Haruki Murakami

An unlikely alliance forms between Kafka Tamura, a fifteen-year-old runaway, and the aging Nakata, a man who has never recovered from a wartime affliction, as they embark on a surreal odyssey through a strange, fantastical world.

Kafka on the Shore

fareez

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.

Luca

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 

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.

live laugh love Oshima, the human-book of kafka

 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.

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.

either I kill the cats or you kill me. There's no other choice."

This maybe what it feels like to be addicted, except the rape part...

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.

Sometimes fate is like a small sandstorm that keeps changing directions. 

People are drawn deeper into tragedy not by their defects but by their 

Cute. I wanna try and find the meaning behind this text.

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. "

“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.”

This is such an interesting way to describe attraction and relationships.

"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."

"chance encounters are what keep us going"

"Sometimes fate is like a small sandstorm that keeps changing directions"

soseki

“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.

bella <3

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."

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. 

aiko

“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”

ximena

let a bright light shine in and melt the coldness in your heart. that’s what being tough is all about. 

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. 

Emma Lechner

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. 



Kafka Tamura runs away from home at fifteen, under the shadow of his father's dark prophesy. The aging Nakata, tracker of lost cats, who never recovered from a bizarre childhood affliction, finds his pleasantly simplified life suddenly turned upside down. As their parallel odysseys unravel, cats converse with people; fish tumble from the sky; a ghost-like pimp deploys a Hegel-spouting girl of the night; a forest harbours soldiers apparently un-aged since World War II. There is a savage killing, but the identity of both victim and killer is a riddle - one of many which combine to create an elegant and dreamlike masterpiece. 'Wonderful... Magical and outlandish' Daily Mail 'Hypnotic, spellbinding' The Times 'Cool, fluent and addictive' Daily Telegraph

Jameila

Blanco

I like the way he writes but the plot... 😦

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 :]

Vince Hilahan

need time to find what I made of this but I wanna give kafka a hug.

lala

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

sneha

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

Kafka on the Shore displays one of the world’s great storytellers at the peak of his powers. Here we meet a teenage boy, Kafka Tamura, who is on the run, and Nakata, an aging simpleton who is drawn to Kafka for reasons that he cannot fathom. As their paths converge, acclaimed author Haruki Murakami enfolds readers in a world where cats talk, fish fall from the sky, and spirits slip out of their bodies to make love or commit murder, in what is a truly remarkable journey.

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. 

౨ৎ 

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. 

Sofia Kim

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.

Kafka on the Shore follows the fortunes of two remarkable characters. Kafka Tamura runs away from home at fifteen, under the shadow of his father's dark prophecy. The ageing Nakata, tracker of lost cats, who never recovered from a bizarre childhood affliction, finds his simple life suddenly turned upside down. Their parallel odysseys are enriched throughout by vivid accomplices and mesmerising dramas. Cats converse with people; fish tumble from the sky; a forest harbours soldiers apparently un-aged since WWII. There is a savage killing, but the identity of both victim and killer is a riddle. At once a classic tale of quest, Kafka on the Shore is also a bold exploration of mythic and contemporary taboos, of patricide, of mother-love, of sister-love. Above all it is a bewitching and wildly inventive novel from a master stylist.

海辺のカフカ

Marz 

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.

Haikal Satria

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.

maitha mana

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.

amari

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)

Rosa

could have done with less descriptions of a 15 year old’s genitals

trezaa

everything was so disconnected yet connected in the best way possible

Qonita

** spoiler alert **
           Kafka on the Shore is one of my favorite books but I'm not even sure that good and the likes are the right words to describe it. It just made me feel like I was a fetus reading in a warm womb. Like, I couldn't use any preconceived knowledge about the world to interpret it. Baca aja pake otak kosong melompong. And it's not about knowing what it's about, it's about how it makes you feel. Like, I probably can tell you the whole plot but that's not the point. 

Anyway, I've read it twice and I still can't properly remember the plot. The big picture was there but it was fleeting. Because keeping track of what's happening wasn't even a priority. Instead, every bit was radiant. They were each connected with this transparent string but you'll savor and treasure them individually.To put it simply, it's about 15 years old runaway and an old simpleton who lost his shadow. They each had something they were searching for and their lives would slowly entangle in an enigmatic twist. There will be some parallels in their stories but it's so fluid that everything was a certain something but it was also not. They never even met. Even the time dimension was mental such that people from different time frames could meet in a casual encounter. This part was so eerie I love iT.

Honestly, no book from any other author left me feeling content with such questionable and obscure narrative (except other Japanese authors. Seriously, what is wrong with them. What is Japanese literature. What is Japan). When things went astray from our reality, little to no explanation would be given, but dude, it's okay because you won't even ask for it. We're expected to take it as a given and we will. Strangely enough, the writing itself is actually very straight forward. Murakami managed to be hella sublime and vague with that. Quite extraordinary if you ask me.
Swimming on Murakami's world has been therapeutic for me. I might keep rereading it as I go. It's that good! Kafka on the Shore is recommended for everyone, especially Budi Darma fans!

ella

this is my first reading of murakami. and it's surprisingly amazing, though this book has a strange, out of this world kinda of story. i love the style of most of the narrative, i love how contemplative some parts. sure there are parts i cannot like, the sexual parts. but the rest of the story are amazing. i especially love nakata and hoshino parts. their relationship was compelling. and indeed nakata as a character was adorable. my point is this story is amazing and different, amazingly different or differently amazing i can't tell which exactly. and if I'm asked, "do i want to read more murakami's works?" the answer is yes, i do! I wanna know more about his works. but I'll be picky not to choose the books that contain a lot of eroticism.

JoAnna

This was my summer reading book that I ended up finishing mid-December. I adored Nakata and thoroughly enjoyed Oshima's relationship with Kafka. (view spoiler)[Nakata's ailment is never explained, but I feel like we as readers can give this a pass, in that we believe the events that caused his condition to begin with. When he loses his ability to speak with cats, it feels natural, easy to accept the premise that people are fluid and can gain + lose abilities.  (hide spoiler)]

While reading this, I thought a lot about Murakami's ability to create verisimilitude. For the most part he was successful, at times I felt he really wasn't. I found it hard to believe Hoshino took to Beethoven the way he did, and that he and Kafka both liked François Truffaut films—almost as if Murakami self-inserted his own interests into the novel because he felt like it. Where he was successful: the dreamlike scenes. When Murakami flips first person with second person, it works for reasons I can't articulate. I can't imagine what it would be like to plot out a novel like this: I'm not sure I understood all the interworkings of the world Murakami created here. That being said, I believed it. 

My biggest gripe with this book was the length of it. For a book with a journey, it meanders all the way there. A friend I discussed this novel with said it was plotless (which I don't agree with, but it sure felt that way at times). I swear, Murakami could've conveyed the same story in 300 pages vs. 460+. Many times I almost abandoned the book due to the sheer tedium of the language (ie. three sentences that could've been said in one). That being said, it was worth finishing, and the density of the chapters made me pace the book in a way that gave me time to think about the scenes as they unfolded. This was not a book I could have personally blown through.

mahek

shadee

favorite haruki murakami book ive readd. a cool read for a change. a little haruki murakamis stories wont hurt.

Kafka on the Shore

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