I've only read a few of Murakami's novels now, but this one is pretty emblematic of the experience. Kafka is either an intense, bookish teenager with an unfortunate curse, or maybe just a sociopath. Nakata is an old man, "not very bright", who can talk to cats. Kafka runs away from home, and Nakata goes on a quest. The whole thing is pretty Oedipal.

I'm not sure what it all meant. But it was enjoyable to read. But also it had probably one of the most viscerally distrubing passages I've ever read.

Three Stars.

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Haruki Murakami - Kafka on the Shore is the:

• Greatest Book of all time.
• 2nd greatest Thing of all time.