Why should you read “Kafka on the Shore”? - Iseult Gillespie

Follow the entwined destinies of Kafka and Nakata in Haruki Murakami’s mind-bending novel “Kafka on the Shore.”
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Desperate to escape his tyrannical father and the family curse he feels doomed to repeat, Haruki Murakami’s teenage protagonist renames himself “Kafka” after his favorite author and runs away from home. So begins “Kafka on the Shore”- an epic literary puzzle filled with time travel, hidden histories and magical underworlds. Iseult Gillespie dives into Murakami’s mind-bending and whimsical novel.
Lesson by Iseult Gillespie, directed by Cabong Studios.
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[@OxfordCommaEducation]

It's the type of book that once you finish it, you need to talk to someone about what just went on - and here we all are. Sometimes the internet is great.

[@krishnadathmishra8784]

Sometimes.

[@EvilSapphireR]

More like you search on the internet "Kafka on the shores explained" and these videos pop up. 😂

[@OxfordCommaEducation]

@@EvilSapphireR Haha, that too! There is a reason I use "explain" in the title of all my videos about short stories.

[@supealarvge]

YESS THIS! I desperately needed to talk to someone about it and I found this video

[@OxfordCommaEducation]

@@supealarvge Congrats on finishing it! Although, it's not too hard to keep reading once you get started. I'm hoping to tackle IQ84 sometime this year.

[@charlenewong9116]

My favorite line from the book "Silence is something you can actually hear."

[@foodlover866]

What does this line mean?

[@HAL--gb6uf]

@@foodlover866 It means you can feel the emptiness around I think

[@foodlover866]

@@HAL--gb6uf ok thanks

[@sarojinibirua1037]

Mine too

[@foodlover866]

@@sarojinibirua1037 What?

[@arundhatisharma5458]

The bromance between Mr nakata and Hoshino was precious 😄❤️😅

[@genghiskhan7691]

It was more of a grandpa/grandson bond

[@rtk334]

And Nakata being innocent was like......I am not so bright😅

[@diwan19]

Man how i wanted Nakata to wake up at the end...💔

[@mysteriousgaming473]

Yuppp

[@suzuha-hq2kg]

XD

[@Freiheit1232]

This is one of the most vivid books I've ever read. I'll never forget the scenes and imagery portrayed in this book.

[@KhoaNguyen-rk9dz]

for me, especially the humping

[@caterinaversari9871]

Whenever I think of Murakami I think of raining leeches. That scene is stuck in my mind jajaja

[@grannyru8730]

Strangely enough, this is the only book that when I try to remember it i remember vivid scenes like trying to remember a dream, usually when I remember books I remember the written scenes but not in the way I remember murakami's work

[@harramkhan5112]

Old Bull Lee Me too.

[@THX-bz8bi]

Whats your thoughts on 1Q84?

[@garyjennison5879]

This book is basically text-based LSD

[@amankodimela8499]

I tell u this comment will get a lot of likes

[@ozeppeo]

Okay, you convinced me to read it.

[@mohdyaser]

It's pretty much like that, and I loved it

[@bayanm.3564]

What is LSD????

[@mollywantshugs5944]

Bayan Mahadeen a drug known for causing extremely intense hallucinations and for causing permanent brain damage.

[@marissacommey2670]

This book saved my life. I read it as a sophomore in college at a time when I thought my life was falling apart.....in hindsight, it was coming together.

[@seifahmad9583]

Hope you get over ur sadness

[@marissacommey2670]

@@seifahmad9583 Thank you! I have, that was about 7 years ago, I've healed since then💚

[@putridsoebagjo]

Is it that good? My life is falling apart right now, so i plan to pick up a book to calm myself. I hope this is it.

[@marissacommey2670]

@@putridsoebagjo Hi Putri. It is. It's a bit abstract though. So if you're at a point in your life where you're looking for more simple encouragement try The Alchemist-Paulo Coelho Love to you on your journey💚

[@fatiraaureliatarigan8579]

@@marissacommey2670 The alchemist is the first English novel I've ever read and I love it so very much! (My first language is not English) my sophomore year was also a hard time for me, one might say I was in rock bottom. I'm only in my junior year at the moment. It's a relief to know someone else had gone through a similar experience as me. I hope you're doing well too at the moment :)

[@jess8847]

Damn, I just started reading this book yesterday, it's already pretty damn epic. Please do more 'why should you read" videos, they're awesome.

[@polymorpheteen5046]

I started reading it 15 days before , where u at ?

[@jess8847]

@@polymorpheteen5046 chapter 29

[@nvericks617]

Can you guys leave me a link to the online PDF, if there's any?

[@ulli.7054]

I AM READING IT NOW

[@thettproject4534]

Hold on, it gets worse 😂

[@ruisenoir]

Murakami has been there for me, several times. I gave him the nobel, long time ago for norwegian wood.

[@hazelruiz7684]

Me too. Norwegian Wood was THE ONE 💙💙💙💙

[@mywin_8275]

Absolutely devoured that book

[@erikpersson8688]

Norwegian Wood was my first Murakami novel and I loved it!

[@art_of_bayar]

Could you please tell me why did you like Norwegian wood?

[@ovijeetsengupta9983]

Isn't it good, Norwegian wood?

[@nisa2115]

My favourite author of all time! Murakami has a way to capture a dream-like yet gloomy intrinsic self discovery. He has a way to engage us in a very peculiar way of thinking. That is what I love about him 🖤

[@indonesianguy5192]

Wow, where are you from? Did you read his novels in english or bahasa?

[@yasserelblacy8037]

Same here

[@nisa2115]

@@indonesianguy5192 in english.

[@DemonRuby]

Same. I love the feeling I get when I read his books, it can't be described by words..

[@doaadarwish7261]

Do you recommend another novel for him other than this one I tried reading 1q84 but I don't know.. it didn't capture me as Kafka did should I continue it ? or do you recommend something else

[@dimitomo]

I'm calling it now. Murakami's winning the Nobel Prize in Literature within the next five years

[@therealfirelord3359]

A lot of people already want him to win this year. After Ishiguro won, he got really popular because of the increased attention to Japanese literature. I wouldn't be surprised if he won either.

[@TheChriswood1]

You've only got 2 years left to be right. Time's running out. Just realised it was posted 3 days ago not 3 years ago 🙈🙈 He completely deserves the Nobel though.

[@joeljamtig6199]

@@TheChriswood1 bro he only said it 3 days ago.

[@shreiya]

Chris what?? 😂😂😂

[@TheChriswood1]

@@shreiya I completely lost the plot, I read it as having been posted 3 years ago 😂😂

[@janecc6156]

Seeing a Ted-Ed for Murakami's work makes me feel honored to have been reading his work and living the same lifetime as him.

[@abhilasha9608]

same!

[@OFFICIALFUNUSBAND]

lame.. better be honored for something that you made with dedication.

[@dragoda]

Read 1q84 and thank me later. Well done Ted!

[@callumfisher8101]

Yes. Murakami is a classic author in the making…if he isn’t one already.

[@BatShadows96]

this would be epic animated as a Ghibli movie

[@sabrinas1554]

agreed oh my god

[@jannaalexandra8921]

I literally imagined it that way.. especially how the forest would look!!

[@saraweeknds]

Reading the first library scene takes me to that idea too

[@Kevin-mz3gp]

how would they censor some of the scenes thoo

[@preethirajan4938]

Exactly, I had this in my mind 🤩 Would be a terrific combo 😍

[@Helvetica09]

Currently reading The Wind Up Bird Chronicle. Murakami really has a thing for cats

[@myranissagallegos3451]

Agree! He really has something for cat. He also mentioned a Cat Town in 1Q84.

[@lordx4641]

All japanese have

[@sweetcoffee2458]

I think he has an adorable "theme" going on

[@lordx4641]

@@sweetcoffee2458 how to develop reading habit?

[@Aria-ej6qm]

Yesss😂😂

[@eevonne7514]

My favourite line from the book is "Cause if you take every single person who lacks much imagination seriously, there's no end to it" - so relatable in society now.

[@jayatejgowda]

Mine too 😊

[@oishi5518]

Oshima's whole speech there is heart touching.I kept coming back to it

[@wardaniadrian1392]

Oshima are just there to give us so many powerfull, and relatable speech about literally everything, and i love that.

[@hsryu5569]

The animation was great as always but the sound design was so good.

[@MatheusWitt]

[@naomigray575]

I replayed the video just because the music was so interesting!

[@aamna2452]

I finally finished this book and now the only thing I want to do is to find someone to rant about how amazing and comforting Oshima's character is 😭

[@mewcata]

IKR he's the sweetest!! he was my favorite character since the start.

[@redbloodbluemoon1423]

Oshima and Nakata are the sweetest boys. I love them. ❤️❤️

[@noahsolomon1550]

Facts

[@noemisarahhuber1442]

SAME SAME SAME SAME SAME I just cried reading the last few pages because I realised with finishing the book Oshima is no longer in my life

[@tanayrishu]

I just picked up this book 3 weeks ago from a store just because I wanted to read a story based in Japan...didn't know it would be such a joy ride

[@tanayrishu]

Will have to for sure

[@asadattayyem2637]

Lucky you! Are you a Japanese?

[@tanayrishu]

@@asadattayyem2637 No, I love the culture and it does help to gain a new perspective on the world...I watch a lot of foreign films too

[@milliecevallos7756]

The first one I read from Haruki was 1q84. I highly recommend it

[@lordx4641]

@@tanayrishu thank u i also read ur bagwat gita and it changed my ideology and how i look at this world or should i say cosmos

[@bentooh2371]

I've been rereading this book for the past 6 years since my late teens and every new year I reread it it means so differently in the various points of my life. When I had my first job as a teen, when my dad died and I lost my scholarship, when I was able to go back to school, when I had to quit because of stress related health problems, and when I was finally trying to make a career as an illustrator. Kafka on the Shore really gave me a strange way to look at my life and what I was doing with it. It gave me a strange optimism every time I finished it. Please let yourself get lost in the narrative and find a different version of the person you try to become every time. Take care. Have a nice day!

[@lilacfairies]

proud of you, stranger!

[@shinnysstar]

I really impressed by this comment 💗

[@shine6353]

wow :0

[@vaishk6813]

How are you doing now?? Is everything okay?

[@neharay9106]

More power to you..!

[@vishualee]

there was a moment which took me in...when Kafka is in the forest. It felt real.

[@benzar451]

same experience... the imagery was unforgettable

[@sweetcoffee2458]

I'm guessing we all have a different picture of the same forest.

[@abhiramips]

Oh yes. I felt like I really lived that experience.

[@9888565407]

Hows the book ?

[@TheShapingSickness]

@@9888565407 I wouldn't recommend

[@vickhs]

This is the book that made me discover Beethoven's "Archduke Trio", which to this day is still one of my favorite classical pieces. One of the many reasons why I hold this book very dear to my heart.

[@sangayzambaengstudiescohor4341]

I still thank him for what little sense of appreciation that I have got for classical music.

[@saumyasharma6790]

I just finished this book a minute ago. Such a calm ending. A masterpiece

[@rajeswariravi7]

Is this book kind of dark? I'm a bit scared to read this.

[@saumyasharma6790]

@@rajeswariravi7 dark? nope. i don't think I would call it dark. yeah it keeps you occupied with all the surreal things happening but it's not dark. so don't worry, go ahead with this book :)

[@amikakitchen2692]

I think so too! The end message kind of tied everything for me ; running away from your problems won't fix them .

[@cliterally]

It gave me chills a lot of times. there are a couple of dark themes explored but nothing too scary

[@aokigaharuki]

OMG I REALLY LOVE THIS BOOK! 3-4 years ago this book changed the way I think. I really recommend it.

[@trungduong4040]

Yes, I read it when I was a high school student. Totally love it!

[@lemonhaze1506]

Yusuf Seçkin May I ask in what way does it change your way of thinking?

[@Aisyah-sr2dk]

@@lemonhaze1506 i wonder that too

[@nyancat6154]

@@trungduong4040 same here Vietnamese pal!

[@nyancat6154]

@@lemonhaze1506 he started to talk with cat I suppose

[@soloking3735]

I borrowed this book from my high school library during my last semester, thought I should give it a read since the subway rides were long and boring. Am telling you, from the moment I started reading the book I always looked forward to the trip back home every day, not because I wanted to get home early, but just to enjoy my precious time reading this masterpiece on the train. Plus I always listened to beautiful osts while reading, so it felt like I was watching a movie , I enjoyed reading this book!

[@rupeshbardiya7030]

What kind of ost you listen. Please recommend some

[@user-uu1we7db2i]

@@rupeshbardiya7030 personally I enjoyed listening to this one especially in the forest scenes kzbin.info/www/bejne/qIioemyva7V4otE&ab_channel=shouldbeasleep ! and this one kzbin.info/www/bejne/j3bKnqObbdOHpbc&ab_channel=shouldbeasleep

[@basakkaratas__]

That genderless character in the book changes something in my world. I was looking for something but couldn't find anything and that character, with just one page, gave me what am I looking for, for ages. I can't describe how grateful to him I am.

[@sonnenblume2720]

Loved that part too! I was like huh? Love it when the next page blows your mind ❤️❤️❤️❤️📄 but i didn't understand the end, thats why iam looking at all the videos haha

[@genghiskhan7691]

what genderless character? Wasn't Oshima trans?

[@coo-4881]

@@genghiskhan7691 i dont think they were "trans"

[@bums009]

@@coo-4881 Can't simply be androgynous without changing one's gender these days...

[@greasyboi3154]

@@coo-4881 his pronouns were clearly he, i don't see the point of using they when it's clear he identifies as a trans man

[@PhoenixDown13]

Though I liked 1Q84 and Wind-up Bird Chronicles, Kafka on the Shore and Norwegian Wood are my runaway favorites from Murakami.

[@ayn9298]

Phoenix Down i highly agree with you.

[@poing_poing]

Is it just me or did anyone else feel like the ending of 1Q84 was not satisfactory?

[@dr.s.choudhury8089]

I am not a big fan of Magical realism and have a hard time relating to it hence I had avoided Murakami until now. I want to read Murakami now. Any suggestion as to which Murakami novel I should start with?

[@shaneperez3804]

Dr. S. Choudhury norwegian wood and the colorless life of tsukuru tazaki

[@denniszenanywhere]

@@dr.s.choudhury8089 I used to be a big fan of magical realism but as I grew older, I lost interest in it. I don’t know if this is common as I became more interested in books with more pressing issues.

[@ErikJonte123]

I just finished the book and my interpretation is that the whole story is a metaphor for people finding themselves. Either finding what they ones lost or finding what they haven't found yet, or maybe both at the same time. What do you guys think? BTW I found this song, The Calm I Feel With You by Comet Blue, while reading the book. The song really fits the book so I recommend you guys listen to it while reading. The piano in the song is also what I imagine Miss Saeik's piano playing sounds like.

[@snuance]

Great song recommendation!

[@Ms05Anki]

Thanks bro. Loved it!

[@kunslipper]

thx bro. I also recommended the same kind of the songs just search "post rock"

[@kunslipper]

@M.H. Rafid kzbin.info/www/bejne/oGitfnp6fZaSftU

[@aidenpearce9066]

What more interesting is that, the fact that Kafka and Nakata never meet each other but tied along the story making them look like a single entity, the irony Oshima who's always there for Kafka, and also Hoshino who's always there for Nakata didn't even get closed into the interellation of both characters

[@esra_4395]

This book is living in my head quietly without even I realizing it. Whenever I see something which has passed in the book, just as a fish, I remember the book. I just can't forget anything about it. It's a masterpiece

[@alishafarhadiba]

i just finished reading this book two days ago. this book is so vivid yet so bizarre but i didnt question any of it, like what happened in that book is normal and i just go with the flow of the journey without questioning anything. and i enjoyed it, the journey.

[@sonnenblume2720]

I finished the book today, but i don't get the end. Or should i look at the book, like you said, without questioning it? But what about his father/mother/sister? 🤔

[@BloodAniron]

Thank you for mentioning Oshima. I love that character idky.

[@matilde_5]

Same, he’s my favorite out of the characters in Kafka’s “part” of the story

[@junenaya2736]

Yah him and hoshino are my favorites

[@sanskrutidas2965]

I really thought they had chemistry.Him and Oshima.

[@matilde_5]

DOCTOR WOKE Yaa Hoshino too, my boi

[@sinead5089]

@@sanskrutidas2965 yes!! i was really excited for my two favorite characters to meet each other and i was surprised by their chemistry

[@osse1n]

*"Storm transforms a life"* Storm being adversities and tribulations. Overcoming them makes you evolve and gain wisdom,

[@seinapenaflorida2785]

I saw you again 😊 Been seeing your comments on almost every videos i watched haha

[@zetovidillard]

@@seinapenaflorida2785 same 😂

[@jasminee493]

This is the best book I've ever read. It's so sad to notice how Murakami's works are criticised just because of their surrealism. In my opinion, surrealism is what makes Murakami different from other writers: it puts you in a position in which you HAVE to think to actually understand. I also loved it for its multiple metaphorical interpretations

[@birsensuuu]

Kafka on the Shore is one of my all-time favorites. After reading this, Murakami has become one of my favorite authors. I highly recommend Men Without Women and Hear the Wind Sing, they are great books too.

[@Richardseven75491]

I read 5 chapters, I have honestly never read something so refreshing, the author has some technique to make words look good together, made me fall into the story world so quickly

[@propaghosh3045]

Finally!! Oh God I love this book! Thank you so much TedEd! As always, beautiful analysis with stunning animation! Please keep them coming💙

[@akankshasharma943]

What i love about his writing is that he writes in such vivid details as if things are happening in front of u

[@Dino38510]

I'd really be interested to see some Ted takes on other classic Japanese literature and the lives of the real authors behind it. I always hear about Osamu Dazai's "No Longer Human" and "The Setting Sun", Soseki Natsume's "Kokoro" or "I am a Cat", or the other short stories by Ango Sakaguchi or Ryunosuke Akutagawa.

[@jarodski22]

He's always been my favorite author. I'm so glad more readers are being attracted to his work!

[@amberflower6667]

The first Murakami work I have read. Still , one of the most influential and memorable books I have ever read . I really think that Murakami has an authentic way of depicting things that just draws the reader in before they know it . Specifically , I find this book so insightful , so artistic , and so impactful .

[@maevewinters1392]

I LOVE THIS VIDEO! The music and art are just perfect. I haven’t read the book yet but I’m now more excited than ever to do so

[@subinms14]

"Kafka on the shore" was a delightful read. After completing the book I felt a sense of satisfaction which only a few books have managed to provide. Don't know why but this book kept reminding me of "One hundred years of solitude". BTW Kafka means Crow ( Correct me if I'm wrong)

[@wanlitan7406]

Yeah, that's why it was the Boy Named Crow.

[@richaarunendu4080]

Yes, he explains in the book too.

[@gamezenth133]

@@richaarunendu4080 yes he does in the beginning. Wind up bird chronicle is his best work as well give it a try buddy.

[@bekisroilov2278]

yea in the book he says kafka means crow in czech, which I thought was pretty cool

[@paljaske9059]

Actually in my book the translator wrote some sidenotes in which he explained that kafka actually means 'jackdaw' (which is a bird similar to a crow) in czech, but that Murakami didn't know the difference between those two birds, so he just rolled with crow.

[@prateetisengupta9677]

It would be great if you could make one on Franz Kafka , Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Murakami - each unique in their perception and bizarre expression of reality and the hallucinatory quality of their prose, and yet overlapping at certain points.

[@DemonRuby]

One of my favourite books of my favourite author! I have read it several times and each time it felt like the first time. The surreal feeling you get while reading this book, slowly entering the world of characters and letting yourself be engulfed in this mesmerizing story is a priceless experience. I can't recommend it enough.

[@triptisingh5844]

Today I completed this book and I feel so alone now. Everything was good, I was unconscious the whole time. Every part, every line was so real like I was there with kafka when he was in the forest or with Nakata while traveling.

[@akankshad3980]

This book like other murakami works builds up very slowly but it's worth it because the epiphany you reach when everything comes together is unmatched.

[@arianam.4743]

Awhile ago, I read Murikami's "The Wind-up Bird Chronicle" and really enjoyed it. It was very different from any novel I had ever read. I've been wanting to read another book by him, and I think this'll be the one! Thanks, Ted Ed!

[@samiraiscool03]

This book felt like a fever dream. Wish I could read it for the first time again. Lonely main charachters, mysterious women, jazz, and of course cats. Typical Murakami. Captivating captivating captivating.

[@kingdomhearts351]

This was my first Murakami novel, to which led me to many more. As I'm now reading Killing Commendatore, I've realized how much I need to thank Murakami for my wonder of life. He has changed my image of what a moment in life really could be.

[@kennyyt5297]

I legit wasn't able to sleep for a few days after I read this book. It felt like a trance

[@manigupta2299]

Same. I couldn't sleep for one night and the imagery kept on repeating in my head. What a weird and hypnotic experience this book was for me!

[@anmolchandak2909]

I had seen this video a few days back, when I was thinking of starting this book. The video got me interested, but got me confused all the same. And today I watched this again after completing the book, which is a masterpiece in itself, and now I realise how amazingly this video has been designed and narrated. Every detail that has been captured is great, and this is the best possible review of this book. So glad to have found it ❤️

[@matilde_5]

I just finished reading the book and I can’t really explain its essence with words, you should read it for yourself- For some reason, I always kinda disliked Kafka. There was something in his way of thinking and his actions that made me feel like he wasn’t such a nice person. For that reason, I always looked forward to reading Nakata’s “part” of the story more than Kafka’s, and I felt way more connected to the old man. I was also just- more drawn to it, for some reason. I also really liked Ōshima, for some reason. But yeah, it was pretty weird at times and some scenes made me cringe a little bit but overall it was interesting and I always wanted to see what would happen next. The ending left me kind of... unsatisfied, like there was still something that needed to be fixed in the world, and I guess I’m not the only one- Buuut yeah, if you’re not a child then you should read it, it’s nice!

[@manigupta2299]

Exactly my experience after reading this book..

[@darealdovahkiin3652]

Summarized my feelings as well. Kafka has this kind of circular reasoning (in regards to the prophesy and the subsequent acts he takes in relationship to it) that not only drives his actions but also shapes his understanding of the world the majority of the book. This particularly stood out to me in the dream sequence where, repulsively, he rapes Sakura. His rationale being he wants to “take the prophesy by the horns in order to be free.” If he wanted to be free, he could just work on overcoming his temptations as they present themselves, in the process giving him the freedom he desires-defining *himself* who he is through his actions. I know that Kafka did this out of a naive, confused, and self destructive impulse that rages inside of him as a trauma-ridden teenager, but it was the breaking point that made him extremely hard to emphasize with as a reader. Of course I think Murakami intentionally gave Kafka this circular reasoning, my theory being to draw parallels to the exact same fallacious logic drawn by our so infamously memorable Johnnie Walker. Both are oblivious to the factor of their own agency in relationship to their situation. They feel cast in a current that they can’t change “because it’s unchangeable.” I think this logic beautifully typifies Franz Kafka’s understanding of the human dilemma.

[@matilde_5]

@@darealdovahkiin3652 You took the words right out of my mouth. (Well, very figuratively, because you did word your reply using way better-sounding terms than I would normally be able to-) (Also, “dovahkiin” in your username, nice)

[@icha_thebluesolivagant]

One of my faves. Honestly, i love all Murakami's work.

[@lahidele8768]

Can you suggest one more please

[@icha_thebluesolivagant]

@@lahidele8768 Men Without Women. Or Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki.

[@bobi_tuankotta]

Icha. Lah, lu ada di sini pula

[@icha_thebluesolivagant]

@@bobi_tuankotta im everywhere 😁

[@bobi_tuankotta]

Everywhere? Mungkin lu ialah 'storm' yg slalu menghantui Kafka, Cha.

[@joeeveryman9237]

YAAASS. I have been waiting for a Murakami-related TED-Ed video!!!!!

[@markam314]

I just started reading the book and suddenly this video appeared. Can TED-Ed read your mind?😮

[@TEDEd]

Yes, yes we can

[@maplerosez]

Woah TED Ed *CAN* read minds *but is it true tho?* 👀

[@willanthoniozeppeli7913]

@@TEDEd I'm telling MoM

[@aesthetewithoutacause3981]

Wow, this book sounds magical! I'll pick it up as soon as I can.

[@bekindalways295]

What a great book! Kafka on the Shore manages to send across multiple messages in such a beautiful way. How our past can sometimes bind or constrain us from truly living a free and joyful life, how sometimes we can't run away from the seemingly insurmountable challenges in our life, etc. Definitely a must-read!

[@saram1596]

It's perfect that this was released on my birthday. Thanks Ted-Ed!!!

[@rosswebster7877]

So awesome to see Murukami get a TED-ED animation! Still haven't read "Kafka on the Shore," but my favorite is "The Wind-Up Bird Chronicles."

[@anthonybott6923]

Currently reading 1Q84 by Murakami. Such a great book with a lot of the same theme as this. Going to move onto this one next. Super excited.

[@ely2833]

You know 1Q84 has three books, right?

[@anthonybott6923]

ely yes. And I’m on book 2 of 3

[@ely2833]

@@anthonybott6923 Perfect then !

[@saratrejo6658]

@@ely2833 The English publication is just 1 giant book.

[@ely2833]

@@saratrejo6658 Ahh that's why. Thanks for explaining. I've French publications, they were all in 3 separate novels.

[@sylphann]

After watching this video 2 years ago, I finally read the book and I'm fascinated. This book is an experience!

[@halosphere]

THIS BOOK IS EVERTHING YOU NEED IT'S LITERALLY THE ELIXIR OF MY LIFE AND I LOVE IT SO SO SO MUCH

[@buttteerrrcupp8959]

Kafka on the shore, for me, was like a movie I watched with so much interest and with depth understanding because when I recall some parts of it, I recall an image, a scene, like as if I had seen it somewhere. Murakami just made me imagine so much with all the details he has put in.

[@PutingPinoy]

I listened to that book! I loved it! It had a whimsical ending. I wasn’t sure how to interpret the ending. But I really love this video. Thank you for doing this video.

[@berserker8884]

How does it hold up as an audiobook. This text seems pretty philosophical to me, so I was thinking I should read it physically to better unserstand it, but if its okay I would rather go eith the audiobook

[@PutingPinoy]

Berserker it was amazing! Very well read. The voices were perfect especially the parts with Nakata!

[@berserker8884]

@@PutingPinoy awesome! Now Im excited to listen to it. Tomorrow I get the new audible credit and I know what Ill spend it on!

[@PutingPinoy]

Berserker good call, man! It was definitely an interesting ending. Let me know what you think about it.

[@berserker8884]

@@PutingPinoy thank you. Cant wait!

[@julianblake8385]

My first Murakami book, I totally loved it, and I still re-read it from time to time. It's really good, and I consider it the Author's best.

[@ianfarrugia4495]

I don't know if this was intentional, but the character visuals didn't really match the book's description. Wonderful essay nonetheless

[@parksheridan8227]

Right? Especially kafka he has a good built more on a muscular type of guy

[@krish9184]

trueeee!! I had a more chubby and healthy image of Mr. Nakata. And I expected Kafka to be bulk because he works out a ton.

[@sunshine3713]

@@krish9184 me tooooo

[@parksheridan8227]

Ghad Murakami has his own way of delivering things, most books I've read they explain what the characters emotions at a certain point of time and you get to know that a character felt such emotion but in kafka on the shore it's more than just knowing what the characters emotions are it's feeling what they actually feel on that certain situation or emotional state. It felt surreal and it pierced through text especially when kafka was on the forest, I'm just enthralled to read such an amazing book.

[@akankshasharma943]

He is one of the best writer I have came across .. His books are soul touching..

[@iloveyellow7214]

I love this thank you for featuring one of my favorite books

[@jenperkings7072]

This was so beautiful. Thank you so much 💓

[@TH3F4LC0Nx]

I really like these "Why you should read..." videos! The animation is always killer!

[@rajivkrishnatr]

I had anxiety ridden dreams while reading this book. I was a bit lost in the world of Kafka for a month. It messes with my mind sometimes. I know that's just me but I had to say it. It was like a psychedelic trip, this book.

[@amrithamelant3330]

No, Its not just you. I was lost too. For a month. It's crazy but yes. The book made me so insane!♥️

[@user-ey1ms7dj8i]

Yea this book is crazy sometimes while im reading it I alway had the feeling that I already read this part im in a loop i keep reading the same page I thought the books i got is pirated and has a lot of copy per pages but its strange whenever I check the previous pages it ok and pages sequence is correct. I dont know what happening to me😂. Its somehow scares me but I decided to let it slide

[@bums009]

This book gave me nothing but peace

[@outresru7751]

it was sort of the opposite for me. i felt lost in this delusional world with exaggerated emotions. I always have vivid dreams when i sleep and i always wished, for once to not remember my dream and sleep peacefully. Just today, half way through the book, i was slowly sinking into this calm feeling and i sleep for a good 2 hours and i haven't slept that good in a long while.

[@meri222]

I love this book so much, I cried with Miss Saeki, and how unique the character is. Its so powerful how she was attached to her memories, at the end, thats all we left in life, the memories we carry from others and our life. Without our memories, we are nothing.

[@aurunabhsarker3103]

The voice is so satisfying . Thanks Ted ed 😊💖

[@Isa059407]

This book is so amazing!!! And to me it’s evens more special once that I’ve got my masters scholarship by writing an essay about it

[@didhitianam8734]

wow thats brilliant can i read it os sth?!

[@didhitianam8734]

wow thats brilliant!!! can I read it??!

[@thv5098]

I was curious about Murakami n I picked kafka and it totally amazed me his writing style and way he blends between dream and reality. Still lot of confusions but the author leaves upto readers how to interpret. I would surely recommend this masterpiece.

[@abdurrazzaq2314]

Finally Murakami! Thank you Ted for acknowledging the maestro.

[@sockthief9138]

you guys finally covered a Murakami novel and I'm so happy

[@shethewriter]

Read this book ten years ago and still recovering. Should come with a warning. I can't wait to read it again.

[@Xray83Bravo]

shethewriter Have yet to read it. What would the warning say?

[@ely2833]

Curious about that too.

[@wanlitan7406]

It's a mind-bending experience that fills you with more questions the more you think you know. Oh, and the ending's quite sad.

[@oukahershel2931]

I read this book when I was a teen. It was a strange experience but I couldn't put it down. What I remember now are some bits and pieces yet it was vaguely memorable,

[@alaaalaina]

A video article on my favourite book of all time? I teared up

[@fs6020]

So happy they made a video about Murakami's book!

[@eliezerricardo2293]

I was so excited to read this for so long after this video. I even read Kafka first to grip what this book was about, but after reading it...it was a huge mess, through and through. Nothing makes sense, things go back and forth many times, most characters including the protagonist are uninteresting. The story is 500 pages of absolutely nothing, there's nothing ever really in the line, it's just a story about nothing. Important characters die and nothing comes out of it, they act as though nothing really happened. Kafka runs from the police for more than half the book just to decide to turn himself in at the end?.He runs from the prophecy just to go ahead and do everything in his power for it to happen, and when it does, he just goes like "whatever", like, what was the prophecy about in the story then?, Just a silly reason for him to leave his house? You keep thinking about it wondering if you missed something and trying your best to connect dots and get absolutely nowhere, so you think the problem is you and go online to see if you can get someone to give some meaning to this book, and to your surprise everybody is as confused as you are. Then you do the last thing you can to try and give this book justice and tries to find what the author has to say about it. And Murakami just hits you with "I just wrote what came to mind". If I can describe the whole experience is this: It just feels like you got scammed after reading it. One thing I can give to this book was that it's the most vivid I've read so far, it really challenges the imagination....And that's it. Do I think it saves the book?, Absolutely not, I've read economic and political books more interesting than this one.

[@FaustHaidee]

That’s surrealism for u. Things aren’t always fully explained and don’t always have to be, like in life

[@kristoffer2250]

YES! INTRODUCE THEM TO MURAKAMI TED ED!!! SUCH A GENIUS...

[@RahulJain-ji6ww]

This book has been on my Goodreads wishlist but after watching this video I think I will start it this weekend.

[@dhartimaadam8477]

Yes, he ties characters and storylines so effortlessly.

[@adarsh_3007]

Do more of these, btw nice animations.

[@user-oh2pf2ux6c]

I'm currently reading chapter 29🤭 what a coincidence

[@convadodeltaro1997]

Synchronicity.

[@Meowmeowmeow564]

Haruki Murakami re-sparked my love of reading after the fatal hit it suffered from poorly taught English classes. His writing is so easy to understand yet conveys many of the complex literary elements English class tries so hard to drill into your head.

[@krasnyy_sharf]

Thank you for this beautiful vid!

[@ngsxxvi652]

I’ve read this book and I can only describe it as pyschedelic.

[@unholyravioli989]

I thought this book was CRAZY!!! But you changed my mind.

[@WelfareChrist]

Love it. This is my favorite Murakami novel by far. I read it when I was living in Olympia, WA in the late 2000's and the power went out during the winter for almost three weeks. I read Dance, Dance, Dance (also wildly good) and this book and without exaggerating I can say that it changed my life. The ending is so good its ridiculous. I'm currently reading IQ84 and so far I love it. So glad to have this man's writing in my life!

[@maxresentertainment]

Finished it, loved it. Never read before such genre and the music suggestions the book gave is mindblowing

[@vydangne8618]

What haunted me for so long was the chapter about eating raw cats' heart. 😰 I was in college and I couldn't handle it well. I really respect those of you here who commented that you read this book in highschool. I mean wow, your mind is so strong.

[@saraharredondo1148]

Yeah… that was it for me as well… I had to pause and take a break after reading that I even thought about not continuing to read it

[@bums009]

I read this in high school and I don't even remember that part tbh

[@Aomame_love]

@@saraharredondo1148 same! that’s why it took me a while to finish the book

[@wariwarin]

I almost threw up in that scene!!

[@huntrrams]

Please do one on Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe OR America is in the Heart by Carlos Bulosan

[@a.nindita127]

Came across this book by instinct on university's library 8 years ago! The book really opened a secret library far away inside my head! The book was fascinating and everytime I re-read it the enigmas within the story pops here and there! A definite joyful ride!

[@TopLobster11]

I just loved the animation of Miss Saeki looking at the painting. I really wanted to see that.

[@razzamatazification]

i liked it, but "hard boiled wonderland/the end of the world" is my favorite, it really sucked me in. the one i didn't understand: "colorless tsukuru tazaki".

[@franknakasako7255]

Didn't understand as in you didn't like it? It's pretty simple compared to Kafka on the Shore

[@enzonenation]

Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki is arguably my favorite. It draws you in and it shows you the rich internal world of all the characters. It is, indeed, a "Pilgrimage"

[@bluehourcore]

@@enzonenation yeah and it's alot more relatable than his other works too!

[@rai2423]

Strange you didn’t understand it. I’ve always considered it one of his most straightfoward books. Also one of his most, for lack of better words, “realistic” books.

[@ew9607]

this book made me feel in love with "reading"

[@ve542]

OMGG I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS

[@marytrajano5412]

all the imagery utilized in this book are out of this world! 😩🤘 definitely a must read...