and Its Uncertain Walls, his most recent novel, is another one of his tales that has completely engrossed me. This one especially appealed, as I especially love stories about books and libraries.

From Judith's 3 favorite reads in 2025.

Wade Richardson

Author

This is the best fictional book I have ever read. Murakami takes magic realism to a whole new level, creating blurred distinctions between worlds and among various characters while weaving in the telepathic sharing of consciousness.

From Wade's 3 favorite reads in 2025.

Erika Rummel

Author

This is another book that deals with the question of truth, of our true selves. This enigmatic novel meanders from the real to an unreal world without ever explaining it, because the wall between those worlds resembles “our brain, divided into right and left”.

This is not the magic realism of Garcia Marquez. It demands a patient reader. It doesn’t have a lot of action, but it’s full of magic moments.

From Erika's list on authenticity and truth with a capital T.