It would be very odd for English books to be formatted like Japanese publications. Long books split into parts and reading top to bottom, right to left with little circles for period and half brackets for quotations…

You could start on a shorter one and see if the atmosphere of his books is something that calls to you. I loved Wind Up Bird Chronicle back when I was in college but it’s another long one. Sputnik Sweetheart and Norwegian Wood are shorter and will give you a decent insight into Murakami’s “deal”.

Snobs and gatekeepers get too bad of a rap these days. Embrace your crotchety, well-read, high standards self.

I wish I could read Shakespeare’s Cardenio for the first time.