Kafka on The Shore by Haruki Murakami
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Web ID: 15624550Nonsensical and misogynistic
Eh, this may be my last Murakami book, as they all follow the same problem of over-sexualizing multiple one-dimensional female characters with some very, very disturbing and gratuitous sex and masturbatory scenes (some of which the main character, Kafka, wonders if the female character is his sister or his mother…seriously?). The real Franz Kafka is rolling in his grave. After some well-documented drama from a certain fantasy author, I’m more attuned to how male authors depict female characters now, and am now seeing it in the lens of it being part of the author’s personal worldview rather than just for storyline purposes. Plus, Kafka is a teenager, so this was even weirder, super inappropriate, and grossly unnecessary. Also, considering how much of the author he puts into his books (classic lit, jazz, coffee, baseball, the Beatles), I’m inclined to think that he has pretty outdated, misogynistic perspectives of women too, as this problem comes up over and over in his works. Murakami, from what I understand of his background, is very well read and very well traveled having lived in multiple countries, so this is super disappointing as he represents the old guard of male authors who do not know how to write female characters. Literature as a whole tends to lean more forward-thinking, even when societal ideals are problematic. Plus, there are more rising Japanese women authors these days with progressive ideas, and there are ways to write stories to make a point about problematic views, so from my perspective, there’s no excuse for this. The writing itself is also super crass and repetitive and stuffed with so much pretentious philosophical nonsense and pop culture references that barely fit into the story’s narrative. Not to mention, the idea of crossing worlds and splitting shadows is also repeated in other Murakami works. The last hundred pages was almost pure fluff and very difficult to get through. This book is not going to age well. In terms of overall work, I see why Murakami is a popular author, and I enjoy reading a couple of his books but after seeing so many similarities across different books, they do lose their value and creativity.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
The pinnacle of surrealist ideas in a novel
Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami, a book that explores the ideas of conscience and soul in the most wacky and symbolic ways imaginable, is a must read for philosophical fantasy readers. Prior to reading this book I was told that Murakami has some of the most thought-provoking concepts in the medium but I had no idea his writing style was this unique. Everything is connected in this novel on both a spiritual and metaphysical level, from the moment the philosophy was presented it became evident that it would continue to reoccur throughout every phase as the story unfolded. There are two lead protagonists who directly impact the life of the other from afar while also having ties in the weirdest ways. The plot never once falls flat as something new is discovered or uncovered in each and every chapter. I think that just about anyone who likes stories where seemingly anything is possible in the most puzzling ways will be blown away by the eccentricity of every chapter and character. I personally was not expecting for the story to take such a turn following the opening scene, and I don’t think many of its future readers will either.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Another Great Novel by Murakami
Haruki Murakami’s Kafka on the Shore is an immersive experience. Through his usage of symbolism and realism magic, Murakami manages to maintain a smooth narrative and explores different themes with his thought-provoking dialogue. Even though he used two different plots, the general story was not confusing. As Kafka the “protagonist” tries to find his sister and his mother by running away from home, Nakata, a blessed man, attempts to find his resting place. As the story becomes more complex and new characters are introduced, Murakami maintains unique profiles keeping each character distinguishable. The most important part of the story, in my opinion, is not the plot but the in-depth exploration and journey through simple themes. Hosino, for example, is a young truck driver deciding to help out Nakata because he looks like his own deceased grandfather. However, instead of simply giving a ride to Nakata, Hoshino stays by his side and obeys Nakata’s prophetic nature. But with the time Hoshino now has, he explores his local area meeting an unforgettable spirit of nature and a prostitute full of philosophical ideas. Murakami includes these events in correlation with Hoshino because it demonstrates the fact that young people should explore the unexplored, hopefully reaching a surprise. After reading this book, it made me feel more curious, wanting to explore nearby preserves or wetlands. This is one example though; Murakami overlaps multiple themes over each other making each character having a “minor” plot. Moreover, what makes this book so captivating is the writing style. By developing each character’s profile, I feel like they’re an old friend. For example, readers barely see Oshima’s brother Sada at all, only one brief meeting, but Oshima’s introduction as well as Kafka’s really give us a deep understanding of Oshima’s brother: a 30-year-old who runs a surf shop on the shore and has some pent-up feelings. Murakami not only introduces another perspective on Oshima but also implies that letting out your feelings is ok. I am not very much a communicative type, but this piece of advice allowed me to talk more openly to others. These miniature but important life lessons teach my young self how to navigate through my life. Overall, my journey with this book was mesmerizing. It engaged me like no other book I’ve ever read. Incorporated with life lessons, interesting characters, and ominous messages, this book really is a piece of art, and I would recommend it to anyone. Though it has a few sexual scenes, it is well-written as a whole.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Good translation and enticing story
The writing was good and straight to the point. No over descriptive bits, nor any strange translation errors. Overall the story was good, the plot was not confusing and it was clever and mesmerizing. The parts I did like about the book was the parts involving sexual activities. It was weird. But that was a very small part of the book. It was good overall.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Such a Gem of a Read
Murakami is a great introduction into both Japanese literature and surrealism writing. This book is a great example of both. There's just so much to be dissected here between the talking cats and raining fish, all the way to haunting forests and strange imaginations. This book is an immersive experience, more than just a novel. The characters are unique, three-dimensional. The scenes are unforgettable. The voice Murakami writes with is transcendent and thought-provoking. It's truly a one-of-a-kind read and I can't recommend it enough.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
phenomenal
My favorite book before I read this was Slaughterhouse Five, and that probably tells you a lot of what you need to know. If you dislike Vonnegut or Studio Ghibli, this probably is not the book for you.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com