Reading rank 434
A Wild Sheep Chase
, subject: Murakami novel initially disliked by editors and embraced by readers, 1982
Murakami's account of this novel gave David a concrete example of editors and readers responding differently to distinctive work.
4
Coverage Score
1
Scored evidence
About the book
A photograph from a friend seems like ordinary advertising material until a powerful stranger demands that the narrator find the sheep pictured in it. The search develops into a surreal mystery mixing detective-story conventions with an increasingly strange quest.
Why read it
Best if you want to explore the novel Murakami associated with finding his style and winning readers despite editorial doubts.
Key themes
- Keep the style you have found
- Listen to the people who use the work
Evidence and original sources
Source: official Founders episode — #357
This record is supported by 1 public evidence rows linked to original Founders episodes.
- Haruki Murakami — David recounts Murakami's editors wanting a more mainstream novel while readers embraced A Wild Sheep Chase, then connects that difference in reception to differentiated products and James Dyson's advice about reaching consumers.