A review by xadrya
Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami

challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Haruki Murakami's Kafka on the Shore is a lighthearted game of "Fuck, Marry, Kill" between the main character, Kafka, and
his mother, father, and sister
. Naturally, when presented with such a strange dilemma, you can only do one thing: nod. And Kafka does just that, nodding at virtually every line of dialogue he can get his hands on. In any case, Haruki Murakami manages to create a genuine masterpiece that paints vivid the battle between our deepset desire for control and the fact that we simply have none. Kafka on the Shore will leave you shaking by the end; if not from its themes, then from its well-realized characters and carefully-crafted plot.
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