Kafka on the Shore, Haruki Murakami

Just read this novel. Even my bro gave it to me about two years ago. He got kind of voucher of bookstore in Taiwan, then he asked me if I want to buy a book or two. And I replied, "Haruki Murakami's book". I haven't read any of his book actually. But I don't know why, I feel related to his book, to the quotations from his books. Then here goes, Kafka on the Shore on my lap.

At first I tried to read, to be honest, I feel like the style of his writing is kinda tough. It's flowing, but the plot is twisted. The odd chapters are about Kafka Tamura, main character of this book. A fifteen-year-old boy who ran away from his house. Who wants to be the toughest 15 year old boy on earth. And the even chapters are about Tanaka. A man who can not read or write, but can talk with cats. So it's confusing for the first time.

But then I decided to read it again. I want to read a thought-provoking book, which has hurting yet soothing words for your heart and mind . And I know for sure, this book has it.

And, at the very first chapter, this book already depict fate. In metaphor of course.

"Sometimes fate is like a small sandstorm that keeps changing directions. You change direction but the sandstorm chases you. You turn again, but the storm adjusts. Over and over you play this out, like some ominous dance with death just before dawn. Why? Because this storm isn't something that blew in from far away, something that has nothing to do with you. This storm is you. Something inside of you. So all you can do is give in to it, step right inside the storm, closing your eyes and plugging up your ears so the sand doesn't get in, and walk through it, step by step. There's no sun there, no moon, no direction, no sense of time. Just fine white sand swirling up into the sky like pulverized bones. That's the kind of sandstorm you need to imagine.

And you really will have to make it through that violent, metaphysical, symbolic storm. No matter how metaphysical or symbolic it might be, make no mistake about it: it will cut through flesh like a thousand razor blades. People will bleed there, and you will bleed too. Hot, red blood. You'll catch that blood in your hands, your own blood and the blood of others.

And once the storm is over you won't remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won't even be sure, in fact, whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm you won't be the same person who walked in. That's what this storm's all about"

I just read until chapter 20. And not even half of the mysteries here revealed. Still at the dark tunnel, still without a light, still can not see the end of this tunnel. But I guess, Haruki will keep the mystery remain a mystery. Because there are some things that need to be NOT revealed. And actually, I already peek at the last chapter, and it's not disappointing at all, there are still mysteries. I love it.

Hope I could be like Kafka, run away, to the land unknown, to the place unseen.

"I don't need to judge whether people are good or evil. Likewise I don't have to act according to standards of good and evil"