I quite enjoyed this book. I chose to read it because its description reminded me of Murakami. For the best and for the worst this is not Murakami. I quite enjoyed most of the parts where it differs and presented to me its own style, instead of trying to be what is not. The ending of the novel wasn't particularly what I had expected but I still enjoyed the journey. I gave it 4 stars and would love to read more from the author.

Mister Yam - a twentysomething year old man disillusioned with corporate work in San Francisco - would find his life forever changed after an inexplicable phone call with a strange woman and an invitation to a musical show.

Thus begins a series of events that would take Mister Yam chasing nameless figures across the country; solving a mystery only he can explain.

I really enjoyed this book. It was hard to put down as it drew me in immediately and before I knew it I was in the middle of the book!

If you've been following me for some time, you know I have a soft spot for "wacky" books. If a book is weird and about nothing, chances are I'll like it. Mister Yam is the debut novel of the Malaysian author Yeng Tan which pretended to be about nothing before hitting me straight in the feels. Thanks for the pain, Yeng!

Mister Yam is a young engineer from San Francisco whose life is... alright? Sure, he's a cog in the machine who depends on his routine too much and occasionally gets weighed down by thoughts of loneliness, but he has a job, he can afford great food (and boy, can he eat) and he coasts through life by generally not thinking about any of it too much. He works, he eats, he sleeps. One day, a friend of his disappears and Mister Yam decides to leave his life behind to search for him using:
- a sheep with wings
- an exceptionally bald man
- a story about some guy called Boris
- a Polaroid of a purple house
- an ex-Mormon seller of antiques
- a Montanan concierge
- his own dreams

But Mister Yam's search for his friend essentially becomes a search for himself. The life that he leaves behind may be superficially cozy but it's also deeply oppressive and depressing. And the mystery of his friend's disappearance allows him to travel, meet new people, and think about something beyond the quicksand of white on black code day in day out.

Yeng Tan's writing is a stunning experience for all of your senses and his story is an absolute rollercoaster. Before you even get the chance to recover from the last chapter, you're thrown head first into a new brain-twisting event. I loved the philosophical discussions Mister Yam had with himself and other characters, and I found that the parts of the story that weren't (seemingly) random insanity were profound and touching.

Huge thank you to NetGalley, BooksGoSocial and Yeng Tan for the advanced reader copy.

I have to confess that when I started reading Mister Yam, I felt some resistance to this 'emotionally unavailable young Asian man to which inexplicable things happen to' archetype. Did H Murakami start this trend complete with extensive detailing of dietary habits and musical preferences? Mister Yam in first person narrative seems to be manifesting quarter-life crisis, wrestling with existentialist angst and ennui. Materially, he is reasonably well-off, working as an engineer in the bay area of San Francisco a few years after graduating university. Lives alone, broke up with long-distance girlfriend awhile back, doesn't seem to have many friends. I appreciated the discussion on solitude vs aloneness that he and another character engaged in.

Bizarre events and people ensue. Is it astounding coincidence or is the universe conspiring to send a message? Mister Yam is haunted by the feeling he's forgotten something important, teasing at the edges of his memory. Keeping it spoiler free, I guessed the reveal before it occurred and am rather disappointed. A plot device that's overused, IMHO. The metaphysical journey to get there was somewhat interesting but overall, I wanted more. More in-depth examination of the human condition, more raw emotion, more thought-provoking contemplation.

For readers of surrealism, Asian American diaspora experience and millennial search for meaning in hamster wheel job/life, give it a try. My sincere thanks to Mr Tan and Netgalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

If you are looking for an original read with quirky characters then this could be the book for you. I found the structure a bit tiring after a while but enjoyed the overall story.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this book.

I dnfed this book as it was not my cup of tea and shall not be reviewing it elsewhere.I am really sorry but sometimes books are just not what you expect them to be based on the synopsis.

I didn't expect a literary novel with some philosophical aspects (they're somewhat uncommon), but I did enjoy it. There's some mystery mixed in too, and looked forward to getting back to it in between reading sessions. Recommended.

Thanks very much for the free review copy!!

Read this with friends as you will want to discuss the fascinating characters and the odd plot which stays with you well after you have finished reading.

I'm not sure what I expected, but I got a lot more out of it than I thought. If you found the right group, this could potentially be a great choice for a book club.

Want an entertaining read, that's going to make you ask yourself questions you never thought you would, and stay with you long after you've finished?

Then this one is for you. Recommended.