Haruki Murakami fans discussion
Kafka on the shore OR wild sheep chase
date
newest »
newest »
message 1:
by
Jason
(new)
Jan 18, 2013 09:29AM
I have asked this before, but only got a cluster of various responses, some even suggesting that i go with short stories first. I have read wind up bird chronicle, and my next read (after the one im currently on) will be a Murakami. So which should I choose. I actually heard that Sheep Chase is more complicated, more surreal, and less grounded compared to Kafka. Thoughts? ideas?
reply
|
flag
Thanks. It seems to be the way people think about it. I won't probably get to the earlier sheep novels. So ill read it on its lonesome
oh, and would you think that i would 'get' wild sheep if i didnt read the first?
Jason wrote: "oh, and would you think that i would 'get' wild sheep if i didnt read the first?"yes, you don't need to read the other two first. i didn't read the other ones until long after the first time i read wild sheep chase. in fact i didn't really start seeking them out until i had read everything else murakami had published. the first two are older and some of his first works and, as i understand it, were only published in english for a limited time in japan. i believe the english versions are both now out of print.
if you are looking for something more surreal, give hardboiled wonderland & the end of the world a try... it's one of my favorites.
The dual nature of broiled seems to be one I want to wait for. I want to ease into that one. It may be one I struggle with, but probably not. When any book rotates between characters it either falls flat or is superb. I think I'll go with kafka first. It tends to get the most overall high reviews and generally seems to appeal to more people over wild sheep.
kafka & wind-up are definitely the best intro books i think there are for murakami & his style. while they still certainly have surreal and/or dream-like qualities in/to them, they are the most "reader friendly"... hope you get to wild sheep & hard-boiled wonderland too, they're really great. anyways, enjoy!
Thanks for the advice. I needed someone with experience in his writing to give me the heads up. Kafka seems to also share any of the same things as wind up.
You definitely don't need to read the first two in order to understand 'A Wild Sheep Chase' or 'Dance Dance Dance'. 'A Wild Sheep Chase' is by far my favourite Murakami
i think ill get into kafka first, then slide right into wild sheep.. (MAYBE take a pause with his short stories.. or someones short stories) then do wild sheep.
i'd go with kafka as well! it was my first murakami read and after that every other book by him followed as well! :D
Kafka on the shore and After dark are my favorite books by Murakami, they're more soft, more poetic but they also have the same power as other his works.
seriously i have heard tons of good things of After Dark; all of the sudden! It's a lot different than his other books, right?
Is Kafka really different in prose,stylistically, setting (well duh) etc than Wind-up? (if you read it?!... which you should.)
I read almost all his books and I began with Dance Dance Dance and after it A Wild Sheep Chase and only then I found Wind - up. All his books are particular but after you try these strong, Kafka on the shore and After dark are more tender.
I like how you categorize it as more tender. Ill try off Kafka on the shore next... i just have one more bipolar memoir (unquiet mind) to get into.
I find After dark creepy but since it's a shorter novel that the others, it was an easy read. Kafka more YA-ish because of the lead character being a teenager and that his thoughts are rebellious in nature
Ranee wrote: "I find After dark creepy but since it's a shorter novel that the others, it was an easy read. Kafka more YA-ish because of the lead character being a teenager and that his thoughts are rebellious ..."interesting! thanks for the input. After Dark keeps coming back. I heard that it's totally unlike his other novels in style and prose. do you agree?
as for kafka being YA. is that more in terms of style and prose, or just in terms of theme? just curious if its too simplistic for an adult.
well, nothing is really too simplistic with Murakami. Kafka as a character is YA but as to how it is written,the style and prose is closer to Wind Up.After dark is literally about Tokyo at night time. So it tackles things that come alive or are obvious at night,like bars, 24 hr diners, and it includes dark alleys. It's not totally unlike his other novels but definitely different in approach. You would still find the distinct prose that made us like Murakami.
Ranee wrote: "well, nothing is really too simplistic with Murakami. Kafka as a character is YA but as to how it is written,the style and prose is closer to Wind Up.After dark is literally about Tokyo at night..."
i have both, but i think i wanna stick with the wind up sorta prose/approach and then, when im feeling a bit more elevated go into after dark. its def on my radar because people like you are popping up and recommending it SO OFTEN. i was going to go from unquiet mind (great little autobio) into Snow Child... but i think ill end up doing kafka... my fear is i took like 3 months off from reading after mind up. nothing else measured up to it and it, it does make my life feel unsettled. i still notice things that are really different. my world view has drastically shifted. OH and I really dont want to run out of books by him... i dont know what i will do. He needs to publish more.
I know the feeling, i bet all of us do.
As long as it is Murakami, you can't go wrong. "Wind Up" is my personal favorite. It was my first of his novels, and started my addiction. Both Sheep and Kafka will not disappoint. This is one of life's rare "win-wins." Enjoy!
It's Kafka on the Shore for me. Though both are really good. But for me it's KOTS and TWUBC, then the rest of his work with 1Q84 at the bottom.
Sharon wrote: "As long as it is Murakami, you can't go wrong. "Wind Up" is my personal favorite. It was my first of his novels, and started my addiction. Both Sheep and Kafka will not disappoint. This is one ..."ha i love the win win comment. so true. kafka is my next one i think.... wind up was my first one too. as long as i wont be disappointed im game for kafka next..
Mohammed wrote: "It's Kafka on the Shore for me. Though both are really good. But for me it's KOTS and TWUBC, then the rest of his work with 1Q84 at the bottom."yah i own iq84 but i may recycle it for xmass. its too long.. to much of a fake effort to fit into some sort of trendy lit crowd.
I would definitely recommend Kafka On The Shore over A Wild Sheep Chase. I personally found AWSC to be a bit of a struggle to get through. KOTS is my personal favorite Murakami and it's what got me really hooked to his writing. The dual narrative was confusing at first, but as I progressed into the novel I just couldn't stop reading. I can't say the same for AWSC.
