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A review by waido
Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami
adventurous
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A very, very weird book. Perhaps the weirdest I've read. Yet, at times it can feel very soothing, sober, and contemplative, like waking up mid-dream on a rainy afternoon. It's the type of book that tends to be on your mind for quite some time after you finished it.
The book explores themes such as the self, fate, and love. This is the first novel I ever read by Haruki Murakami, but it certainly won't be the last. The author definitely has the ability to masterfully weave multiple threads of narrative to form a tangled web that gets unravelled as the story unfolds. Combined with the interesting theme and relatable character, the novel leaves you reflecting on your own life and your identity.
To quote my favourite character from the book: “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. 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.”
The book explores themes such as the self, fate, and love. This is the first novel I ever read by Haruki Murakami, but it certainly won't be the last. The author definitely has the ability to masterfully weave multiple threads of narrative to form a tangled web that gets unravelled as the story unfolds. Combined with the interesting theme and relatable character, the novel leaves you reflecting on your own life and your identity.
To quote my favourite character from the book: “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. 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.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest and Murder