A review by annalise_0729
Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami

adventurous mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I really want to like Murakami… I very much enjoy the absurdist magical realism throughout the book, yet I find myself running into the same concerns as I did in Norwegian Wood (the main difference being I enjoyed the premise of this book much more). Every female character is heavily sexualized without fail; the intimate scenes are seldom consensual (and hardly legal) and Murakami unfortunately relies on them as the driving force behind the plot. 

I had a lot of hope going into the ~250 pg mark that this book would be significantly better than it’s predecessor, but in the last couple hundred pages the plot descended into the same poor habits and insufficient character building.
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