Men Without Women is a short story collection written by Haruki Murakami in 2014. It’s a book that brings forward 7 stories which are woven around the theme of men coping with the hardships and discomfort of life after their loved ones have departed- having lost their wives or daughters and sons. These men are unable to move on, stuck in a cycle of missing their loved ones and accepting the fact that they may never find such a love again.

There are no feelings of desperation but of human need that craves for love and warmth. Losing love affects these men in different ways, some can cope and some wither away like one character who loses hope and is simply unable to carry on and perform daily tasks; even eating.

Murakami depicts fairly normal people who are trying to find coping mechanisms to live out the rest of their lives in the wake of loss of love or finding a love so deep for the very first time. The underlying connotation being that if you cannot live for yourself, live for someone else.

The stories inspire growth, strength and the will to carry on despite losing their reasons to live and be happy. The stories are raw and drop of real human experiences akin to the situations that many readers will encounter in their lives. The goal is to not give up, the goal is to keep going and finding new light.

These men remember their lives and love young and old. There is a constant sense of yearning on their part because a big part of loving someone is also missing them.

The tales are written in ways that may seem very fictional but they do happen in real life when analysed carefully. The want for songs playing when characters make love and the wailing or loss of balance when the news of a loved ones death is delivered. These are very small but beautiful details of love that people hold for each other at any age. They convey attachment and connection that love extends to these people.

The men also seem to suffer in silence from isolation in the society. Murakami highlights the basic needs of being accepted and finding connections that’s they experience and their despair in the lack thereof.

Murakami has written his short stories in the light and charm of a certain loneliness that even the reader can feel through the pages. The condition of these men are pitiable but there’s hope as you see characters finding the will to take one step after the other walking their path- finding new hope and strength in every breath.

Their existence is painful much like the real world in the absence of love.