The book, Kafka On The Shore, begins with a teenage boy Kafka, who was abandoned by his mother and sister at the age of three. His father is a rich sculptor working in Tokyo who tells Kafka about the Oedipal prediction. To escape this bad omen, Kafka runs away from home in search of his mother and sister.

The other main lead is an old and pleasant man Nakata, who is unable to read or write due to a weird accident in his childhood. But, he attains a special power to converse with all types of cats. He is particularly fond of a Siamese cat with efficient articulation.

On the other side, Kafka reaches a village and starts working in a library where Miss Saeki and Oshima work together. Miss Saeki is a reserved lady, while Oshima is a gay figure. Oshima guides Kafka.

After a series of thrilling events, Kafka comes to know about a remorseless murder. On the other hand, Nakata ends up hitching a ride with a truck driver, while searching for a missing cat.

Kafka and Nakata never confront each other, but their fates are destined to converge inexplicably.
An adventure, Kafka On The Shore has been written by the Japanese writer Haruki Murakami and was published in the year 2005. An esoteric story containing themes of magic, paranormal occurrences, suspense, and danger, it keeps its readers fully engrossed.

The book was very popular among fantasy lovers. The Japanese novel was later translated into English, bagging one award to its credit.

About Haruki Murakami
Haruki Murakami is one of the most famous writers and profound thinkers in Japan. He is the winner of many international awards.

He has written books such as Norwegian Wood, After Dark, Sputnik Sweetheart, Bird As Prophet, Dance Dance Dance, South Of The Border, The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, The Bird-Catcher, and A Wild Sheep Chase. He has also written many short stories. His essays are Underground, Portrait In Jazz, and Rain, Burning Sun. His books have been translated to more than 40 languages. Many film adaptations have been made based on his books.

The writing style is very contemplative and surreal, with detailed characterization. The text is streaming and engrossing.

Murakami was born in Kyoto, Japan. He was deeply influenced by western writers when he was a child. In Tokyo, he completed his graduation in Drama from Waseda University. He had also worked as a translator of many books. He currently resides in Tokyo. His work stands differently from traditional Japanese literature.
KAFKA ON THE SHORE
Kafka Tamura runs away from home at fifteen, under the shadow of His father`s dark prophecy.
The aging Nakata, tracker of the lost cast, 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 harbors 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
A magnificently bewildering achievement…brilliantly By a snappy plot…Exuberant storytelling`
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`Hypnotic, spellbinding`
• THE TIMES
` Cool, fluent and addictive`
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