“I’m a concept, get it? Con-cept!”

[amari_z]

I finished reading Murakami's Kafka on the Shore. As usual with Murakami's novels, ending the book felt a bit like waking from a dream (and with this particular book, that idea becomes even more interesting). What seemed perfectly believable in the book is revealed as being strange and rather incomprehensible when the book is closed.

Although, I'll admit, as much as I did love it, I felt a small bit of let down at the end--in someways I felt that Murakami had spun up all these balls into the air and then wasn't quite sure what to do with them, especially in the Kafka part of the narrative (the chapters are split between first person narration of the 15-year-old Kafka and the story of the elderly Nakata (who can talk to cats)). But, mainly, I enjoyed visiting Murakami's slightly altered reality and the afterimages I'm left with.

Next I really am finally going to read Amalgamation Polka, which darklyscarlett was kind enough to give me.

Comments

[darklyscarlett.livejournal.com]

That's the end of a Murakami for you -- you're left on the other side of the looking glass, wistful and longing for that altered state you've come down from. There's a lot of regret in KOTS, full of wasted lives trying to find a way back into the world for a do-over.

OMG, I have that exact same icon of the Brighton carousel stored in my hard drive. It's perfect for the mood of KOTS, really.

TAP is on the other end of the literary spectrum in terms of structure and mood. He's like Pynchon, on more crack, with more love for his protagonist. I'm curious to hear what you think of it once you're done.