A review by katty24
Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami

4.0

This is a book that has lingered with me for around a week after reading and any book - an automatic 4.5 star book for me.

Kafka on the shore brought up so many thoughts about life and the absurdities that come with it and how we tackle the idea that is fate. Upon finishing the book, I'm regretful that I did not document my thoughts that arose after reading certain points in the book - as it's a book so hard to describe my feelings for in a simple paragraph, as I went on a journey as i read this.

Often times I was looking at the book with scrunched eyebrows; others I was smiling warmly at Mr Nakata's chapters and occasionally, I would sigh and place the book down, not understanding my thoughts about it at all.

I did think however that the moment I placed the book down and perused my way back to a re-read this would be an instant 5 stars - when I'm not trying to regroup and figure out the interconnection between the tales and why Nakata can talk to cats and Colonel Sanders is a pimp!

But upon reading further into the book, I began to adopt the main mantra's within the book of not dwelling on these absurdities, to place all feelings of reason and comprehension and to just enjoy the course of the book, not pondering over parts of it you don't understand and not lingering on the questionable actions the characters take. Trusting that the book will ride it's course and there will be a resolution - whether you understand it or not. Almost like the course of fate, bound to Kafka, a fate he fails to comprehend that he decides to escape from - which only circles back to him in way's some may deem worse than if he shouldered it.

I'm still not sure how I feel about the morally grey Kafka, my opinions in him are indeed grey - was he an interesting mc? I think he served his purpose at driving the story forward and connecting the slightly stranger side characters. I'm also unresolved on whether I enjoyed Murakami's writing style - on the surface it's blunt and simplistic and yet imbedded with resonating similes and imagery. Since this is my first Murakami book, I wasn't so sure at first on the initial story telling approach for Kafka but I truly adored it once Nakata's chapter's began and the book progressed. The magical surrealism somehow didn't seem so outlandish, fish falling from the sky did make my head quirk in curiosity but I can't say I was shocked, which goes to show how Murakami's writing draws you in and incases you in the world of the book - often with book's like this I feel left out, almost a spectator but not whilst reading this.

I never thought I'd have this much to say about this book, as although this is objectively an easy 4 stars, subjectively I felt slightly unsatisfied like something was missing, or I didn't get the gravity of all the bizarre occurrences. That's why I decided I would love to re-read, re-experience, document my thoughts and see what changes!