You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by coolmathgames
Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
halfway through and my thoughts are: i do not like the weird freudian oedipus shit going on. I groaned so hard when they mention Oedipus. The themes prior to that were so strong I was praying it wouldn’t go that way, but I was unfortunately correct.
Murakami’s writing style is amazingly enchanting and I love that about his books, but I feel that's whats kept me from not dropping this book. He’s able to draw you into such a vivid scene that feels like you're in a dream with his surrealism. It feels as if he tries too hard to incorporate the controversial aspects of humanity-which can be amazing when executed properly- in a way that just feels like someones repressed sexual urges being smeared all over the paper. It leaves a bad taste in my mouth, it all feels almost like a bad dream. Hazy and murky, primal and bizarre. I understand the appeal of the story as a whole, it’s beautifully written at times and it does an amazing job of bringing everything to life despite how strange. I’ve never frowned so hard at a book than at a lengthy scene of a woman describing her sex dreams being moody from her period causing her to abuse her elementary students. like what was the point of that.
after finishing this, I have more questions than I had before. spent awhile just sitting there thinking. It has beautiful main themes regarding time and the passage of it and the way in which we each perceive the world. Oshima consistently repeats that everything is a metaphor, and I feel that's a main idea of the book. Everything that happens is a metaphor. I love the concept of Kafka being not only a lover from the past but something new, but I dislike the incest oedipus themes regarding it. I love the concept of a self-fulfilling prophecy, but he really did not need to fulfill those prophecies.
Overall, I think I like it more than before, but there's just so much within that threw me off.
Nakata is an amazing character to me, but I'm still puzzled by what exactly his actions represent at times, I know it doesn't only represent HIM, but the symbolism of the impact of his actions onto other characters. I wish Murakami didn't butcher female characters when writing them, but I will give him credit for writing a trans character in a relatively tasteful manner compared to other writers in my opinion. Beautifully written at times, insanely immersive and just utterly bizarre. Meant to leave you confused and thinking.
Murakami’s writing style is amazingly enchanting and I love that about his books, but I feel that's whats kept me from not dropping this book. He’s able to draw you into such a vivid scene that feels like you're in a dream with his surrealism. It feels as if he tries too hard to incorporate the controversial aspects of humanity-which can be amazing when executed properly- in a way that just feels like someones repressed sexual urges being smeared all over the paper. It leaves a bad taste in my mouth, it all feels almost like a bad dream. Hazy and murky, primal and bizarre. I understand the appeal of the story as a whole, it’s beautifully written at times and it does an amazing job of bringing everything to life despite how strange. I’ve never frowned so hard at a book than at a lengthy scene of a woman describing her sex dreams being moody from her period causing her to abuse her elementary students. like what was the point of that.
after finishing this, I have more questions than I had before. spent awhile just sitting there thinking. It has beautiful main themes regarding time and the passage of it and the way in which we each perceive the world. Oshima consistently repeats that everything is a metaphor, and I feel that's a main idea of the book. Everything that happens is a metaphor. I love the concept of Kafka being not only a lover from the past but something new, but I dislike the incest oedipus themes regarding it. I love the concept of a self-fulfilling prophecy, but he really did not need to fulfill those prophecies.
Overall, I think I like it more than before, but there's just so much within that threw me off.
Nakata is an amazing character to me, but I'm still puzzled by what exactly his actions represent at times, I know it doesn't only represent HIM, but the symbolism of the impact of his actions onto other characters. I wish Murakami didn't butcher female characters when writing them, but I will give him credit for writing a trans character in a relatively tasteful manner compared to other writers in my opinion. Beautifully written at times, insanely immersive and just utterly bizarre. Meant to leave you confused and thinking.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Incest, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Murder
Moderate: Gore, Blood
Minor: Child abuse, Grief, Death of parent