Reviews - Kafka on the Shore

12.7k reviews for:

Kafka on the Shore

Haruki Murakami

4.03 AVERAGE

fleabagsmisery's review against another edition

4.25

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

nina_kathleen's review against another edition

2.75

adventurous dark funny mysterious slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

hanadorn's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous informative lighthearted mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

jshglickman's review against another edition

4.0

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

runny_chutney's review against another edition

5.0

challenging funny mysterious 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: No

Completely had my mind thinking about the nature of things. Felt a little slow in the middle when everything was set up but not resolved yet but the ending really picked up!

saschie's review against another edition

5.0

Can’t finish it … I have one chapter left but I don’t want it to be over

alexandra_peel's review against another edition

4.0

Interesting. However, I didn't quite engage with all the main characters in the story, a young man and an old man who each has a unique yet entwined tale. There's a bit of magic realism, time travel, an isolated other realm, oh, and talking cats. There's some pretty odd supporting characters who are there to enable or hinder the two heroes on their respective quests. I feel like I misunderstood some of what Murakami was trying to express. Intriguing but I felt distant from it.

ricks's review against another edition

4.75

adventurous emotional informative inspiring mysterious reflective relaxing tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

don't question what's happening in the story.. just ride along with the characters accepting their flaws 🙂

Content Warnings

baniruce's review against another edition

4.0

dark funny mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Definitely a book to re-read eventually! My first Murakami book, really enjoyed the gentle, gradual weaving of fantastical elements into a realistic setting. I enjoyed both stories told, and was quite excited when they finally started to collide

talgikiwi's review against another edition

4.0

If this book had no sex, it would be 5 stars. It's beautiful but wow was there a lot of incest and unfortunately a rape scene. Dream rape but still rape.

I think the lessons in this book are wonderful and it's a fabulous exploration of the human psyche. Philosophical and ingenious.

But please someone stop Murakami from writing sex scenes.

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