I’m a big fan of Haruki Murakami.

He released a collection of short stories called First Person Singular a few months ago and I couldn’t put it down.

These are masterful stories all told in the first person by a classic Murakami narrator, who may or may not be the author.

Some of them such as, With the Beatles, Cream and On a Stone Pillow are nostalgic looks back at youth.

Others are set in adulthood–Charlie Parker Plays Bossa Nova, Carnaval, Confessions of a Shinagawa Monkey (which I loved) and the stunning title story, First Person Singular.

Simple sentences. Simple plots but the stories are deep sea dives on love and loss, childhood and death.