Kafka on the Shore
By Haruki Murakami
Crow is a boy who always sounds sleepy bored, and he is talking to a 15 year old, Kafka, who isn't formally intro'd, and has stolen cash from his pop so he could runaway, and attempt to make a living on his own. Crow is throwing a lot of details as to what would be required in the future, but lays off and compliments Kafka for making the 1st step. They start their vision game, and Kafka relates how he'd decided to runaway on his 15th b/day to live at a library far away. Kafka squirrels away some of his pop's useful camping items, and sunglasses, as well.
He also takes a mysterious pic of himself and his sis when he was 3, and she 9, at the beach, which he doesn't remember anything about, as well as not having been to the beach with his fam, since. He's been physically training for the 1st 2 years of jr high, and he is tall for his age, so this coupled with his broad, muscle-y shoulders, he could at least have the build of a 17 yr old, and mask his youthful face with the sunnies. His pop and he tended to easily stay away from each other, since his pop worked in his studio a lot, and he had an opposite schedule on purpose. Kafka tends to stick by himself, and read a lot in the library at school.
Crow suggests he listen to the teachers, since after he left, he most likely wouldn't be continuing his education for awhile, then later he could forget the useless half of his assignments. He tries to stay stoic, but when his barriers vanish every so often, he becomes disoriented and vulnerable. He doesn't care for his looks, not knowing what his ma looked like, and his pop giving him attributes he didn't enjoy. On a whim and draw to the eye, he decides he'd go to Shikoku, and takes a 10 hr bus ride to his 1st destination of Takamatsu, Crow wishing him a happy b/day during an awake mo, for having heard rain on the roof.
A document from the US Dept. of Defense is shown, listing a report on the Rice Bowl Hill Incident, in 1944, an interview with a 26 yr old teacher of a 4th grade class, Setsuko being shown, she partially still traumatized when she'd provided her statement. She'd been looking straight up in the air to see a speck of a plane in the sky, not thinking their mtn town could ever be a target for a bomb. No plane had been recorded as being in the area at the time in the morning she states in Nov. The kids and herself determined the only type of plane it could've been, and how odd it was alone.
16 kids and herself were heading for the hills to search for edible plants and mushrooms, they currently living on rations due to the war, and all schools encouraging outings like these. They are at the upside-down bowl-shaped hill hunting for mushrooms, and singing songs, everything idyllic despite the war. They trek into the woods to a clearing, Setsuko making sure to remind them to stick to their groups of 3s and 4s, she also keeping an eye out for them. Soon, she sees 3 kids lying on the ground, she thinking they'd eaten bad mushrooms. She gathers the 3 up, but notes their pulses were steady, only seemingly unconscious; their eyes stayed open, and slowly scanning back and forth.
Setsuko doesn't get any reactions from them, and when she stands back up to have a quick kid run for help, she sees they'd all fallen down, now. So, she quickly runs back for the school to get aid. It's 4:30 in the morning, and Kafka feels awake, so decides to read as they continue their ride. A little later in the morning they get a 20 minute rest stop where a girl sits by him, and asks about why he is going to Takamatsu, and whatnot, she getting to her request to sit next to him so she could sleep the rest of the way on the bus, he agreeing.
When they sit on the bus, she falls asleep quick enough, Kafka getting a glimpse of her bra when she tipped her head on his shoulder in sleep. He gets a boner from thoughts devolving from the glance, then gets paranoid of the possibility she could be his sister, esp after she'd mentioned having a bro she hadn't seen in quite a while. Despite this, he ends up lulling himself to sleep. Doc Nakazawa is next interviewed, since he'd been the 1st called from the school to help, he having acted as school doc at 1 time. A couple cops had arrived by the time he'd gotten there by bicycle, the small group going back into the woods to aid and carry the kids out.
When they reach the kids, some had regained partial consciousness and were rolling oddly, the sight freezing the adults including the doc. He gets to examining the still fully unconscious ones, noting the shifting eyes, and odd nonresponse to light. The doc deduces the possibility of poison gas, and since he isn't a specialist and couldn't contact one, he decides letting the rest of the kids come-to on their own would be best, for now. Fortunately, most of the kids wake up, except for 1 small boy.
All the others walk confusedly back to the school. As for the boy, he is transferred to a city hospital before going into a military one, and no info being gotten after. The doc and teachers are warned to not ever mention the incident again, so all they could do is wonder. Kafka had missed a sight he'd been looking forward to seeing which was the new Inland Sea bridge.
The girl, Sakura wakes him vowing she'd only travel by air from here on, the 2 finally introing themselves, Kafka making his name up. She gives her cell to him so they could hang out at some point, then she catching a cab. Kafka gets some udon before going to his discounted YMCA room for 3 nights. After stuffing himself he decides to kill time at a library.
He decides to hit a famous private turned public library, seeing it in a mag, and wanting to check out some rare books. He's momentarily bothered when seeing kids going on a different train heading for school, but once he's out of town, the country calms him. When he gets to the library, he's given the rules and general info from a chatty assistant in the front, before settling to read The Arabian Nights. Kafka takes his lunch in the veranda, thoroughly charmed by the place, then takes the tour of the house at 2.
He is glad to not be the only 1 there by now, despite having the reading room all to himself. The member of the Komura fam gives the tour, she being so warm he fancies whether she's his ma, but he always wonders this around her 40ish age group. Before leaving when they close, the asst gives him their hours before happily expecting him the next day. He goes back to the city, gets a snack for later, then checks in, calling his pop's home to see if the cell still worked, which it did, then quickly hanging up before attempting sleep.
An old man greets an old, black tom cat, chatting about the weather, explaining how sometimes with the right conditions he is able to talk with cats. Nakata intros himself, and speaks in the 3rd person as he requests to refer to the cat as Otsuka, so he could more easily organize his memories. He continues to explain how dumb he was despite his ability for understanding cats sometimes, he also telling how he survives with a disability check.
Nakata then admits how he made extra income by helping people locate lost cats, showing him his current case. Otsuka doesn't recognize her, and suggests he search outside the city, he thanking him, and offering to pay for nay details he had in the future. Nakata also shares of having an illness for afew weeks at 9, and after had become dumb, Otsuka thinking Nakata seemed smart enough. Otsuka shares of having once met someone like Nakata before, also having a weak shadow.
Otsuka suggests Nakata locate the rest of his shadow instead, since his shadow would most likely prefer being whole again. Nakata agrees to consider this more when he returns home, he parting ways with Otsuka, who takes a short nap before the rain came in the evening. Kafka takes advantage of the comped breakies next morning, a little after 7. Crow reminds him of his tummy shrinking after awhile, since he wouldn't be getting big breakies, anymore.
Kafka next prepares to attempt to get the student discount extended for a full week, he being told he'd get his answer by noon. He next goes to workout at the closest gym, taking a bus, then goes for udon. Then, he goes back to the library to continue reading the Arabian Nights, absorbed by the more violently detailed stories. Kafka receives a call as he's taking lunch, learning the manny had agreed to extend his discount, he thanking the receptionist.
Oshima, the asst takes more interest in Kafka's living situation, and wishes him luck when Kafka states he felt stable where he was staying, so far. 8 days of a steady, idyllic sched. before it gets shattered. Next interviewed, is Prof in Dept of Psych, doc Shigenori Tsukayama, and well-respected in his field. Tsukayama states of being told to evaluate the kids ASAP.
Toyama, the doc who initially examines the kids shares all the details he knows with Tsukayama and his 2 comrades. Toyama goes over how they'd dismissed the idea the cause had come from poison gas, since no lasting affects had manifested in the kids other than their lack of memory of falling unconscious. After interviewing the kids and teacher, they conclude it is closer to being a mass hypnosis. There is also under a handful of similar cases with the exception of this time, 1 boy not regaining wakefulness, so the trio next go to see the boy, Nakata.
They attempt the usual ways to return someone from a hypnotic state, but Nakata wakes up on his own. They soon discover the smart child had lost his memory and the concept of his country or the planet. Kafka wakes in thick foliage in the dark, he able to hear traffic nearby. He doesn't know where he is or if he has his backpack, and once checking his wristwatch, sees he hasn't been out for longer than a few hours.
Kafka doesn't recollect what'd happened after the library and eating, but his shoulder hurt. Nothing's missing from his pockets, and he locates his pack leaning on a tree. Upon making sure everything is accounted for, he realizes he'd been at the back of a Shinto temple. Kafka uses the fairly clean bathroom to evaluate himself, seeing a good amount of blood on his shirt, which he attempts to clean, then sticks in a plastic bag in his pack, he trying to stay calm.
So, now he knew it probably wasn't safe to return to his room, since he didn't know if he'd done something, and the blood wasn't his, so now he had to come up with a safe place to rest for at least the rest of the night. Kaftra tries Sakura, who is rightly annoyed by his late night call, but has him cab to the corner store near her apt. When they walk back to her buddy's place, she has him tell her what he remembers, which he obliges, with the exception of the omen he'd seen. Nakata is struggling to understand a cat who he wishes to get consent to call Kawamura, and had seen the cat he is searching for, Goma.
Nakata is used to these difficult cat chats, so he spends over an hour repeating his q and seeing if he could grasp Kawamura's reply. After continuing to try, he's interrupted by an eloquent and friendly Siamese female. She felt she had to come by to let him know, Kawamura is a simple cat caused by an accident when he was young. Mimi offers to help chat with Kawamura to see if he truly knew anything, Nakata is grateful, and senses the smartness of her.
Mimi chases Kawamura away, then shares of what she'd learned. Eventually, she mentions the possibility of a guy who goes to this deserted lot the strays hung out at could be the reason Goma hadn't been seen there in a few days. Mimi warns Nakata of what the man looked like and to be extra careful for this fool being quite dangerous, cutting cats tails, after all. Nakata appreciates her advice, then goes to the empty lot, and has his lunch, a couple cats hanging about.
It's a peaceful setting, and after finishing lunch, he gets comfy behind a bush and has a nice stakeout. No one bothers him as night fell. Kafka lays out all the truth he's willing to share to Sakura, with the exception of his omen. He shares of how sometimes he'd lose memory when he got mega-angry, but this 1 isn't the same, since he didn't even remember the build up to it.
She tries to help deduces what could've occurred, but figures the best option is to see what the news had in the morning. Kafka also confides of his sis being adopted, Sakura wondering why his ma'd decided to take her and leave Kafka when he was 4. The mystery must wait, so the 2 get ready for sleep, Kafka unrolling his sleeping bag. What transpires next is intriguing, to say the least. Kafka gets invited to Sakura's bed, she handies him, and sends him back to his sleeping bag after mentioning how swell it'd be if she was his sis, her hand still on him. Hahaha!
Kafka gets the best sleep of his life out of it, ofc. When he wakes, she's gone, but leaves a note with open reign to the place, so eats some food and cleans house. Before he leaves, he also writes a note thanking her and whatnot, deciding he'd go to the library and test his luck discovering a new place to stay. A letter from Setsuko, the teacher who had dealt with the Rice Bowl Hill incident, to the Prof who she'd met.
She peppers him with compliments regarding his accomplishments written in the press, and his books. She then tells of where her career had taken her, she having become sick, and opening a new school, since. Next, she admits to how often she thought of the incident, and it affecting her dreams. Then Setsuko confides her reason for getting back in touch is because of her official statement not being the whole truth.
Before the morning she'd taken the kids out, she has a horndawg dream for her hubby who is away at war. By morning, she has to give herself a hand before going to meet the kids, then still feels the reality of the dream as she's hiking. Whilst the kids look for mushrooms, she starts an early period hard, so cleans up with towels far away, and hides them, but not enough, because Nakata walks up with them. Setsuko's PMSing, since her reaction is to smack the shit out of him as the others watch dispassionately.
She confides she isn't in her right mind by this point, and cradles Nakata, who seems in shock, after which the kids begin collapsing. She then asks after Nakata, she detailing how star of a pupil he had been, but didn't have the drive his good work should supply, he also exhibiting signs of phys. abuse, but she not knowing the severity. Which is another reason why she feels such guilt for attacking him on the hill. Kafka is having his lunch at the library when Oshima gives him some more sammies, saying he'd made them for him.
They then chat about the author he's begun reading next, Crow helping Kafka find the words to explain why he liked the story, so far. After, Kafka confesses his need to find a place to stay, and Oshima offers the library, they able to set it up in a few days. Oshima clarifies how Saeki wouldn't oppose if Kafka became Oshima's assistant, but he'd take him to another spot in the meantime, after close. Oshima decides they'd stop for food, since it'd take 2 1/2 hrs to drive there.
Oshima shares having a more forgiving type of Hemophilia. After they eat, and Oshima puts on Schubert, they discuss why he liked his music, Kafka wondering why else Oshima thought of himself as odd. Oshima attempts to warn Kafka what to expect of the paired down dwelling in the mtns. They make 1 more stop where Oshima stocks Kafka up on groceries before completing their journey.
When they arrive, Oshima tells him about the simple necessities, and otherwise would be at Oshima's mercy, when it came to leaving. For the next few days, Nakata continues checking the vacant lot. Nakata goes to update the owner of the progress he'd made in locating where Goma had been last. After, he goes back to the lot, and has a chat with a different cat, before which Kawamura shows up and makes no sense about Kawara.
Okawa warns Nakata of not being able to share anything other than of Nakata needing to stop his search for Goma, and to stop coming to the lot. Nakata still waits and naps after Okawa leaves, he next seeing an uncollared, intimidating looking dog. Somehow, Nakata is hearing the dog order him to get up and follow him. They walk tot a more populated area, and once beyond it, Nakata notices he is in an unfamiliar part of town, but the dog stays silent as he moves along.
Eventually, the dog has them enter a house where a man sits in the dark, and has Nakata sit, as well. Fool allows Nakata label him Gov'r, but notes this isn't officially his title. When the Gov'r turns on a light, Nakata recognizes the man as the cat-catcher, due to his hat. Gov'r expects Nakata to know him, since he is connected to a whiskey company's logo, at least in appearance and by calling himself Johnnie Walker. Johnnie chats cryptically, as Nakata learns the fool knew Goma, and knew where she was, but wants Nakata to do a task for him first, after he'd seen him chat with cats.
In order to go about this, he wishes to attempt a test, signalling the dog to stand. Oshima waves in farewell before driving off, Kafka listening to the woods. He readies for sleep in the cold night, opting to not light the stove for heat. Kafka's starting to become unnerved by his quiet surrounding, feeling like he's being watched, and as he considers drinking water, decides against it with the prospect of having to go pee outside later. Crow gives him shit for being a pussy, and eventually, he eases his own mind and falls asleep.
By morning, everything is fine, and he enjoys a relaxing breakies, and a read outside. He happens to choose the nazi, Eichmann trial, he believing he'd only been doing his job, not thinking of the broadness of his task: killing millions of jews. After reading awhile, he takes a break by exploring the forest by the natural path. He almost feels like he could get lost, but follows the path out, listening to some Cream to calm down.
Later, he works out, gathers wood for the stove, and puts a pot of water to boil. Whilst he lets the pot bubble, he reads more of Eichmann, and ends his night at 10 in much more comfort. The next day, he makes more noticeable marks on the path in the woods, getting further than before, and enjoying a sunny clearing. After he gets back to the cabin, an abrupt, hard rain occurs, Kafka taking advantage of the natural shower by soaping down.
During the night as he listens to music, his player finally runs out of battery during Prince. Nakata is led by the dog to JW's fridge, he being told to open the freezer side, and seeing the heads of cats. After checking for Goma, he walks back with the dog, and shares of not having seen her. JW then confides why he's killing them was to collect their souls...
JW goes on to propose a compromise where if Nakata murders JW, he could take Goma home, he explaining how he couldn't do it himself for breaking the rules, and if Nakata didn't do it, he'd continue to have to kill cats. So, JW demos how 1 could help kill, he pulling out a drugged cat from his case. He prepares to kill him as Nakata watches, explaining he'd kill Goma last so Nakata had time to act. He'd given the poor creatures a drug to keep them still, so they felt everything he did.
Nakata watches as the man slits their tummies open, gets their heart, and eats it, then cuts their heads off. The 3rd cat is Kawamura, Nakata unable to save him in time, and this 1 he hears the scream. Next, out comes Mimi, and this is what gets Nakata to stab JW twice, who responds by laughing, before dying. Nakata doesn't feel right, but gathers the 2 cats as he sits and blacks out. Kafka is much more comfy with the night and darkness.
He also respects and enjoys the forest. Oshima pops back the 4th morning, surprising Kafka by brushing his hair with his hand as he was sunbathing naked. He makes them pancakes and salad before they clean the place, and walk back to his car. As they're driving back, Oshima reveals Kafka had been accepted and would live at the library. Kafka is in disbelief and grateful as Oshima shares of Saeki knowing his ma, since they were young, she having a sweetheart who goes to Tokyo for college.
Saeki stays in town, but then follows a year or so later when becoming noticed and being requested to record her song, the title of this, here. It becomes a hit, and not long after, her boyfriend is accidentally killed by some dumb college kids, who take their interrogation too far. Saeki doesn't sing again, and doesn't go to his funeral. Kafka learns he'll be living in his old room, and Oshima was intro'd by his ma to Saeki.
He gets offered a job at the library since Saeki and he bond. Oshima hints at how Saeki had buffered herself from the time of the current world, and Kafka should overlook her infrequent odd behavior. Nakata wakes back in the empty lot, Goma and Mimi meowing at him. He can't understand them for some reason, and doesn't know how he could've gotten there.
He also sees neither he nor Mimi had blood on them. Nakata decides to take Goma home immediately, despite the late 10 o'clock hr, Mimi opting to walk herself home. Nakata is greeted warmly and given leftovers with his payment, then stops at a police box to turn himself in for murder. The officer is all ready to take his statement until he's told Nakata can't write, so doesn't know how to spell his name, so tells him to go home, and come back in if he recollects more info.
Nakata doesn't listen to the twat who only wishes to finish his shift and get to the bar to meet a cop buddy, so tells his crazy tale, as the cop pretends to write it all down. After, Nakata advises the cop bring an umbrella next day for a fish rain. The cop is purely shocked when it does happen over a section of the city. It's baffling to everyone, since no one could explain how they'd fallen there, no planes or fish boats missing any loads.
The cop keeps Nakata's story to himself, since he can get in trouble for not having actually made a report, but instead, he busies himself with the clean up. This doesn't make the murder vanish though, the cop even more screwed, since they'd discovered a famed sculptor's body stabbed, and Nakata is out of town, now so the cop simply ignores his role and facts. The library is closed Mondays and gives the feeling of time having forgotten the place as Oshima gives Kafka the details on his room, then leaves him to settle in. There's a painting in his room of a boy lounging on the beach with a black german shepherd.
Next morning Kafka gets the rundown of his duties. When they check in 2 ladies looking serious and taking notes, but not reading, Oshi and Kafka are suspicious. When Oshima take lunch, 1 of the ladies asks Kafka to get a supe, so fetches Osh, and the 2 listen as the lady tells of surveying cultural facilities and regards whether they were fem-friendly, she starting with how the library only had a uni-sex toilet. When Osh breaks the lady's logic, she moves on to how the books had been catalogued with male authors coming before female, and were separately organized, the latter half they not taking issue with, though.
What finally breaks the ladies argument, is learning Osh is actually female, and is gay for the men. Osh respectfully goes back to his lunch, and the ladies decide to leave a bit later. Kafka chats a bit more with Osh and he tells of his 1 intolerance being for the "hollow" people, who don't learn enough about their beliefs and can't admit their mistakes. Nakata catches a ride from a long truck, and gets dropped at a rest stop.
After having a meal, no other driver would agree to drive him west. He gets to a train station, but asks for help outside in a park, 2 ladies helping him figure out an alternate way to continue on. They set him up with a coworker heading in the same direction, and gives him a lunch, he thanking the 2. The young man chats his ear off out of necessity, and Nakata reaches his next stop.
He gets a ride from a trucker of a frozen fish truck. Hagita chats philosophically and widens Nakata's p.o.v. on connections around him, and how this can include many things being under the same category, yet not having a direct similarity. Nakata opens the topic to how he understands cats, and Hagita considers it possible for Nakata. Hagita treats him to some eel before moving on, and Nakata again doesn't find an immediate taker for his next ride, so waits patiently, wandering into the parking lot, and walking up on a group of similarly dressed and styled men, beating up 1 of their own.
Nakata advises they should be careful, since the guy is bleeding, and could die, the main 1 with a chain threatening to kill Nakata too, if he doesn't leave. Nakta opens his umbrella away from the men, they mocking him til it starts raining leeches, and sticking to them. Nakata goes back into the cafe to get someone to call an ambulance for the one guy. Soon after, Nakata finds someone willing to drive him further.
The young man chats of making their destination by morning, and how unnatural it was for leeches to fall from the sky, and more likely they'd from somewhere. This leads into Nakata telling of where he'd been as a child in the war time. An article states of the sculptor Koichi Tamura being stabbed, and no witnesses coming forward. Kafka reads the news on his pop, and Oshi knows he should've shown him the day before, but wanted Kafka to settle in first, he suggesting Kafka get in touch with the cops, but he thinking how the blood on his shirt added to the time frame, and didn't want them to take him to Tokyo.
Oshi assures Kafka could stay hidden for awhile if he stays off reception, and at worst, the cabin. Kafka acknowledges Oshi was saving his ass, he next being shown an article from the day before the murder regarding the raining sardines. Oshi then mentions the report of leeches also raining in a certain area. Kafka then confides a prophesied curse his pop used to tell him of he killing his pop and being with his ma and sis.
Oshi offers to spend the night, but Kafka wants to be alone with his thoughts, so Oshi leaving his number, just in case. Kafka then sees an apparition during the night. Nakata and the young driver nap before breakies, Nakata sharing of having to travel over a bridge, next and when they're done, Nakata waits at a rest area whilst Honishi made his deliveries. Nakata doesn't mind sitting just able to see the ocean.
After being returned to his parents as a broken child, they send him to his g/parents and almost becomes a farmer, if not from physical bullying, so he spends more time at home helping his g/parents. He also realizes he could understand cats during this time, and the cats being the source for most of his knowledge, now. When Nakata is 15 he learns woodworking to make furniture, and had a talent for it, completing his apprenticeship and working at the shop. He works there til being let go due to the owner dying, and his son selling the property and business.
On top of this, his cousin had been handling his accounts, but had gotten in trouble with yakuza after a bad investment, leaving Nakata, and other fam hard up, he running off with his fam and not being heard from again. Nakata's 1st youngest bro helps him out by giving him an apt in the building he'd inherited, and helped set up his subsidy. From then on he'd had a decent life til Johnnie Walker had showed. Hoshino gets back a bit late, and apologizes, but offers to join Nakata across the bridge to Shikoku, which he gladly agrees. Kafka wakes to see a beautiful teenage ghost girl sitting at the desk, barely moving and seeming to be recollecting a happy memory.
She walks out the door and doesn't return, Kafka sitting down at the desk. After awhile, he returns to bed, but sleeps only a bit more. Later on after opening and making coffee, Oshi and Kafka go in search of a working record player to play Saeki's single. Oshi borrows the record from his ma, and Kafka confirms the teen he'd seen is Saeki.
Kafka believes it's quite possible for Saeki to be real time and also a ghost, he asking Oshi's opinion after close. He likens the idea to the living ghosts mentioned in The Tale of Genji. Kafka learns Oshi hasn't heard of a type of living spirit made from feelings of love, but would have to research further. Later, Kafka listens to the record, the song not being your typical pop single.
After giving it a few listens, he understood why it had become popular, he also discovering correlations of certain events in the lyrics, but sets it aside to read before bed, then waits for teen Saeki to return. Mrowr! Nakata and Hoshi make it to Shikoku by early evening, and Nakata doesn't know where he is to go next, but is dead sleep, so Hoshi finds them a cheap room, and whilst Nakata passes out, Hoshi gets food. When he settles to sleep, he wonders more about Nakata, and wanting to see where he'd go. Hoshi's g/pa had died before he could thank him for all the time's he'd bailed him out, at the time not knowing how, and at the end, gramps being too senile.
Meanwhile, Nakata sleeps for more than 24 hours, ending at 34, and wakes the next morning, catching up on breakies before they head west. Nakata helps Hoshi realign his back, which hurt beyond anything he'd felt before, but as predicted felt massively better. After udon, Nakata reveals he must locate the entrance stone, where it was. Kafka misses seeing young Saeki enter, but by 3am, she's seated at the desk, and his curtains are open.
When she leaves about 20 mins later, he understands how he's jealous of Saeki's dead lover, and he doesn't want to escape his predicament. Kafka opens mostly on his own today, Oshi impressed by his thorough task handling, the 2 after chatting of where Saeki had possibly rechanneled her talent for poetry. Kafka then confides his feelings and qs regarding Saeki, Oshi pondering as well as confirming he'd search for the song's sheet music. Later, Oshi has Kafka make another cup of coffee for Saeki, he being asked to stay and chat.
Before their chat ends, she tells having written a book of people's experiences with lightning. After close, Kafka attempts playing the song on the piano, then listens to the album, as he remembers how his pop had been hit by lightning way back when, and wonders if Saeki had interviewed him, as well. Nakata and Hoshi go about getting a room the same way as before, and as Nakata checks Hoshi's back again, he likens his coma to having died, and returned. Hoshi moves on to the idea of asking around for where this entrance stone could be, Nakata agreeing.
Hoshi is able to deduce the size, color, and no one but maybe Nakata could move it. In the morning, they ask the tourist info desk about the stone, but she doesn't know, and offers they go to a library. They check, but discover nothing, so leave it for the night, and when Hoshi goes for a walk later, he's in an alley when someone calls his name. Hoshi next meets Col. Sanders telling of a time warp and trying to sell him chicks.
Hoshi gets drawn in by the col's odd chatter when claiming to know where the entrance stone is, so follows him, agreeing to pay him for a girl if he tells him about the stone. Kafka is able this time to stay up to be sure what time young Saeki arrives, he not actually registering her entrance, though. He says her name this time, and it seems she registers his presence, but he can't be certain, he missing seeing her exit, as well. Osh comes up to Kafka's room and confides of just having been q'd by a cop regarding his whereabouts, and lying, says he hadn't returned since the night of the murder.
Osh believes they don't suspect Kafka, but only hoped for more info, since nothing had come up from their investigation. When Kafka speaks with Saeki again, he asks whether she has kids, which she admits to being unable to answer either to the affirmative or not, Kafka leaves her alone, and wonders if he is in love with the young as well as the current Saeki. Hoshi is soon struggling to keep up with the side street-taking Col. Sanders, they finally reaching a shrine where he calls for the girl, Sanders agreeing to chat after Hoshi'd gotten off. He does, a few times, even then learns the stone is in the forest of the shrine, Hoshi finding it hard to believe at first.
Kafka decides to call Sakura, she being quite worried since he'd disappeared. When Sakura states she'd let him stay over again, he's touched to learn she sees him as a bro. Later on he wakes at the right hr to see young Saeki, but then realizes it's current Saeki, something happening with time. Kafka feels Saeki must be sleepwalking, and whilst he knows he must wake her when she grabs his cock, already getting nekkid after all, he can't bring himself to say anything, he coming, she dressing and tousling his hair before leaving, he not hearing her car.
Col. Sanders leads Hoshi through the forest, answering Hoshi regarding his true self not having a name, but being neither man nor god, and doesn't care of the rules of morality. Sanders gives the impression of being a supervisor of time flow, and requests Hoshi to help him with a matter which required a physical bod, he leading him to a shrine, and announcing the stone is inside. All Hoshi has to do is open the door, and take it, he at 1st worrying about angering god, til Sanders rationalizes why to ignore the paranoia. Hoshi does, and agrees to take it back to his room, as needed.
After walking back and hailing a cab, Sanders makes sure Hoshi is satisfied with his pimping services, then Hoshi stuck the stone on Nakata's pillow before falling asleep, Nakata waking to see it there. Kafka takes coffee to a distracted Saeki after noon, she again motioning he sit for a chat. Kafka confides a theory regarding his pop yearning to die after Saeki notes the boredom 1 feels toward their hometown, but being able to control where 1 died, to some degree. Kafka explains his theory regarding his pop's dying because he couldn't be with Saeki, if she is his ma, she considering all of his speculations which include his confession of love for her 15 yr old self, and asking to fuck her. In the evening, Saeki returns, walks with Kafka to the shore where the painting is done, then goes back to his room, fucks him, and cries before leaving.
Nakata accepts the stone's presence, and attempts to figure his next move, Hoshi waking later in the morning and the 2 getting breakies. After, the 2 stay inside, since Nakata expected thunder, getting lunch from a mini mart. Nakata chats of how he felt empty like a library which used to carry books, and now he wished to feel normal again, which meant he wanted to regain his full shadow. He goes on to explain how vulnerable he is by being empty, Johnnie Walker able to use him.
So, the next step may be dangerous, but Hoshi agrees to see it through with him. Nakata requests Hoshi turn over the stone, it having gotten heavier, but with much effort, does it, the entrance opening. Next morning Kafka does his opener chores, then when Oshima comes in, goes to the gym to avoid Saeki coming in. When he returns Oshima advises Kafa be careful of living without a fence, since one risks being pushed into the wild.
He goes to bring Saeki her coffee, and they chat. He reveals the info of Kafka meaning Crow, who he feels he is, the 2 fucking later, and exploring each other's bodies, this time til morning. Nakata looks older as the storm passes, deciding to sleep it off, whilst Hoshi fills his time with tv, movie, and buying undies, then discovers a dead cafe which serves wonderful coffee, and plays classical. He enjoys it so much, he returns the next day after a double feature to learn more of the owner's music history knowledge.
Hoshi also concludes he doesn't care about his job enough to stop following Nakata and ruining his back, so would hang the job. Meanwhile, Kafka gets a call from Oshima to be ready to leave in a bit, getting the story as they drive of Osh getting more qs from the cops and how Nakata ties in, both he and Kafka going from and to the same cities near the same time. Also, Osh guesses Kafka'd begun fucking Saeki, and he senses she is going to die soon, not saying he knew whatever it was, but sensing she needed to discover her thoughts on her own, without a Kafka distraction. Nakata's still asleep as Hoshi calculates they'd been traveling 1 day shy of a wk.
He then picks up a call at 5am from Col. Sanders, telling him to chill about returning the stone for now, he then having Hoshig et the stone, Nakata, call a cab, and stay at the addy given, it being his place. Hoshi is able to rouse Nakata after a bit of messing about with his face, they leave, and eat as soon as they arrive at the apt. After, Nakata details what he'd done, then they decide to take a walk to the beach. After sitting Nakata clarifies there need of a vehicle, but not knowing where they were going, yet.
Hoshi is willing to handle acquiring the rental, though, despite being worried about the open ended mission. Kafka and Oshima stock up on provisions again, and grab food before hitting the cabin, Osh taking a nap before heading back. Kafka reads about Napoleon for the couple hrs Osh is out, and when he wakes, Kafka chats of his confusion of loving Saeki. After, Osh warns again of the woods and how during his great-gramps days, 2 soldiers had gone missing during training in this mtn.
Kafka is woken by a knock he can't ID, so he reads, then thinks of Saeki before sleep. Hoshi gets the car, and when he gets back, Nakata'd made a variety of dishes. He then tells of tmw morning being the day they'd go somewhere, Nakata figuring out the location in the car. They start at 8:30am, Nakata deciding to have Hoshi wander about the city til something called out to him.
Hoshi marks off where they'd been on a paper map, Nakata deciding they'd continue the next day. He makes clear, he'd continue til it was found, even outside the city. The next day they go the whole day again not finding it, and when Hoshi misses their turn off, Nakata finds the spot, Komura Library. Kafka's settled back in the cabin, and after the 2nd day, decides to track further into the woods.
He doesn't go far, and nearly loses his way, but makes it back to the clearing. At night, he hopes, but doesn't see Saeki, and he sleeps with the hardest boner of his life, dreaming of Sakura in a realistic dream. He revs up to fuck her, when she wakes, telling him there is time to make it right, and back that cock out before slamming it home, and making it for real fucking. Kafka does not want this, and so she stating from this point on, it's rape.
Crow takes over the viewpoint, as Kafka ignores her words, despite knowing this could affect them ever seeing each other again in real life. She also clarifies he'd already slept with ma, and even if they weren't related, he was now fucking his sis. Hoshi and Nakata learn the library's hrs, and Nakata wishes to look inside when they're open the next day, Hoshi only glad their search is over. Next morning they walk to the library, and Oshi greets them, noting what an odd pair they made.
They read til the tour, take it, and Hoshi notices Saeki seems absent if not polite. After, Nakata goes upstairs tailed by Hoshi and Oshi, he going to Saeki and asking of the entrance stone. Oshi leads Hoshi out as Saeki requests to chat with Nakata alone. Kafka prepares properly this time for a jaunt in the forest, going beyond the small clearing again, and spray painting marks on trees for reference, the need to know where the overgrown path led taking over his reason. Crow invades his thoughts temporarily to say he'd tried warning him about violating Sakura in his dream, advising Kafka had to face his sensitive emotions to truly be strong.
Kafka makes a decision and drops all his gear, but the hunting knife, going further into the woods, feeling like 1 of the hollow men. Saeki and Nakata begin chatting like they'd been planning to get together and talk 1 day, Nakata hoping he hadn't made her wait long, and she denying it was an issue. She admits to knowing about the stone, and Nakata confesses of opening it again, taking the place of Kafka and killing Johnnie Walker, Saeki not being able to remain there, same as him, for much longer. Saeki has 1 favor to ask of Nakata, it being to burn the memoir she wrote, not wanting anyone to read it, and writing it merely to make sense of the sequence of events of her life.
Nakata agrees and goes back downstairs to share with Hoshi of their new mission. Hoshi decides they required a dry riverbed to oblige the task, so leave to search. Oshi is getting busy with guests when he goes upstairs and discovers Saeki has died, he truly affected as he calls an ambulance and thinks of having to confess this news to Kafka if he didn't already sense it. Kafka notes the repetition style of bushes and branches he passes, and calmly walks deeper with a gentle incline, the further he walks, the more he's figured how the forest is like himself, he only needed to face his fears within him to learn how to stay on the path in the wood. Kafka's thoughts turn to his main quandary, why his ma'd left him, making him feel unlovable.
Kafka releases his mind, and becomes a crow, sitting above a 4 yr old boy. Crow starts waxing philosophical about the reasons his ma could've had for leaving him, and he had a great chance at recovery for being young. Crow also can only provide of Saeki being his ma being a working theory, per her words. Kafka becomes confused as he's attempting to forgive his ma, wondering what is the point of loving if it means one hurts them as much as love, Crow leaving him without an answer.
Shortly after the 2 soldiers turn up, they greet Kafka, and relate they were waiting some time for him. They had discovered the clearing way back when, and decided to remain there, knowing all which occured in the woods, now. The 2 state of guarding the entrance and would lead him if he wished, since it doesn't often open. The 2 men chat of their rifles being their "sign", Kafka admitting he doesn't have 1...
He does have a knife he's apparently forgotten, though. Despite this, they continue forward, Kafka agreeing to go inside to see whoever he had in mind, even knowing the difficulty in returning to his world. Hoshi and Nakata go to an empty riverbed near a hwy, and burn the papers, the only task left being to shut the entrance. Before this can be done though, Nakata needs to sleep, Hoshi wanting to know why they couldn't shut the entrance now, but it wasn't the right time for it.
They catch a cab, and Hoshi is grateful and annoyed with the opportunity Nakata had given him by allowing he tag along. Nakata also thanks Hoshi for joining him, since it'd made it much easier to follow the instructions he'd been hearing. Hoshi carries him inside when they arrive, and by next morning, Nakata is dead. Hoshi considers what he should do about Nakata's bod, and when to turn the stone, deciding to call the cops from a payphone before spilling town, he also noting the entrance stone currently weighed the amount of a normal stone.
In the meantime, Hoshi waits at the apt thinking Col. Sanders may call, which he doesn't and Hoshi breaking down for the 1st time in an unknown length of time. Kafka is barely keeping up with the soldiers quick pace, but they slow down slightly when they see him struggling to keep up. The soldier makes an ambiguous statement of they being so deep in the wood, no one, including Kafka himself, could hurt him. They reach the entrance, and they travel into a valley with a small group of basic-weather-brunting homes.
They reach 1 which looks like Oshi's cabin, the soldiers stating he'd be waiting there to settle in, and someone'd come make dinner for him later. They also are able to barter for items they don't have, like coffee, at a normal-world town, sort of nearby, but whilst Kafka waited, he raided the fridge which had basic necessities, and he'd most likely be meeting the person he was looking for soon. As he waits, he has a little snack, and watches the Sound of Music for a short while, then drinks some fresh milk before passing out. When he wakes, kitchen noises can be heard, it taking some time for Kafka to work the energy to rise and meet the young girl pottering to make his meal.
When she turns around, he recognizes young, and now real, Saeki as she fixes the dinner table and confirms she'd be playing maid for him. Kafka asks some qs which reveal Saeki doesn't have a name, and doesn't remember the library, but in this place there was 1 far off, but it not having books. Hoshi sets the AC to low for Nakata's bod, and spends the night in the same room, not calming much, so he starts petitioning the stone for answers, but no reply being received. He sleeps in the living room, and by morning, after checking on stiff Nakata, decides to waste some time chatting to the stone of the 6 girls he could remember the name of he'd fucked.
For lack of better topic, he recognizes how he'd been an egocentric schmuck to all the nice girls he gave the wrong impression to, and is impressed they'd put up with his trifling ass. As he's listening to Beethoven, he sees a black cat outside his window, so he opens it to greet him, and the cat replies, which Hoshi reacts to with Charlie Brown style = Oh, brother. Crow is flying in big circles attempting to find someone, and discovering a man in a clearing after a bit, he wearing a silk hat, and spotting Crow when he lands. The man states he knew what his purpose is, but he couldn't pass up due to current events, so definitely planned to continue.
The man explains he is in limbo, so Crow can't hurt him, but was welcome to try. Upon the invite, Crow pecks the shit out of his face and the top of his head, eventually taking out his tongue, the man still silently laughing. Kafka asks Saeki when she returns about the habits of people there, she saying they become 1 with things more easily, like the forest, and each other, she also revealing most people could go the day without eating. Before leaving, she tells of not having longer than 2 days worth of memory, and the library stores memories.
Next day at noon, the adult Saeki visits Kafka, he inviting her in for tea as she explains before she forgets, having burnt her memories, but also has him promise to return to the real world before the entrance shuts. He doesn't see why, she explaining she wished him to remember her, also telling of having left Kafka on the Shore for him, since it is originally his. Kafka finally remembers when it'd been done, and loving Saeki as much has she loved him. It's then confirmed, and Kafka accepts and forgives his ma for leaving him. When she leaves for good, he having sucked her blood when she pierces her arm, he sets out to return to the 2 soldiers, who are waiting to escort him back.
Kafka nearly gets stuck when he turns to look back at the idyllic little town, and also wanting to see the girl Saeki once more, but the blood he drank breaks the spell of being frozen, and they all go forward. After reaching the exit, the soldiers reiterate the importance of not looking back this time, Kafka promising, and saying goodbye. He locates his pack and dropped items, then gets back without difficulty, laying down for exhaustion. Hoshi learns from Toro the cat of their understanding each other being due to currently at the world border, he also mentioning Hoshi's fame.
Toro then reveals Hoshi had to kill a shapeshifter, which at some time today, would show itself to Hoshi, and he needing to kill it. So, Hoshi gathers kitchen accoutrement for a variety of pokey weapons, some rope, and a flashlight. He takes a nap, eat a meal, and waits til after 12am to see the creature. 3am, he hears a noise in Nakata's room, he seeing a large slimy creature coming out his mouth.
Hoshi thinks this has to be the creature, but not getting any results from stabbing or cutting it, the creature molding itself to normal as it continues to exit Nakata's mouth. When it is fully out, it looks like a large salamander with no face or nose/eye impressions, Hoshi now trying to turn the stone before the creature got near it. He does it with severe effort, and trashes the creature after cutting it to pieces, planning on burning it before going home. Hoshi shares parting words with Nakata's bod, and leaves with his stuff, and trash. Kafka meets Oshi's bro, Sada when he drives up with news of taking him back per the call he'd gotten.
When they're on their way Sada asks if Kafka had seen the soldiers after he admits to going into the woods, which he confirms, and Sada responding neither of them should speak of it for not having the right words to explain it, he not even saying anything to Oshi. Most of the ride is silent which Kafka appreciates, and Sada offers he stay sometime and learn to surf before dropping him off. When he gets in, Oshi breaks the news of Saeki quickly, and learns Kafka's new plans to go to Tokyo, deal with the cops, finish jr high, and then figure where to go from there, Oshi accepting him back if he should choose to return, upon his asking. Next he calls Sakura to update her of his plans, the 2 agreeing to hang in Tokyo when she returns in the summer, he then catching a train.
He worries about whether his actions had been correct, Crow confirming they were, and he should sleep since when he woke he'd be in a new world, which Kafka sees is true. More than decent, definitely the best of the 3 I've read, it taking some of the similar mythos in 1Q84, and has a more satisfying tone. Overall, definitely worth the read, maybe even let it be the intro book to Murakami's other works.
