Hey you!

It has been a busy week for me. Was in and out of Manila Medical Center for another set of tests and while waiting for the results, I gladly returned to my books and my newfound hobby (brush lettering) to distract me from the crazy anticipation.

This week’s book is Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami. Ever since a friend introduced me to Murakami’s works, I was immediately drawn to his weirdness. If there is such a thing as books as security blankets, Murakami’s works (together with that of Coelho and Rice) would be my snuggly comforter! 😉

I have read and re-read and re-read and re-read this book for so many times but since I have a memory of the fish, this book still gets me. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. My copy of this book has soo many dog-eared pages (almost every other page) because Murakami is just so wondrous with his words. If you would like to be lost in his eccentricity, this book is the first one that you should read.

So… Kafka.

This story is about Kafka Tamura and the complexity of his teenage life as he borders into a surreal world full of signature Murakami weirdness. The story line deals with family issues, finding one’s self and weird synchronicity of events around us. Johnnie Walker and Colonel Sanders also make a cameo, haha! I am particularly drawn to this book because the character himself, Kafka, is so engrossed with books! I also love the intellectual banter between another character Oshima and Kafka when they are discussing about books (reminds me of my book club, hehe)

So without further ado, here are my favorite quotes (ughh, among hundreds in the book, maybe) —

Sometimes, fate is like a small sandstorm that keeps on 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. 

The things in life are fated by our previous lives. That even in the smallest events there’s no such thing as coincidence. 

You’re afraid of imagination. And even more afraid of dreams. 

There’s an essential order you have to follow in everything. 

Only people who’ve been discriminated against can really know how much it hurts. 

Each person feels the pain in his own way, each has his own scars. 

A life without revelation is no life at all. 

The process of writing was important. Even though the finished product is meaningless. 

I could seriously just go on but that would be unfair as I would deprive you of the beauty of this book – the amazing word play that only Murakami can juxtapose. So go ahead, rush to the nearest bookstore and lose yourself… on the shore.

x