Reddit mentions of The Gone-Away World

Huge magical realism fan here!

• [The City & The City] (http://www.amazon.com/City-Random-House-Readers-Circle/dp/034549752X) by China Mieville - A murder mystery which takes place in two cities which physically occupy the same space but mentally do not. Why you'll like it: Doesn't this sound like the kind of idea Murakami would write about? Mieville's an idea man.
  
  
• [The Gone-Away World] (http://www.amazon.com/The-Gone-Away-World-ebook/dp/B001EL6R9W/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374344399&sr=1-1&keywords=the+gone+away+world) by Nick Harkaway - The story of two best friends who must navigate a world where thoughts can manifest as reality. It's hard to explain more and not to give anything away but some of the major plot points involve ninjas, tupperware, and mimes. Why you'll like it: I recommend this book to everyone, at every opportunity. It's got very clever writing, an interesting plot mixed with some deep philosophical examination and enormously fun. This is the opposite of a boring character.
  
  
• Blindness by Jose Saramago - One by one the world goes blind, except for one woman. Why you'll like it: Murakami has a way of throwing out a few lines that take an idea and form them into a sort of impressionist painting. Saramago's writing is always like that. It's absolutely breathtaking.
  

The Gone-Away World by Nick Harkaway is kinda tangential, because a large chunk of the book is flashback to the narrator's life up to and during the apocalypse, while the actual plot takes place some time afterwards. Definite recommend, though, because it is really good apart from not entirely fitting your criterion.