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Book Details:
Title: Kafka on the Shore (Japanese: 海辺のカフカ | Umibe no Kafuka )
Author: Haruki Murakami
ISBN: 1400043662
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
Published Date: January 26, 2005
First Published: 2002 (originally in Japanese)
Original Language: Japanese
Translated to: English
Translator by: Philip Gabriel
Genre: Fiction, Magical Realism, Japanese Literature
Notable Kafka on the Shore Characters:
- Kafka Tamura
- Nakata
- Miss Saeki
- Oshima
- Hoshino
- Johnnie Walker
- Colonel Sanders
(see book review below; may contain spoilers)
| Kafka on the Shore Hardcover Deckle Edge |
| Kafka on the Shore landscape picture first couple of page |
| Kafka on the Shore side cover |
| Kafka on the Shore book spine without dusk jacket |
| Kafka on the Shore book spine |
| Kafka on the Shore back cover |
This is a story of runaway 15-year old boy named Kafka Tamura in-search for his unidentified mother and sister he saw in an old picture. Kind of intertwined by other characters who were also searching for something, a cat, a stone and not-sure-what-are-they-looking-for til they got on places and events will turn to make sense. Oddly enough on the other side of the story, things get interesting when Nakata who can talk with cats, met Johnnie Walker and latter his companion Hoshino met Colonel Sanders. I find it weird and funny. It blends well with the story.
There's a part where the story will suck you in. The part where it start using 'you' second-person around page 200. I am not sure if this is a mistake in translation or intentional but I didn't fall for it because it's the part where an incest sex scene take place. Well, nice try Haruki Murakami, I can't do "it" to a 50 year old woman or even to my own mother.
As my final words for this book, Kakfa on the Shore is a Bildungsroman, thought-provoking, cultural, artistic, erotic, mind-boggling, absurd, gory, paranormal and a sad book. With all these distinct scenes and themes from the book's chapters, It didn't confuse me with reading but instead it plays smoothly with the flow of the story. I praise Haruki Murakami for packing all of these in one book without giving me a headache on following what the story wants to give (unlike the 'Ilustrado' book; see review here).
My rating for this book is: 4.0 / 5.0
Kafka on the Shore Music:
The following music was composed by Ludwig van Beethoven. It is Piano Trio, Opus number 97 or commonly called Archduke Trio. It is played with three instruments - piano, violin and cello. It's the music Hoshino's listening to in the book.
Disclaimer: the above music by Beethoven is publicly available in SoundCloud shared by user Serge Blanc. Literateknolohitura don't own the above music. Shared for reader's reference in Kafka on the Shore, novel written by Haruki Murakami.
And "Kafka on the Shore" song by Miss Saeki. WARNING: Miss Saeki has a kind of huge voice...
The above YouTube music video was uploaded by Strummer Swansong. Literateknolohitura doesn't own the media content above and neither not sings.
Kafka on the Shore Quote:
"You've never killed anyone, and don't want to... - there are times in life when those kinds of excuses don't cut it anymore... For instance, It happens in war."
- Johnnie Walker, Kafka on the Shore, p. 131
- Kafka on the Shore was listed in The New York Times' 10 Best Books of 2005
- it also won the 2006 World Fantasy Awards for Novel
Where to buy Kafka on the Shore?
You can buy a similar copy of this book at Amazon.com (see direct link to the product below):
Or, you can buy for less cheaper price of this book in paperback format at BookDepository with free delivery, worldwide! Direct links to various edition listed below:
- Kafka on the Shore (Vintage Classics | 2014)
- Kafka on the Shore (Vintage | 2013)
- Kafka on the Shore (Vintage Books | Random House Inc. | 2006)
- Kafka on the Shore (Vintage International | 2005)
- Kafka on the Shore (Vintage | 2005)
-
Otakore Literantadodist
Literateknolohitura.com
March 03, 2015
Reference:
Literateknolohitura.com
March 03, 2015
Reference:
- Kafka on the Shore wiki - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kafka_on_the_Shore
- Piano Trio, Op. 97 (Beethoven) wiki - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piano_Trio,_Op._97_%28Beethoven%29
- The 10 Best Books of 2005, The New York Times - http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/11/books/review/tenbest.html
- World Fantasy Awards 2006 winners - http://www.locusmag.com/SFAwards/Db/Wfa2006.html
- World Fantasy Award - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Fantasy_Award
- GoodReads user review - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1218333543
- Anobii user review - http://www.anobii.com/books/review/54f76db5495a06235c8b466c
- Shelfari user review - http://www.shelfari.com/books/11559/Kafka-on-the-Shore/reviews/4737337
