Mind-bending masterpiece

In this month's blog post, I would like to share one of my favourite books by the amazing author Haruki Murakami. I love how Murakami blends the ordinary with the extraordinary, creating a dreamy and magical atmosphere in his stories. His style is often referred to as magical realism, perfectly defining his storytelling approach. When you read his novels, you actually believe in some of the supernatural powers. The surreal feels somehow real. Or is it just me who cannot distinguish the blurred boundaries between reality and the fantastical?

One book that really stands out for me is "Kafka on the Shore." It is a beautiful and imaginative story with multiple plotlines, leaving some mysteries unresolved, which I find so intriguing. The main character, Kafka Tamura, goes on a journey of self-discovery, a quest to find his mother and sister while simultaneously seeking to understand his own identity.

Parallel to Kafka’s tale is the story of Satoru Nakata, an elderly man who lost his memory and intellectual abilities due to a wartime accident but gained the unique ability to communicate with cats. When I first encountered Mr. Nakata's unique ability in the story, I felt this book was very special. This is because when I was a little girl, I developed a special language designed for humans to communicate with cats and dogs. I was super obsessed with this and even created a dictionary with keywords to help understand our furry friends. I even gave regular tests to my parents and my brother, quizzing them on their new language skills for talking to cats and dogs. So, when I stumbled upon Mr. Nakata’s character, I felt like finally someone understood me. Even though Mr. Nakata’s character seems simple, his journey is pretty mysterious, involving other strange events like raining fish.

The rain of fish is a crucial moment in the novel. I think the fish falling from the sky can be a symbol of transformation or change. For the character Kafka, who's going through a big personal change and trying to find himself, the fish could represent this transformation - like breaking free from his old life and embracing the new. I find these kinds of symbols in Murakami’s books really cool and inspiring!

The novel also includes rich references to classical music and literature, such as one of Murakami's favorite authors Franz Kafka, who has a deep connection to my birth country.

Overall, I think this novel is a fantastic read for anyone who enjoys diving into a surreal and imaginative world. I hope you get a chance to check it out!

I leave you with a quote from the book, that resonates with me:

 “Closing your eyes isn’t going to change anything. Nothing’s going to disappear just because you can’t see what’s going on. In fact, things will be even worse the next time you open your eyes. That’s the kind of world we live in. Keep your eyes wide open. Only a coward closes his eyes. Closing your eyes and plugging up your ears won’t make time stand still”

And finally, here is my book cover design!