Kafka on the Shore

Kafka on the Shore is unlike any novel I've ever read. Murakami's incredible writing, his frequent shifts from melancholic poetry to absurdist realism, had me submerged in so many different emotions throughout. The dynamic between Kafka's world and Nakata's was also beautiful–though they and their respective supporting characters never meet, I felt as if they had known each other for a long, long time.

Murakami, through the various characters and their interactions, asks the question, “what do dreams and memories mean?” The philosophical aspect of the novel was deeply provocative, prompting me to question my own beliefs about my own self and the metaphysical. The conversations between Kafka and Oshima seemed more like Murakami asking me questions, offering answers, and contemplating over his own thoughts.

Kafka on the Shore has had a large impact on me. From the characters' perspectives on their everyday lives to the experiences which they find themselves going through, I've found myself thinking about the novel even while I wasn't reading it. Kafka on the Shore has certainly sparked a love for Murakami's writing, and I'm excited to read more of his work.

Thank you, Haruki Murakami, and Evynn <3