Reviews with content warning for Death - Kafka on the Shore

"Kafka on the Shore" is a genuine page-turner and a relentlessly metaphysical brain-twister.
Reading this slow-ravelling book is more engrossing than it should be and perhaps less moving than the author intended. However, the execution is rigorously schematic.
The story revolves around a 15-year-old boy and a mentally-special sexagenarian man who are on an escape, separately and individually. Narratives of both are told in deftly but shakily connected alternate chapters that gradually converge at the end.
As the story will proceed, you'll feel like sailing - on a windsurfer - in an ocean with no destination going with the flow. It will feel like tripping over a dream that looks like reality. The further you move, the more it becomes heavy and overwhelming.
You'll find a blast of greek mythology, metaphilosophy, innocent humour, and other complexities along the way.
You'll find yourself smiling at several instances while perpending and reflecting in another.
Though, there's a vagueness this book religiously carries till the end so it'll definitely feel like a cliffhanger.
All in all, a good fantasy-fiction book with some unique element to it. The hype is definitely worth it.

Content Warnings

enoemo's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

The way Murakami writes women in this novel (although I heard this might be true for his other works as well) is... specific, so be prepared for that. The prose, however, is beautiful. I loved the style of writing apart from some really uncomfortable or clumsy moments regarding well, women, or their behaviour, or how they work according to the narrators. Nakata was my favourite character, I have so much love for him. This was, despite its flaws, unlike anything I have ever read and I would recommend it to anyone who has carefully considered all the trigger warnings.

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bibl1ophilic_niah's review against another edition

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challenging mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

Though this book ends pretty ambiguously, I’d have to say I thoroughly enjoyed the way it made me think and theorize. I enjoyed being absolutely confused about whether what I was reading was reality or a dream within the character’s story. I still have so many unanswered questions, but moments in the end tied up the story in a cute little bow as full circle moments prevailed. There’s so much to take away from the two storylines that sort of converge close to the end - and not in the ordinary way you might think - and it all has to do with the human condition and how we understand what it means to be human along with all of our thoughts, emotions, and inner processes.

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lk3ssaf's review against another edition

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3.5

I went into this with zero expectations. Murakami's writing is even more interesting than I expected.

Despite the book being named after Kafka, he was the character I was least interested in. Hoshino and Nakato were a great pair, and Oshima was my favorite character.

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rochellereads's review against another edition

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corpseparty's review against another edition

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adventurous reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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pennergy's review against another edition

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mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

For me, this book evokes a mix of nostalgia for stories I read in my youth, curiosity about mysteries in the plot, and distaste for the taboo relationships between some characters. It's not difficult to read, but the story challenges the reader.

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moiracampbell23's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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