A fascinating collection of conversations. . . . The unpretentious and engaging dialogues between passionate artists-the bewitching writer in whose novels music plays a prominent part and the indefatigable, amiable conductor-make the pages fly. -The New York Times

Highly entertaining. . . . A book that opens a new side of [Murakami's] authorial persona. -San Francisco Chronicle

Absolutely on Music is an unprecedented treasure. . . . Talking about music is like dancing about architecture, it's often said, but what joy to watch these two friends dance. -The Guardian

Enthralling. . . . What comes through in these conversations is the devotion both men feel for music; the degree to which every detail of a work matters to them. -The Seattle Times

Fascinating. . . . [Murakami's] preparation and curiosity draw out Mr. Ozawa wonderfully. -The Wall Street Journal

An enviable word picture of the artistic life of two men at the top of their professional games. . . . [Absolutely on Music] offers so much that bears re-reading and considering. -The Washington Times

Irresistibly seductive. -Evening Standard

Refreshingly honest and enthusiastic, a mental sampler from both the writer and the musician. -The Buffalo News

The book shines as a deep exploration into how a conductor does his job and how performer personalities, logistical factors, and mundane bureaucracies can change an orchestra's sound. -The New Republic

Intriguing insights about the nature of music. . . . In some ways, these conversations are High Fidelity for classical music fans. -Publishers Weekly

A strange and delightful book. . . . [Murakami] describes music with rich and suggestive metaphors and images that capture something essential about the spirit of the music. -The Christian Science Monitor