Thursday, August 18, 2011

Kafka On The Shore: "The World is a Metaphor"








Do you?

Quote Well:


  1. I've read maybe 3 or 4 Murakami novels (including Kafka, which I did like) & after each one I find myself understanding less and less of what I've just read. I've skipped the last couple, despite the fact that I love the way he writes - that sort of ethereal, flowing prose that puts me in kind of a trance. It all just tends to make me feel kinda stupid. And the thing is, I don't think his huge fans get it either.

    That said, I can't wait to read his magnum opus, 1Q84, due out this fall. So I guess I am stupid - or at least a glutton for punishment. :)

  2. I feel like Murakami somehow creates his own logic. I don't always understand it, but I feel emotionally satisfied when I'm done reading it.

  3. @Seth: Kafka is the most "ethereal" of his novels, I find. Wind-Up Bird is pretty up there too, but it's still pretty straightforward.

    Glad you liked it, Greg.

  4. I found the last line of your previous post interesting--setting the goal of writing down "somewhat coherent thoughts" on your reading of Murakami. For me, the real joy of reading Murakami is in turning off my more analytical, English-major-trained, critical self, and for a little while just drifting around in the strange, beautiful feel of his worlds. I have read Kafka, Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, and Hard Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World, and all three were distinct, wonderful reading experiences. But I struggle with articulating how and why the books are special--I struggle with generating coherent thoughts about them. I look forward to reading your thoughts on 1Q84, and may use them as a sort of pre-reading exercise (not sure I'll be able to approach such a huge book until winter). In the meantime, thanks for recommending Matterhorn--I'd not heard of it, and it ended up keeping me awake for an entire twelve hour plane ride. It's now high on my own "recommend to others" list.

  5. @Seth - Trance is a good way to put it - that seems to capture the experience of reading Kafka more than "dreamlike" or many of the other words that are tossed around. I agree, anyone who says they understand all of Murakami is pretending to be smarter than they are.

    @Domey - That's a good way to describe reading Murakami, too. Kafka certainly does have it's own logic - a world within our world. It's a really interesting read!

    @Ben - Yeah, I did - a lot more than I thought I would. Next up: Wind Up, before 1Q84.

    @Sam - Struggling to puzzle out every ounce of meaning and form coherent thoughts about everything would drive you nuts. I read several interviews with Murakami in which he stated the novels (Kafka especially) mean different things to different people. You're right, you sort of just have to go with the flow and see what you can pick up along the way - and not worry about picking up everything. Glad you like Matterhorn - yeah, that is a riveting novel!