Reviews
First Murakami book - took me ages to read - honestly did not get the hype and found it hard to get into. still so confused about so many things and very grossed out by the way he talks about women and his weird obsession with incest… still willing to give his other books a try but was honestly very disappointed by this one
I found it challenging to give the book a perfect rating due to my mixed feelings. It's truly the most amazing book I've read this month, although certain parts were slightly bothersome. (This aspect makes it difficult for me to fully embrace Murakami's works, a sentiment I believe many share.) The connection of the plot and my subsequent research into its meaning were incredibly captivating. Murakami's storytelling is undoubtedly mesmerizing.
هرچقدر هم که از خلاقیت و قلم آقای موراکامی لذت ببرم، ناتوانی وی در نوشتن یک شخصیت زن که مستقل باشد و فقط از لحاظ نیاز جنسی وابسته به کاراکتر های مذکر نباشد، من را عذاب میدهد. به غیر از آن و چندین بخش کاملا بی ربط که برای شاخ و برگ دادن متن ذکر کرده بودند، داستان بسیار جذابی است که تا مدت ها در یاد میماند.
The use of interviews and the second story to drive the story forward revealing things that happen in the first story was an nice approach. As it's has elements of fantasy, there are quite a few moments where things happen and you just have to go with it. The author introduces plot threads that are intriguing, but ends up not obligated to close them out or explain them due to the nature of the book, which I personally didn't like.
The book has quite a few slow parts where you feel like you're reading the same sentences over and over again, but overall, the dream-like nature of the story makes it a good experience. I especially liked Hoshino.
5/5!! It's my first time reading a book of Haruki Murakami. It was a crazy long ride and I loved every second of it. I have a lot I wanted to say while reading this, but now that I've finished it, I'm at a loss for words. It's like I need to take a deep breath, stare into space, and let the story sink in. It's a breath of fresh air from my usual romance fantasy books and I think it helped me open up to try reading other genres as well. There's so much going on. Anyway, I'm going to recommend this. I look forward to reading more of Harki Murakami's books.
"I can feel the limits of what humans are capable of—that a certain type of perfection can only be realized through a limitless accumulation of the imperfect. And personally, I find that encouraging." -Oshima The story is unlike anything I've ever read before. If books can take us to new places, then Murakami most definitely takes us to outer space. (lol) Everything's so bizarre, but the worldbuilding was crafted so well that it made enough sense. Bonus: lots of great quotes too!
I'll be honest, this is the first Murakami book that I just could not finish, and that feels like saying something because I've read a lot, including all of 1Q84.
I just found this book too long and too slow moving. The first half I was pretty invested, I was liking the use of interview and newspaper articles to move the narrative forward, I really loved the talking cats scenes with Nakata, the fish falling from the sky, I love Murakami's magical realism. Then about halfway through it just sort of died. We got no more of the fun whimsical stuff and just got lots of wandering around and not a lot of forward movement, and I just found myself dreading picking the book back up, it sparked no interest or joy or desire to know how the book ended. I stopped with 100 pages left, because I couldn't bare spending another precious moment of my weekend reading a boring book.
I also just could not suspend my disbelief enough to enjoy reading ANY of the scenes with Kafka and Miss Saeki sleeping together, the ick was just too much. If Kafka had been older than 15 I could have tolerated it but I just can't read sex scenes involving kids, it's too weird and off-putting to me.
4.5
This book was pretty different for me since it was the firsg Marukami book i’ve read, i really liked it though & would recommend it to people :]
CHOP. tried too hard.
need time to find what I made of this but I wanna give kafka a hug.
So... I didn't think I would like this book that much. I am not a Murakami fan maybe because my initial impressions of him, that is, through a little reading of IQ84 was not impressive. I was finally convinced to read Norwegian Wood and began to see why people like Murakami so much. Someone told me that NW is the most realistic writing of Murakami whilst the others usually have some magical elements to it, and that Kafka is the most abstract one. Honestly I was surprised when I find that I enjoy Kafka more than NW. I find myself caring for the characters through it's relatively thick book at around 600 pages. The whole book is like two stories converging beautifully into one. Although it doesn't necessarily connect directly, you can feel the puzzle pieces starting to come together. Although by the end of the reading I couldn't really care about the titular character, Kafka, I care deeply about Nakata and I could sympathize, empathized with the character as Murakami put it. Some parts of it also remind me of Oedipus Rex (if you read Kafka you'll get what I mean) and I somehow enjoy that part a lot. I would recommend this to someone who likes reading slow paced book. I started reading it during my journey back from Japan and finished it almost a week after, so you need patience and persistence in reading it I guess.
read it in one sitting, couldn't put it down. magical realism at its finest.
with that being said, im still recovering from this book
I love how Murakami let us embark the world through his works; one of it is Kafka on the Shore. The explanation written in detail drowns me as I read every sentence of it. Specifically when it comes to Kafka who wanders around the forest; it feels dreamy and fresh. Also when it shows how magical library is. On the other hand, there is Nakata - way older than the fifteen Kafka, who has the capability to talk with cats but not able to read.
The book is divided into two different perspectives; thru the odd numbers, we will meet Kafka who ran away from home; and the even numbers, we will meet Nakata who become the victim and witness how cruel the war is. Mind you there are also a lot of other characters around them and better keep it on mind because some of them would be beyond your imaginaton.
I found it interesting as I noticed the trivia stories of "Kafka on the Shore" and its relation to the plot. Well, you may enter a new world with full of questions after reading it. Just like me.
I believe that a good book does not abandon its reader the minute the reader read the last word on its last page. It encourages discussion and even puzzles, urging the reader to search for answers. This is what happened to me after reading this book. It absolutely gets your mind working, trying to figure out what Haruki Murakami is trying to say, and what the literature is has spoken with me. I might just be reading too much into it but it is definitely insightful.
Ah it took me awhile to finish this but I enjoyed this book immensely. This was my first proper Murakami book and it certainly won't be my last.
Somewhere between magic and reality, there falls Kafka on the Shore. Playing out like a Greek tragedy, the story tiptoes on the bounds of sanity and morality. But what is magnificent is how it manages to capture your attention all throughout its twists and turns. Murakami is a spectacular writer, not because of his ability for grandiose pieces, but rather because of his subtlety and how he treats even the most mythical storylines as if it was just another day in the neighborhood.
Kafka on the Shore. The painting worth a thousand words. The painting with every meaning yet no meaning at all. Memories that never happened and a world that never existed. Cats. Sardines. Aloha shirts. And a twisted ending. Brilliant nonetheless.
Kafka's identity is made up of scattered fragments, blown up and tossed in different forms, time, and place. As he navigates through the world around him, he finds omens that guide him and faces that seem almost familiar. My favorite part of this book is the little things Kafka seeks to momentarily keep him grounded; such as his love of books, his walkman, Radiohead, and the trees.
things i like in Murakami books: aloof woman cats pov subtle philosophy things i dislike in Murakami books: explicit sex aloof woman being sexualized relationships that feel illegal music references (can be redundant)
could have done with less descriptions of a 15 year old’s genitals
everything was so disconnected yet connected in the best way possible
Did I get it? No. Did I like it? Yes.
Highlights
Brilliant. Metaphors in a novel dreamscape.
Memories warm you up from the inside. But they also tear you apart.
Oshima's silent for a time as he gazes out at the forest, eyes narrowed. Birds are flitting from one branch to the next. His hands are clasped behind his head. "I know how you feel," he finally says. "But this is something you have to figure out on your oWn. Nobody can help you. That's what love’s all about, Kafka. You're the one having those wonderful feeling, but you have to go it alone as you wander through the dark. Your mind and body have to bear it all. All by yourself.”
The people who build high, strong fences are the ones who survive the best. You deny that reality only at the risk of being driven into the wilderness yourself.
It's like when you're in the forest, you become a seamless part of it. When you're in the rain, you're a part of the rain. When you're in the morning, you're a seamless part of the morning. When you're with me, you become a part of me.
The longer people live, the more they learn to distinguish what's important from what's not.
"I don't know how to put it exactly .... This might sound strange, but
you're living in the real world, breathing real air, speaking real words. Talking
with you makes me feel, for the time being, connected to real ity. And that's
really important to me now."
"But you're able to talk with cats."
"That's correct," Nakata said.
"Then you're not so dumb after all."
This is so wholesome when I first read this. Nakata was so pure, accepted himself as dumb when he realized he can't read nor write. But, this cat disagrees to what Nakata believed all in his life and found something special between all the negativity.
I can feel the limits of what humans are capable of- that a certain type of perfection can only be realized through a limitless accumulation of the imperfect.
live laugh love Oshima, the human-book of kafka
Remember, now - it's
either I kill the cats or you kill me. There's no other choice."
-proceeds to let the cats die-
Honestly, reading this part was really gut wrenching by how detailed it was and didn't settle well with my stomach because Nakata had to kill, or greater number of cats will die. God, ew, this reminded me of that trolley problem paradox, where one had the lever to choose to either kill several people on one track, while the other track only had one.
But that calm won't last long, you know. It's like beasts that never tire, tracking you everywhere you go. They come out at you deep in the forest. They're tough, relentless, merciless, untiring, and they never give up. You might control yourself now, and not masturbate, but they'll get you in the end, as a wet dream. You might dream about raping your sister, your mother. It's not something you can control. It's a power beyond you - and all you can do is accept it.
This maybe what it feels like to be addicted, except the rape part...
Sometimes fate is like a small sandstorm that keeps changing directions.
People are drawn deeper into tragedy not by their defects but by their virtues
Mimi screwed up her long white whiskers and frowned. "I'd rather not
think that, or even imagine it, but it is a possibility. Mr. Nakata, I haven't lived
all that many years, but I've seen terrible things I never could have imagined.
Most people look at cats and think what a life -all we do is lie around in the
sun, never having to lift a finger. But cats' lives aren't that idyllic. Cats are
powerless, weak little creatures that injure easily. We don't have shells like
turtles, nor wings like birds. We can't burrow into the ground like moles or
change colors like a chameleon. The world has no idea how many cats are
injured every day, how many of us meet a miserable end. I happen to be lucky
enough to live with the Tanabes in a warm and friendly family, the children
treat me well, and I've got everything I need. But even my life isn't always
easy. When it comes to strays, though, they have a very tough time of it. "
Cute. I wanna try and find the meaning behind this text.
“You’re exactly right,” Miss Saeki says, beaming. “But at the time, he was an unknown, so perhaps it couldn’t be helped. There are many things we only see clearly in retrospect.”
"In ancient times people weren't just male or female, but one of three types: male/male, male/female, or female/female. In other words, each person was made out of the components of two people. Everyone was happy with this arrangement and never really gave it much thought. But then God took a knife and cut everybody in half, right down the middle. So after that the world was divided just into male and female, the upshot being that people spend their time running around trying to locate their missing other half."
This is such an interesting way to describe attraction and relationships.
"chance encounters are what keep us going"
"Sometimes fate is like a small sandstorm that keeps changing directions"
“Do you think music has the power to change people? Like you listen to a piece and go through some major change inside?”
Oshima nodded. “Sure, that can happen. We have an experience—like a chemical reaction—that transforms something inside us. When we examine ourselves later on, we discover that all the standards we’ve lived by have shot up another notch and the world’s opened up in unexpected ways. Yes, I’ve had that experience. Not often, but it has happened. It’s like falling in love.
in fact, the harder i try, the more i lose my sense of who i am. it's as if my identity's an orbit that i've strayed far away from, and that really hurts. but more than that, it scares me. just thinking about it makes me flinch.
"i mean that i'd change into something i shouldn't"
"as long there's such a thing as time, everybody's damaged in the end, changed into something else. it always happens, sooner or later."
"but even if that happens, you've got to have a place you can retrace your steps to."
"a place you can retrace your steps to?"
"a place that's worth coming back to."
i try to imagine myself in 40 years’ time, but it’s like trying to imagine what lies beyond the universe.
rain falls, something scrambles across the cabin roof, and sometimes i hear indescribable sounds i can't explain. i never knew the world was full of so many beautiful, natural sounds.
“Individual errors in judgment can usually be corrected. As long as you have the courage to admit mistakes, things can be turned around. But intolerant, narrow minds with no imagination are like parasites that transform the host, change form, and continue to thrive. They're a lost cause”