Haruki Murakami Manga Stories 3: Scheherezade; Sleep

Haruki Murakami Manga Stories 3: Scheherezade; Sleep

€20.99

-
+

Specs

Categories: ,

Description

“Enchanting…intriguing […] A wonderfully surreal quality and a hip, witty tone.” —The Wall Street Journal Haruki Murakami’s novels, essays and stories have sold millions of copies worldwide and been translated into fifty languages. Now for the first time, his best-loved stories are available in manga form, in three independent volumes. These adaptations have been hailed by Publishers Weekly as “a must-read for Murakami buffs and a quirky invitation into the writer’s perspective and preoccupations for newcomers,” while Book Riot says “Long-time fans are sure to appreciate this new approach to Murakami’s work, while newcomers will find it an evocative introduction.” With their trademark mix of realism and fantasy, centering around Murakami’s signature themes of loss, remorse and confusion, the two stories in this volume are: Scheherazade: A man, Habara, is confined to his home, as though under house arrest. He is visited regularly by a woman, Scheherazade, who brings provisions then has sex with him. She tells him about a boy she was in love with in high school, and how she would break into his house. She starts re-enacting the break-ins, which further enhances their passion. At the end of the story, Habara anxiously awaits her next break-in and the continuing account of her youthful affair. “Tortured love affairs […] are nothing new to Murakami’s vast store of plotlines.” —The New York Times Sleep: A housewife has not slept for many days, but her family doesn’t notice. She stays up all night reading Anna Karenina and sees her surroundings through new eyes. Her sleeplessness provides freedom from a monotonous life looking after her husband and son. “A brilliant story that uses the liminality of the night to evoke the unease of being a woman in a patriarchal society.” —The Guardian These graphic novel versions of Murakami’s classic stories will be devoured by his fans and will provide a new window onto his work for readers not yet familiar with it! *This volume is shrink-wrapped and recommended for readers ages 18+ due to mature themes and graphic content.*

  • Author: Haruki Murakami
  • Publisher: Tuttle Publishing
  • Published: 2025-04-01
  • Pages: 169
  • ISBN-13: 9781462925223

Additional information

Author

Haruki Murakami

Reviews

There are no reviews yet.

Be the first to review “Haruki Murakami Manga Stories 3: Scheherezade; Sleep”

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Summary

What the internet says

Aggregated insights from reviews and discussions across the web.

Overall reception: Mostly positive

Haruki Murakami Manga Stories 3: Scheherezade; Sleep receives generally positive reception as an accessible entry point into Murakami's literary world. The manga adaptation, illustrated by PMGL and adapted by Jean-Christophe Deveney, has been praised by Publishers Weekly as 'a must-read for Murakami buffs and a quirky invitation into the writer's perspective' while Book Riot notes that 'long-time fans are sure to appreciate this new approach to Murakami's work, while newcomers will find it an evocative introduction.' On Goodreads, the volume holds a 4.00 rating from 4 ratings, with 75% of readers giving it 4 or 5 stars.

Reviewers consistently highlight how the graphic novel format effectively captures Murakami's signature themes of loss, remorse, and confusion while making his often abstract storytelling more visually concrete. Otaku USA Magazine describes it as 'a good way to enter the world of Haruki Murakami' and notes that 'this unconventional, anything-but-ordinary manga is a perfect match for its source material.' The two stories—Scheherezade's exploration of confined desire and Sleep's examination of a housewife's nocturnal freedom—are frequently praised for their psychological depth. However, the art style proves divisive; while some appreciate its unconventional approach, others find the 'chaotic and grotesque with rigid and messy lines' illustrations less appealing than traditional manga aesthetics. The mature content (the volume is shrink-wrapped and rated 18+) is noted as appropriate for the source material's themes.

What readers loved

  • Excellent entry point for newcomers to Murakami's work, making his complex themes more accessible through visual storytelling
  • Faithful adaptations that capture Murakami's signature blend of realism and fantasy, particularly his themes of loss, remorse, and confusion
  • The pairing of Scheherezade and Sleep in one volume is described as 'a stroke of genius' by Otaku Magazine
  • Visual format provides deeper context and helps readers better visualize characters' emotional states in Murakami's often confusing relationships
  • Strong psychological depth in both stories—Scheherezade's exploration of confined intimacy and Sleep's examination of domestic entrapment
  • Adaptations by Jean-Christophe Deveney are praised for heightening the impact of Murakami's already exceptional stories
  • Successfully strips away rhetorical devices to focus on core images, making the narratives more direct and powerful

Common critiques

  • Art style is divisive—described as 'chaotic and grotesque with rigid and messy lines' rather than beautifully curated, which may not appeal to fans of traditional manga aesthetics
  • Not the 'kawaii type' of manga, with unconventional illustrations that are 'anything-but-ordinary' and may alienate some readers
  • Mature content (18+ rating) limits the potential audience and requires shrink-wrapping
  • Stories may still require significant suspension of disbelief even in visual format, as Murakami's narratives remain abstract and open-ended

Based on reviews from

  • Goodreads
  • Goodreads Reviews
  • Otaku USA Magazine
  • Amazon Australia
  • Barnes & Noble
Last updated May 18, 2026 Summary based on publicly available reviews. May not reflect every reader's experience.

Related products