The Strange Library

The young narrator of The Strange Library finds himself wondering how taxes were collected in the Ottoman Empire. He pops into the local library to see if it has a book on the subject. This is his first mistake. Led to a special ''reading room'' in a maze under the library by a strange old man, he finds himself imprisoned with only a sheep man, who makes excellent donuts, and a girl, who can talk with her hands, for company. His mother will be worrying why he hasn''t returned in time for dinner and the old man seems to have an appetite for eating small boy''s brains. How will he escape?

This hardback book contains beautiful illustrations that assist with the story and will delight Murakami fans.