(*) Pinball, 1973.
A running theme in one of this author's novel series is the day November 25th, 1970, on which another author died. One novel in that series by this author sees "The Boss" tell its protagonist, whose girlfriend has magical ears, about an animal with a star shaped birthmark on its head. That trilogy by this author which revolves around "The Rat" includes the novels Hear the Wind Sing and (*) Pinball, 1973. The protagonist of one of this author's novels releases a firefly from his rooftop that he had received from his roommate, the geography major Storm Trooper. That novel by this author revolves around Toru Watanabe's love triangle with the depressive Naoko and the vivacious Midori, and is named after a Beatles song. For 10 points, name this author of A Wild Sheep Chase and Norwegian Wood.
A running theme in one of this author's novel series is the day November 25th, 1970, on which another author died.
Haruki Murakami 