"The Wind Up Bird Chronicle", Murakami Haruki, 1994

It's easy to point out the pathologically nonchalant lead who appears in each of his books, but this isn't to say that Murakami is incapable of devising characters - in fact, I think this is where his strengths lie. Whilst describing other people, the prose is utterly electrifying, but elsewhere, frustratingly slow. Two thirds of the way through, this book was in danger of outstaying its welcome, but suddenly it picked up. I think I prefer him in shorter bursts.