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Kafka on the Shore

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Kafka on the Shore

By: Haruki Murakami, Philip Gabriel - translator
Narrated by: Sean Barrett, Oliver Le Sueur
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Brought to you by Penguin.

Kafka Tamura runs away from home at fifteen, under the shadow of his father's dark prophesy.

The aging Nakata, tracker of lost cats, who never recovered from a bizarre childhood affliction, finds his pleasantly simplified life suddenly turned upside down.

As their parallel odysseys unravel, cats converse with people; fish tumble from the sky; a ghost-like pimp deploys a Hegel-spouting girl of the night; a forest harbours soldiers apparently un-aged since World War II. There is a savage killing, but the identity of both victim and killer is a riddle - one of many which combine to create an elegant and dreamlike masterpiece.

'Wonderful... Magical and outlandish' Daily Mail

'Hypnotic, spellbinding' The Times

'Cool, fluent and addictive' Daily Telegraph

© Haruki Marakami 2005 (P) Penguin Audio 2020

 Fantasy Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Magical Realism Metaphysical & Visionary World Literature Magic Mind-bending Heartfelt Cats
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Critic reviews

Wonderful... Magical and outlandish
A magnificently bewildering achievement... Brilliantly conceived, bold in its surreal scope, sexy and driven by a snappy plot... Exuberant storytelling
Cool, fluent and addictive
Hypnotic, spellbinding
Addictive... Exhilarating... A pleasure
Murakami's most addictive fix to date
Engrossing and wildly inventive
Laden with philosophical overtones and enchanting wit
Murakami's exquisitely simple prose and deft evocation of the surreal are captivating and sublime
The mysteries are never tainted by explanation, merely beautifully described, delivering a hypnotic read
All stars
Most relevant
The whole book read like a dream, it was captivating and I couldn't put it down. I only knock 1* for the unnecessary sexual details that at times made me uncomfortable to listen to.

Mesmerising story

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I read this book some years ago and have thought of it often since then, so I decided to return to it via Audiobook.

It wasn't quite the same as I remembered, but I was younger when I read it so would have been looking through different eyes.

It's such a believable, absorbing, world that is created and the narration adds to this.

Each character is voiced clearly and, to me, fit perfectly. I can't say enough good things about the narration.

Just a wonderful experience in reading and listening. Highly recommended.

Amazing book, added to by wonderful narration

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My first from this author. Spellbinding and thought provoking. A second read is a must...

Unusual, but great.

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If you’re thinking of getting it do you will not regret this masterpiece! Also great performance from the reader

Amazing book!

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I don't normally leave a review but this is one of the nicest books I have read or listen to I read iq84 and I did not really like it. the book is a a vast journey true to very strange and lovable characters. there is a deep sense of suarealist melancholy throughout which is beautifully written into the book. the author explores many different complex themes throughout the book two small conversations. There are also so lovely moments of humour to break up the melancholy.

a beautiful listen

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