Kafka on the Shore

By: Haruki Murakami

Narrated by: Sean Barrett, Oliver Le Sueur

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • From the acclaimed author of The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle and one of the world’s greatest storytellers comes “an insistently metaphysical mind-bender” (The New Yorker) about a teenager on the run and a deceptively simple old man.

Now with a new introduction by the author.

Here we meet fifteen-year-old runaway Kafka Tamura and the elderly Nakata, who is drawn to Kafka for reasons that he cannot fathom. As their paths converge, acclaimed author Haruki Murakami enfolds readers in a world where cats talk, fish fall from the sky, and spirits slip out of their bodies to make love or commit murder, in what is a truly remarkable journey.

“As powerful as The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle.... Reading Murakami ... is a striking experience in consciousness expansion.”—Chicago Tribune

Critic reviews

“As powerful as The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle.... Reading Murakami ... is a striking experience in consciousness expansion.” —The Chicago Tribune

“An insistently metaphysical mind-bender.”
—The New Yorker

“If he has not achieved that status already, Haruki Murakami is on course to becoming the most widely read Japanese writer outside Japan, past or present.”
—The New York Times

A seemingly schizophrenic odyssey

I listened intently though the entire book, replaying when I missed things or needed clarification. The performances were fantastic and varied, and I was intrigued all the way through.

However, I found myself constantly wondering just what I was listening to... coming of age tale with taboo erotic undertones? Sci fi or alternate history novel? Alice-in-wonderland style head trip? Creature horror? Time travel, parallel universe, or occult fiction? Tragic tale of love lost? Or were all of these elements an intentional deconstruction of the medium itself? I still don't know.

Another solid Murakami tale

If you could sum up Kafka on the Shore in three words, what would they be?

Surreal, Metaphorical, Beautifully written

What was one of the most memorable moments of Kafka on the Shore?

Johnnie Walker, the cat killer, was my most memorable moment. The detail in the writing gives a horribly wonderful graphic account of a confusing and disturbing scene.

What does Sean Barrett and Oliver Le Sueur bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

They are both wonderful narrators. They bring a clarity to the words and a shape and texture to the story that I could never get by reading it myself. Their narration was absolutely critical to my enjoyment of the book.

If you could rename Kafka on the Shore, what would you call it?

A Man who Talks to Cats

Any additional comments?

As has been my experience with other Murakami books, much of the symbolism and motif's were hard for me to grasp, which leaves me with many questions once the book is finished. As usual with Murakami, the reader doesn't necessarily get a tangible closure.

Great performance!!!

I really liked the book and also bought it and could read with whisper sync though I always looked forward to hearing it, very well directed, the voices are right on! Loved it!

One of Murakami's Greats

I've been wanting to read this book for years now and I kept forgetting. This audiobook was my redemption and it was SPECTACULAR. 10/10

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Cats, dreams, and self discovery. What more could you want from a Murakami work? Great for fans, but not the easiest entry point for those interested in Murakami. For those looking to get into Murakami, I started with Wild Sheep Chase and then went into 1q84.