Kafka, having finished reading The Arabian Nights, tackles the complete works of Natsume Soseki. Rather than discussing the plot, I’ll focus on a few random aspects that delighted me - there are far too many to discuss here.Īt the library mentioned above, Kafka and Oshima discuss the books that Kafka spends his days reading. However, he has the remarkable ability of being able to talk to cats, as well as causing various incongruous items to rain from the sky. Nakata, on the other hand, had an unusual experience as a child which has left him, in his own words, “dumb” and “empty”. Crow constantly affirms: ”“Remember, you’re supposed to be the toughest 15-year-old on the planet.”” And so begin the connections, because besides the obvious connection to Franz Kafka the author, there is also a connection to a painting and a song titled Kafka on the Shore, as well as many other connections. In fact, we learn that Kafka means crow in Czech. In addition, Kafka creates for himself an alter ego called Crow, whom he consults when confronted with a problem or a question.

Nakata accepts a lift from Hoshino, a commercial truck driver, who continues to assist Nakata. Kafka receives help and advice from the librarian Oshima who works at a magnificent private library. The chapters of the novel alternate (more or less) between the parallel stories of fifteen year old runaway Kafka (a name he chooses for himself) Tamura, and of an old man, Nakata. Where does one start reviewing a novel that offers so much? It brims with Greek mythology, Japanese and Western literature, Western music, and it explores several ideas.

I hadn't intended a re-read, and indeed I had forgotten that I had read this novel, (it’s not your writing, but my failing memory!) but as soon as I started reading I remembered, and I simply could not put the book down. Mr Murakami, I'm delighted that I found my way back to your writing.

Goodreads kafka on the shore