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Jesse (JesseTheReader)'s Reviews > Kafka on the Shore

Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami
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Read 2 times. Last read January 8, 2020 to January 14, 2020.

second read thoughts: I thought I'd get a better understanding for this story the second time around, but I'm still lost in a world full of questions. I know that's partly the author's intent though! I feel like I'm going to drive myself crazy if I keep trying to make sense of what this book is trying to achieve. I think that's kind of the point though. This book isn't trying to achieve anything, it's one of those books where the reader is left to decide what the book ultimately does. Which makes this an even more interesting experience, because everyone comes out of it with something different.

first read thoughts: This was definitely an interesting read. I feel like I will have to read it again for everything to fully make sense, but I was surprised by how easy this book was to follow. I also loved the writing style! I will definitely be giving more books by Haruki Murakami ago in the future.
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Reading Progress

December 2, 2018 – Started Reading
December 2, 2018 – Shelved
December 2, 2018 –
page 168
33.27%
December 5, 2018 –
page 332
65.74%
December 9, 2018 – Finished Reading
January 8, 2020 – Started Reading
January 8, 2020 –
page 110
21.78% "tackling a re-read, because I feel like this book deserves a second read. :)"
January 9, 2020 –
page 214
42.38% "gosh i forgot how bizarre this book is. i'm wondering if this go around i'll be able to pick up exactly what this book is trying to do.."
January 10, 2020 –
page 303
60.0%
January 11, 2020 –
page 409
80.99%
January 13, 2020 –
page 502
99.41%
January 14, 2020 – Finished Reading

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Comments Showing 1-19 of 19 (19 new)

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message 1: by Sarah (new) - rated it 4 stars
Dec 09, 2018 07:18PM

Sarah Haque Jesse read murakami yayyy! I get excited everytime someone tries murakami for the first time 😂 I just don't want anyone to miss out.


message 2: by Marko (new)
Dec 09, 2018 07:57PM

Marko Bozovic There are a lot of opinions about Murakami, including Japanese audience. Personally, I think that he is a gem of modern Japanese literature, especially given the fact that he lives (mostly) outside of Japan (Hawaii and Massachusetts), so he can be really objective about his own culture.

He writes in Japanese, so all of his books are translated. In this way, he is able to preserve Japanese motives (names, themes, personality of his characters, cultural problems), but also to see his own culture from different perspective(s), mostly because of his international background. I can recommend Norwegian Woods - it's a wonderful read.


message 3: by Mehmil (new) - rated it 2 stars
Dec 09, 2018 08:08PM

Mehmil Read “men without women”. One of his finest works.


message 4: by Julia (new) - rated it 5 stars
Dec 09, 2018 09:26PM

Julia I love Murakami and he is definitely one of my favorite authors. I’d recommend “Hard boiled wonderland and the end of he world”. But honestly everything he writes is just amazing. I’ve now read 7/14 of his novels and 2/5 short story collections and the rest is on my list to read.


message 5: by Ale (new)
Dec 11, 2018 02:57AM

Ale Silva After Dark is a good option.


message 6: by Strawberry (new)
Dec 15, 2018 09:25PM

Strawberry Milk Hey Jesse! I just recently got a goodreads and found out how to follow people! You were the first one! Haha.


message 7: by Kenny (new) - rated it 5 stars
Dec 18, 2018 06:33AM

Kenny I loved this book when I read it earlier this year. Murakami has said to understand this book you have to read it at least twice.


message 8: by Nikki (new) - rated it 4 stars
Jan 10, 2019 08:34AM

Nikki jesse is this your first murakami book you've read? good choice! i actually just finished reading it and i loved it as a whole even with all the bits that made me squirm. i think right now it's currently my second fave book from him after Hard Boiled Wonderland.


message 9: by Marijana (new) - rated it 5 stars
Aug 12, 2019 04:10PM

Marijana Ababovic agree 100%.


message 10: by Lauren (new)
Jan 15, 2020 05:22AM

Lauren Merrifield Thank you for sharing your thoughts! I’m glad you had an enjoyable experience :D


message 11: by Asma (new) - rated it 2 stars
Jan 15, 2020 01:11PM

Asma Essam You literally said everything I wanna say about this book.


message 12: by Ruth (new)
Jan 16, 2020 07:20AM

Ruth Your second thought description of this book sounds like the thoughts I'm having while reading "Dead Astronauts" by Jeff Vandermeer. I will try and read this book sometime in the future for sure. It sounds interesting :) like books that doesn't necessarily makes sense the first time through.


message 13: by Ásh (new) - rated it 5 stars
Feb 07, 2020 09:52PM

Ásh Lovely description


message 14: by Ásh (new) - rated it 5 stars
Feb 07, 2020 09:53PM

Ásh Lovely description


message 15: by Naima (new) - added it
Feb 22, 2020 03:06PM

Naima islam sounds like my kind of book, I'm currently trying to write a story of my own with a similar vibe to Kafka on the shore


message 16: by BookDragon (new) - rated it 4 stars
Jul 22, 2020 06:19PM

BookDragon Hey Jesse I think you should check out 1Q84 by Murakami its a long book but I think you’ll enjoy it the concept of not really knowing what’s going on is still prevalent in the book but I think its easier to make sense of and the writing style is just wow(ik its translated but still) the vibe and the characters are also a but easier to understand and relate to!


message 18: by MechaGojira (new) - rated it 4 stars
Dec 10, 2020 03:49AM

MechaGojira Do you have any favorite passages or one that stuck out?


message 19: by HarpGoose (new) - added it
Jun 17, 2021 06:38PM

HarpGoose I can relate with how you felt after second read. It's this sense of incompleteness Murakami is trying to offer his readers. Like his characters remains to be figured out even after the last page. The characters seems so esoteric that it's hard to absorb them in one sweep. Definitely what Murakami must have intended, I guess. He wished his characters to stay with his readers — like that painting of the boy sitting on a deckchair...


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