KAFKA ON THE SHORE (Vintage International)

This was Haruki Murakami’s second book I read (after ‘Norwegian Wood’), due to its wide popularity. Murakami is one of the pioneers in ‘Magical Realism’ genre, and this is evident in this book too. This is one of the best works of Murakami, an extremely engrossing tale of two central characters – a teenage boy, Kafka Tamura, who has run away from his home in search of his long-missing mother and sister or to escape an Oedipal prophecy. Another central character is named Nakata, who, in his own words, is ‘not so bright’. Both these characters, living their individual lives, their destinies are somehow entwined. The book has brilliant instances of magical realism such as – - Cats having conversations with people - Colonel Sanders (of the KFC fame), appearing out of nowhere, employing a prostitute. - World War II soldiers who have not aged - Fish falling from the sky - A murder where the identity of both the victim and murderer is a mystery - A small stone so heavy, that a person can barely lift it - Concepts of reincarnation and destiny Murakami’s forte lies in using bizarre instances, simple but soul touching dialogues, interesting & quirky characters, to weave a magical tale. This novel is no different and is an absolutely crazy ride. If you’re picking this book, you should expect all this, and more. What I love about Murakami, is that the story almost always takes you beyond the normal bounds of human reality, into some sort of an alternate world where metaphysical magic happens! For people who are new to Murakami’s style of writing, they might find a lot of events really random. And yes, they are random at times. Not denying that bit. But maybe, that’s the whole charm of his writing, where certain things happen which are totally unexpected. ‘Kafka on the Shore’ is a story about a fifteen-year-old teenager, who runs away from home. He decides to leave his home in order to find his lost mother and sister, but mostly, as it’s described in the book, to get away from his father. The father figure has been shown in a negative light, but not much into detail. His fate lands him to a distant town, where he meets a gay friend, who helps him through a big part of his journey. He also meets two exceptional women, who could have been his mother or sister, and ends up copulating with them. This is one phase of the story. Simultaneously, Murakami introduces you to a simpleton sexagenarian, Nakata, who has kind of lost his reasoning abilities in an incident which in some way is related to the extra-terrestrial. Nakata, although not so bright, has a weird gift of talking to cats and making fish fall from the sky. Somehow, Kafka and Nakata’s destinies are interconnected, and the whole book is about their journey. The book is extremely engrossing and entertaining. Now, as it usually happens with Murakami’s work, some of the questions have been left unanswered and some events have an open-ended interpretation. So, if you’re someone who likes straightforward stories, you might be disappointed on these fronts. Favorite Quotes from the book: - “Each person feels pain in his own way, each has his own scars.” - “If you think God’s there, He is. If you don’t, He isn’t. And if that’s what God’s like, I wouldn’t worry about it.” - “Memories warm you up from the inside. But they also tear you apart.” - “If you remember me, then I don't care if everyone else forgets.” - “Lost opportunities, lost possibilities, feelings we can never get back. That's part of what it means to be alive. But inside our heads - at least that's where I imagine it - there's a little room where we store those memories. A room like the stacks in this library. And to understand the workings of our own heart we have to keep on making new reference cards. We have to dust things off every once in a while, let in fresh air, change the water in the flower vases. In other words, you'll live forever in your own private library.” - “Silence, I discover, is something you can actually hear.” - “Listen up - there's no war that will end all wars.” - “Every one of us is losing something precious to us. Lost opportunities, lost possibilities, feelings we can never get back again. That’s part of what it means to be alive.” - “Closing your eyes isn't going to change anything. Nothing's going to disappear just because you can't see what's going on. In fact, things will even be worse the next time you open your eyes. That's the kind of world we live in. Keep your eyes wide open. Only a coward closes his eyes. Closing your eyes and plugging up your ears won't make time stand still.” - “Chance encounters are what keep us going.” - “Being with her I feel a pain, like a frozen knife stuck in my chest. An awful pain, but the funny thing is I'm thankful for it. It's like that frozen pain and my very existence are one.” - “It's hard to tell the difference between sea and sky, between voyager and sea. Between reality and the workings of the heart.”

Magical Realism at its peak

Haruki Murakami (thats a tuff name) became the second author whose name I hadn't heard a month ago but now after reading one of his books - I totally am a huge fan of his writing(s). The other one of-course is the fantastic "Gabriel Garcia Marquez" my all time favorite - again both of them came highly recommended by friends, had seen a lot of their works on various book stores. As I read a few of Marquez's novels last year and fell in love with his surreal writings, I actually slowed down after reading a couple of them realizing that he hasn't written much (in numbers), so I need to stretch it as long as I can to enjoy it more. But after reading (my) very first Murakami book - I guess time has come that I finish Marquez's books quickly and move on to Murakami :D. He is simply superb and I am sure if you read both of them - you will definitely agree that both their works transport you to an entirely different world altogether and its unbelievably unreal, fascinating yet so convincing. Totally loved this book and will never forget the fantastic characters - so many of them. Of-course Japanese as well as Koreans have some kind of specialization on Blood, Gore and Sex too - so not so shocking for me, neither predictable but nor gut wrenching like the way Marquez does. If someone has read and loved him - this one is a piece of cake. There is another point that I so much want to talk about but unfortunately that works like a spoiler for those who haven't read it, if you have read I guess you know what I wanted to say :). Kafka on the shore came very highly recommended by various book readers groups and I was shocked that I hadn't heard the name of the writer ever so I had to pick it up and give it a read. Initially it had a very slow start but as I kept plowing through as per my Kindle after 20% - there was no looking back. Story of a 15 year old kid who calls himself "Kafka Tamura", runs away from his home in search of his mother and elder sister who had abandoned them (him and his dad) long ago. Parallely we have another fantastic story of Mr. Nakata (a totally totally lovable character) who has no memory of his past, cant read or write, is on state subsidy aged around 60 years. I mean it was such an interesting read to have one chapter on Kafka and his adventure of running away, finding a place to live by (even that is a terrific story in itself), finding friends, trying to find his mother and than on the other hand we have second chapter on Mr. Nakata and his adventure, in search of something, he has no clue where to find and what exactly he is looking for? why is he the way he is, how he finds help and the thing and what it leads - is simply unbelievably gorgeous story that you've got to read. Once I completed like 20% - the story became so engrossing that I just couldn't put it down - unfortunately due to my travel I had to do that so many times but I picked it up again as soon as I could, have actually spent some sleepless nights reading the story of Mr. Nakata and the kid Kafka. Flashback of Nakata's past as a kid, the accident and its repercussions, the way he talks, his cat connections were hilarious. For me Mr. Nakata was the real hero of the book with a terrific ending (I will call that, that). Another thing which works big time in favor of the book is its parallel tracks - I kept imagining that sooner or later they have to cross their paths, there has to be a connection between the kid and the gramps. Does it? and what was the connection and how it all ends is what this book should be read for. Now that I know - I was thinking - would I ever pick this book again? I certainly will. Another thing that I love about Russian and Japanese books is their character names. They are totally too good and I find them pretty interesting when it takes some time for me to get used to the names and how they should be pronounced - here too there are a loads of them, like Kafka Tamura, Mr. Nakata, his help Hoshino the lovable truck driver, Oshima, Ms Saeki, Sakura, Johnie Walker (cat killer) and the KFC's Colonel Sanders - terrific. Do let me if you have read the book how you like it. And what would you make out of the ending. The ending leaves so many questions unanswered but the philosophical turn it takes - it actually doesn't matter by that time. Overall a terrific read and I will be totally looking forward to his other works now. And I am sure you must have seen my last post - a friend just gifted me two books - one from Marquez and one from Murakami :). Happy reading.

A Surreal and Metaphorical Masterpiece: Kafka on the Shore I want to start by acknowledging Amazon's excellent delivery service—thank you for the quick and safe shipping! Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami is a profound and dreamlike novel that serves as a metaphor for life’s surreal and mysterious nature. The book beautifully explores themes of fate, identity, and the in-between spaces of life and death, presenting them in an impressionistic and deeply introspective way. The novel tells the intertwined stories of Kafka Tamura and Nakata. Kafka embarks on a journey of self-discovery, guided by his inner voice, symbolized by "the boy named Crow." Meanwhile, Nakata, a man with a unique connection to the world, follows his own path toward an inevitable intersection with Kafka's story. The narrative takes readers into a liminal world where time, memory, and reality blur, symbolized by the "town in the hills," which feels like a space between life and death. The characters are rich with symbolism. Miss Saeki, haunted by her past, represents loss and longing, while Kafka's inner struggle is mirrored in his efforts to reconcile with his fate. "The boy named Crow" is a fascinating embodiment of Kafka’s inner strength and resilience, encouraging him to face life’s challenges with courage and determination. The forest in the novel serves as a metaphorical threshold, where characters confront their emotions and find closure. This setting adds to the novel's dreamlike quality, making the story feel both deeply personal and universal. Murakami’s prose is mesmerizing, with moments of beauty that enrich the story's emotional depth. Some sections may feel tangential, but they contribute to the novel’s immersive experience, offering a sense of wonder and introspection. Overall, Kafka on the Shore is a remarkable journey into the surreal, blending metaphysical themes with heartfelt storytelling. It’s a book that stays with you long after you’ve finished reading. I would wholeheartedly give it 5 out of 5 ⭐️ for its ability to evoke powerful emotions and provoke deep reflection.

”Sometimes fate is like a small sandstorm that keeps changing directions. You change direction but the sandstorm chases you. You turn again, but the storm adjusts. Over and over you play this out, like some ominous dance with death just before dawn. Why? Because this storm isn’t something that blew in from far away, something that has nothing to do with you. This storm is you. Something inside of you. So all you can do is give in to it, step right inside the storm, closing your eyes and plugging up your ears so the sand doesn’t get in, and walk through it, step by step. There’s no sun there, no moon, no direction, no sense of time. Just fine white sand swirling up into the sky like pulverized bones. That’s the kind of sandstorm you need to imagine.” His given name isn’t Kafka Tamura, but when he decides to strike out on his own he gave himself a name that more properly fit the version of himself he wanted to become. Kafka means crow in Czech. A name of significance to an inner self. His father is a world famous sculptor, a man admired for the strength of emotion his creations inspire. He also brought his son into existence (no hocus pocus here...the old fashioned way) molding him as if he were inanimate clay, infusing him with imagination, and in the end like a demented soothsayer, warping him with an Oedipus curse. Kill the father. Sex the sister. Seduce the mother. ”It’s all a question of imagination. Our responsibility begins with the power to imagine. It’s just like Yeats said: In dreams begin responsibilities. Flip this around and you could say that where there’s no power to imagine, no responsibility can arise.” Kafka is fifteen, not going on sixteen, but barely fifteen. He is on a quest to find himself. to lose himself. to escape himself. to avoid the prophecy. Like an arrow shot by a sure hand he lands at a private library managed by a beautiful woman named Miss Saeki. ”I look for the fifteen-year-old girl in her and find her right away. She’s hidden, asleep, like a 3-D painting in the forest of her heart. But if you look carefully you can spot her. My chest starts pounding again, like somebody’s hammering a long nail into the walls surrounding it.” Kafka feels a kinship with her that makes him wonder if she is his long lost mother. She has experienced tragedy, losing a lover when she was fifteen, and leaving behind a ghost of herself that becomes a haunting experience for Kafka. ”While they’re still alive, people can become ghosts.” As a parallel story we follow the old man Nakata and his truck driving sidekick Hoshino. Nakata experienced something as a child during the war that left him unable to comprehend reality, but also opened up doorways in his mind to things that if they ever existed... in our minds... have long been lost. He is crazy. He is a prophet. He can talk to cats. He can understand stones. He can open an umbrella and leeches or fish or lightening can fall from the sky. He isn’t crazy. Nakata searches for lost cats and discovers in the process that he has an arch nemesis in a cat killing phantom named Johnnie Walker. Johnnie turns cats into beautiful flutes and collects their heads in a similar fashion to big game hunters. After a confrontation Nakata finds himself with the need to leave which dovetails perfectly with his quest to find an entrance stone that opens up another world, another world where things have been left behind. "You should start searching for the other half of your shadow.” The connection between Nakata and Kafka are very strong. Their dreams mingle, a nemesis for one is a nemesis for the other. They may have different names, but they are one and the same. The quest for one of our heroes is contingent on the success of the other. If they are aware of each other it is buried under their own current perceptions of reality. One of the more humorous moments is when Hoshino, once a perfectly sane normal human being, meets Colonel Sanders, not someone dressed as Colonel Sanders, but the finger lickin’ good, fried chicken magnet himself. Hoshino, after several days of trying to wrap his head around the eccentricities of his traveling companion, is in need of relaxation. As it turns out the Colonel can help him have the best time of his life. He hooks him up with a prostitute, but not just any prostitute. ”The pure present is an ungraspable advance of the past devouring the future. In truth, all sensation is already a memory.” A philosophical prostitute with a special penchant for Hegel. ”Hegel believed that a person is not merely conscious of self and object as separate entities, but through the projection of the self via the mediation of the object is volitionally able to gain a deeper understanding of the self. All of which constitutes self-consciousness.” “I dont’ know what the heck you’re talking about.” “Well, think of what I’m doing to you right now. For me I’m the self, and you’re the object. For you, of course, it’s the exact opposite--you’re the self to you and I’m the object. And by exchanging self and object, we can project ourselves into the other and gain self-consciousness. Volitionally.” “I still don’t get it, but it sure feels good.” “That’s the whole idea.” the girl said. I have a new appreciation for Hegel. Kafka also meets a fantastic character named Oshima which I really can’t talk about without explaining him in detail, but by explaining him in detail would reveal a rather surprising moment in the book which I really want to preserve for those that haven’t read this book yet. Let’s just say he isn’t exactly who he seems, but he is exactly who he says he is. He proves to be the perfect friend for anyone, but for a dream questing fifteen-year-old runaway trying to escape an Oedipus Curse he is a steady rock to understand even those things beyond the scope of comprehension. He sees things for more than what they are. Oshima explains to Kafka why he likes Schubert. ”That’s why I like to listen to Schubert while I’m driving. As I said, it’s because all the performances are imperfect. A dense, artistic kind of imperfection stimulates your consciousness, keeps you alert. If I listen to some utterly perfect performance of an utterly perfect piece while I’m driving. I might want to close my eyes and die right then and there. But listening to the D major, 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.” It is hard for those of us who have based their whole life off of reason to keep from instantly dismissing the improbable, the impossible, the absurd, the preposterous, but you must if you are going to hang with Haruki Murakami. Although, I must say there is something very accessible about his writing style that makes the transition from reality to alternative reality to fantasy back to a new reality painless. We all have mystical things happen to us. We rarely recognize it, most times we fill in what we don’t understand with something we can understand and in the process snap the threads of the extraordinary. I feel the lure of the unknown quite regularly. I feel the itch to leave everything and go someplace where no one knows my name. A place where maybe I can find the rest of my self, the lost selves each holding a fragment of the missing part of my shadow.

It feels pirated, cause I own Norwegian wood and Wind up bird, the logos and writing frames were same but this one is different, and it feels a lot smaller too.

Glad to own this book

Some books we read are difficult to understand because of the uncommon things the writer chooses to write about, and it may be possible that,we as readers may endup with confusion & doubts.The book " Kafka On The Shore" by Haruki Murakami is one such book where you need to keep your rationale aside, else you miss the feeling of reading a book parexcellance.The book has two very intriguing characters,one is Kafka Tamura & the other one is Nakata. Kafka Tamura is a teenaged boy & a bibliophile,who runs away from his home,Nogata inTokyo to a far away place called Takamatsu,on his15th birthday.the reason being that, he hated his father & wanted to prove him wrong,from the Oedipal prophecy that he made for him & his repeated curses.He also hated himself for carrying the unfortunate genes that he has inherited from his father and he knows that he stands no chance to change it,but to live with it as a curse. While on his way aboard a bus he happens to meet a girl named Sakura,and they endup making a good bond of friendship between them.The thought of his sister about six years elder to him,who would have been about the same age as that of Sakura & who was taken away by his mother when he was just around four years of age crosses his mind for an instant while, giving him a subtle hint of his fathers prophecy. At Tokamatsu,he visits Komura memorial library, which was on his list of visits, that he planned,before running away from home Here,he meets Mr.Oshima (a transgender, who was working as an assistant under Miss Saeki - (a beautiful slim lady in her mid-forties and also the boss of the library whose lineage is linked with Komura family).and that we could see an exceptional bond of friendship between them till the end of the book. The mysterious visits of Miss Saeki in the room of Kafka at the library,her constant staring at the photgraph titled 'Kafka on the shore',and later along with the song of the same title brings out the metaphysical relationships that he experiences both as Miss Saeki of 15 years age and also as Miss Saeki,the boss of the library,though looks mystical, but still we find reading something different & intresting.Kafka also sees his mother in Miss Saeki, who left him when he was four years old. Nakata is another important character,an old man,living on Governors subsidy,helping people to find the lost cats & accepting,whatever little they give back in return.At an early age of nine years,he is into an accident , which makes him lose all his past memory and turns him dumb. His often repeated sentence that "Nakata cannot read & write" and that he is dumb,catches your attention of the charectar with both sympathy & intrest.The mention of Nakata's shadow as being paler or lighter is noteworthy to consider him as incomplete.The way he goes about the words like sub city for subsidy,depart mint for department,minis tree for ministry etc brings out the humor and innocense of the charectar.Bur then,we find that he is blessed with some super natural powers beyond the scope of normal human beings.He can speak to the cats,follow instructions from a dog,and make fishes & leeches rain from the sky,predict a thunderstorm,speak to a stone.On an occasion we find Nakata killing one Mr.Jhonny Walker (father of Kafka which turns out to be the main twist in the story, as elsewhere we find Kafka falling unconscious & getting his shirt drenched in blood & the link of Kafka,Nakata in Johny Walkers murder hints a subtle hint of the prophecy.Besides the incidence also brings Sakura & Kafka together for a night) to rescue a cat and then confessing the same at a police station but they consider him dumb & was not taken seriously. After then,Nakata proceeds to complete his unaccomplished mission of finding an ' Entrance stone',where he was helped by one Mr.Hoshino,the truck driver who sees his Grandpa in him & helps him in finding the stone with the help of a fictions charecter ,by name Colonel Sanders.Hoshino learns that besides the stone Nakata is on the lookout for something else too,which he can not express,due to his limited thought and so he hires a taxi to go around and finally together they are able to find the Komura memorial library at Takamatsu.Here Nakata happens to meet Miss Saeki and during conversations and with the touch of their hands,some past memories between them comes to the surface,and Miss Saeki identifing Nakata as the one in the painting.Later Miss Saeki hands Nakata a few files,asking him to burn all and dies immediately after. Nakata also dies later at the room after burning the files given to him by Miss Saeki,indicating the end of memories and their deaths. Overall, the book has many twists and turns with certain elements in the book that are beyond our normal thinking,but even though you can not stop yourself of going through the experience of reading an outstanding book.It also takes you closer to nature,dense forest,symbolism and metaphors,wisdom words etc.Ther e are also too many coincidences in the story which are beyond belief but still having read an extraordinary book remains with the reader