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Kenny's Reviews > Kafka on the Shore
Kafka on the Shore
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Kenny's review
bookshelves: ÈÕ±¾¤Î, murakami, sr?an-says-so, magical-realism, top-11, author-author, desert-island-books, favorites
Oct 11, 2018
bookshelves: ÈÕ±¾¤Î, murakami, sr?an-says-so, magical-realism, top-11, author-author, desert-island-books, favorites
Read 2 times. Last read October 2, 2018 to October 11, 2018.
¡°What I think is this: You should give up looking for lost cats and start searching for the other half of your shadow.¡±
Kafka on the Shore ~~ Haruki Murakami
There are few writers ~~ very few writers, whose worlds I love to inhabit. Woolf is one of them; so too is Joyce, Chekhov another, as are Dickens, Twain, Proust and Tolstoy. I can now add to that list, Haruki Murakami.
As I've stated before, I was late to the the Murakami banquet, but once I arrived I was treated to a magnificent feast, and now I have been treated to the main course KAFKA ON THE SHORE. Kafka is one of the most delicious meals I have ever been served. If I could, I would give this magnificent book ten stars.
KAFKA ON THE SHORE is a nearly perfect novel.
KAFKA ON THE SHORE is a beautifully told story about needing to let go and step out of your own reality in order to find out that life is meant to be lived. Leading us on the journey of self-discovery is fifteen-year-old Kafka Tamura. We join Kafka on his journey from runaway to enlightened being. Our other guide is Mr. Nakata, who lives half in this world and half in a world not of his choosing. At the same time, we meet a whole lot of other people who lack self-awareness, living on the fringe of society ~~ and what a colorful cast of characters it is. There is Oshima, who lives on the edge of genders. We meet Hoshino, whose eyes are opened to what he can be thru his interactions with Mr. Nakata, and who escapes his dead end reality and grows into a new one. And lastly, Miss Saeki who has chosen to live in the past more than the present.
KAFKA ON THE SHORE is a profoundly spiritual exploration of life, who we love, and the choices we make in life. Murakami introduces us to Zen and Buddhist philosophies, with a little Hinduism thrown in for good measure. KAFKA ON THE SHORE would make a terrific companion piece to Thomas Merton¡¯²õ Zen and the Birds of Appetite and The Wisdom of the Desert.
There is much to love in KAFKA ON THE SHORE. Like most brilliant pieces of literature, it was difficult to leave the world Murakami created. KAFKA ON THE SHORE will resonate with me for years to come. Rarely has a book satisfied me on so many levels.
Kafka on the Shore ~~ Haruki Murakami
There are few writers ~~ very few writers, whose worlds I love to inhabit. Woolf is one of them; so too is Joyce, Chekhov another, as are Dickens, Twain, Proust and Tolstoy. I can now add to that list, Haruki Murakami.
As I've stated before, I was late to the the Murakami banquet, but once I arrived I was treated to a magnificent feast, and now I have been treated to the main course KAFKA ON THE SHORE. Kafka is one of the most delicious meals I have ever been served. If I could, I would give this magnificent book ten stars.
KAFKA ON THE SHORE is a nearly perfect novel.
KAFKA ON THE SHORE is a beautifully told story about needing to let go and step out of your own reality in order to find out that life is meant to be lived. Leading us on the journey of self-discovery is fifteen-year-old Kafka Tamura. We join Kafka on his journey from runaway to enlightened being. Our other guide is Mr. Nakata, who lives half in this world and half in a world not of his choosing. At the same time, we meet a whole lot of other people who lack self-awareness, living on the fringe of society ~~ and what a colorful cast of characters it is. There is Oshima, who lives on the edge of genders. We meet Hoshino, whose eyes are opened to what he can be thru his interactions with Mr. Nakata, and who escapes his dead end reality and grows into a new one. And lastly, Miss Saeki who has chosen to live in the past more than the present.
KAFKA ON THE SHORE is a profoundly spiritual exploration of life, who we love, and the choices we make in life. Murakami introduces us to Zen and Buddhist philosophies, with a little Hinduism thrown in for good measure. KAFKA ON THE SHORE would make a terrific companion piece to Thomas Merton¡¯²õ Zen and the Birds of Appetite and The Wisdom of the Desert.
There is much to love in KAFKA ON THE SHORE. Like most brilliant pieces of literature, it was difficult to leave the world Murakami created. KAFKA ON THE SHORE will resonate with me for years to come. Rarely has a book satisfied me on so many levels.
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Reading Progress
Finished Reading
November 26, 2017
– Shelved as:
ÈÕ±¾¤Î
March 12, 2018
– Shelved as:
murakami
May 27, 2018
– Shelved as:
sr?an-says-so
August 3, 2018
– Shelved as:
magical-realism
October 2, 2018
–
Started Reading
October 10, 2018
– Shelved as:
top-11
October 11, 2018
– Shelved as:
author-author
October 11, 2018
– Shelved as:
desert-island-books
October 11, 2018
–
Finished Reading
May 26, 2019
– Shelved as:
favorites
May 1, 2024
– Shelved
Comments Showing 1-29 of 29 (29 new)
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by
Sr?an
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rated it 5 stars
Oct 12, 2018 01:39PM
A marvelous review, I'm glad you were so affected by it! Lucky you, you have so many fantastic books of his ahead of you
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Sr?an wrote: "A marvelous review, I'm glad you were so affected by it! Lucky you, you have so many fantastic books of his ahead of you"Thank you. I have you to thank for this amazing journey, & I'm so happy you could share the ride with me.
Love the world of Murakami ........ looking forward to this one - great review :)
What an eye-opener your beautiful review is! I¡¯VE GOT TO READ MURAKAMI.
I agree to the fullest possible extent
Rebecca wrote: "Great review. I've been meaning to read this title for a while but haven't yet gotten around to it. This review definitely made me more interested. :)"It's a wonderful book.
Richard wrote: "Love the world of Murakami ........ looking forward to this one - great review :)"Thank you. I love his world too. I'm looking forward to diving deeper next year.
Fergus wrote: "What an eye-opener your beautiful review is! I¡¯VE GOT TO READ MURAKAMI."YES YOU DO!
Walter wrote: "I agree to the fullest possible extent"Great minds think alike!
Nagia Zia wrote: "wowed"Thank you.
I read Kafka on the Shore years ago, and your effusive review made me remember how much I loved it as well. Makes me want to embark on a Murakami reread next year. Great review; hope you keep enjoying his books!
Welcome to the Murakami "feast"! I also loved this book; it's one I would happily reread and maybe will one day when I give myself the luxury of rereading wonderful books.I have his newest, Killing Commendatore and can't wait to start it (I'm saving it for the new year).
Enjoy diving into the rest of Murakami's works. But this is one of his very best, I think.
Excellent review of what I consider Murakami's best book (at least of the books I've read so far - though I am in the middle of 1Q84 right now and am quite enjoying it).
This one is on my to read list for 2019. Glad you enjoyed it!
Cool review! I enjoyed the intensity of your delight. I liked the art work too. The Japanese seem to have a special understanding for cats.
I've tried and tried and failed to get into this one, though everyone I know seems to be recommending it to me. Do you think I should just slog through it or maybe come back later?
Shreya wrote: "I've tried and tried and failed to get into this one, though everyone I know seems to be recommending it to me. Do you think I should just slog through it or maybe come back later?"Hi Shreya ~~ Murakami is not for everyone. Maybe it is the magical realism that is holding you up. I suggest you set this aside and try reading Murakami's NORWEGIAN WOOD or SPUTNIK SWEETHEART first. Come back to my beloved KAFKA at another time. And if it doesn't resonate with you when you come back to it, let it go. Read what brings you joy. Please let me know how you make out with Murakami in the future.
Kenny wrote: "Hi Shreya ~~ Murakami is not for everyone. Maybe it is the magical realism that is holding you up. I suggest you set this aside and try reading Murakami's NORWEGIAN WOOD or SPUTNIK SWEETHEART first."..."
Thank you for the recommendation. I think you're right: it won't make any sense to slog through when I'm not connecting to whatever it is that everyone else is falling in love with. I just have an issue with leaving stories behind. It feels unfair. Though I suppose it's more unfair to force yourself into the experience. I'll try Norwegian Wood and get back to you.
Delightful review, Kenny. I loved this book too.
TBV wrote: "Delightful review, Kenny. I loved this book too."Thank you so much!
"Rarely a book has satisfied me on many levels" Same !!! I don't even read much but absolutely loved this book
Skylar wrote: ""Rarely a book has satisfied me on many levels" Same !!! I don't even read much but absolutely loved this book"It is a magical book. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
I loved this book.
Rick wrote: "I loved this book."Me too!
I am at the last pages of this novel and what a ride it has been. Your review resonates my thoughts. Murakami is magic!
Ridhika wrote: "I am at the last pages of this novel and what a ride it has been. Your review resonates my thoughts. Murakami is magic!"Thank you so much.
Marvelous review. ahhhh i still need to read this one! You've convinced me though.
s.penkevich wrote: "Marvelous review. ahhhh i still need to read this one! You've convinced me though."I'm shocked you haven't read this one. It's brilliant.
