Kafka On The Shore

[poliphilo]

Murakami restores my faith in the novel. It's not a worn out form, after all. There are still things to be done with it. New things.

I don't understand this book. I doubt if its writer understands it either. It's both a realist novel and a surpernatural thriller. It's meticulously observant of the texture of modern life and it's full of ghosts, demons,  Fortean phenomena and talking cats.  It's a bildungsroman and a vision quest.  

It's about the way we live now and the way we're going to live. Most contemporary novels, plays, films, TV shows reflect the sensibilities of the 19th and 20th centuries. This one belongs to the 21st.

Comments

[humblenarrator.livejournal.com]

I've only read The Wind-up Bird Chronicle and A Wild Sheep Chase, both of which I enjoyed. My wife's read pretty much all of his novels, she's a big fan.

I should really refresh my memory.

Also, a few months back you spoke highly of The Name of the Rose, something I had sitting on my shelf for years. Your post (or comments) pushed it to the top of my to-read pile, and thank you! I loved it.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I've only read the one book- and now need to go out and rustle up everything else.

I'm so glad you enjoyed Name of the Rose.

[frankepi.livejournal.com]

You really have to read The Wind-up Bird Chronicle. It's astonishingly good.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I'm going to- just as soon as I can get hold of a copy.

[humblenarrator.livejournal.com]

I loved the combination of history, religion, and mystery. A great protagonist, too.