A teenage runaway with an Oedipal curse, an old man who talks to cats, a hip young truck driver, a transgendered librarian, a cat-killer called Johnnie Walker and a pimp called Colonel Sanders… these are just some of the hectic characters who appear in Murakami’s incredibly mesmerizing book, Kafka on the Shore.
This is the fifth Murakami I’ve read, and so far this is one of my favourites. It never fails to amaze me how he manages to write such totally different yet interweaving stories, and pull off potential ‘wtf’ scenarios so well. He creates wonderfully vivid characters and almost dream-like plots and scenarios, with interlinking themes that fans or regular readers instantly recognise, like cats, eating, drinking and libraries.
Some of his books are extremely cryptic, and have to be read a few times before you understand, while other books are clear-cut narratives that read as easy as a Jilly Cooper. Some, like Kafka on the Shore, have two stories running at the same time, and others follow one main character throughout to the end.
They all have one thing in common though, from early into the book they suck you in and once you’ve finished, it’s damn near impossible to find anything to read after that, as it’s hard to top a Murakami. Unless of course, you either drag out an old one and re-read it, or get a new one to read.
That being said, not everyone enjoys his books. Many find the style very hard to get into, and if you start on one of the more hectic ones, it gets a bit much.
I think that the best book to start with is Norwegian Wood, which made Murakami a massive hit in his native Japan when it hit the shelves, forcing him to flee to Europe to escape the attention. It’s one of my favourite books on all levels, and is a great way to ease into the magically warped world of Haruki Murakami as it’s his only book which doesn’t is straight fiction.
Next, I’m hoping to read After Dark, and have also wanted to read Sputnik Sweetheart for quite a while.
Just as well I have my Exclusive Books Fanatic card, those things help oodles for addictions like these!
