Two brothers, torn apart by the machinations of a younger, corrupt and deceitful creature, is a theme that is already familiar in the foundations of many literary works.
The novel "The Gambler" (1866) occupies an exceptional place in Dostoevsky's work. Although the idea for this novel supposedly matured for a full three years, Dostoevsky dictated it almost in his breath, in just twenty-seven days.
Murakami's famous novel, a nostalgic tale of youth, love and loss, set in 1960s Tokyo, amidst student protests against the Vietnam War. The title comes from a Beatles song, a symbol of lost innocence.