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Cover of Kafka on the Shore by Haruki MurakamiKafka on the Shore
Modern · Fiction, Literary Fiction, Magical Realism

Kafka on the Shore

by Haruki Murakami
2002 · 467 pages · Fiction
66.3Must-Read
Score Modern
Lifetime bestseller
≈ 12 hours to read · about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day

What it's about

Teenage Kafka Tamura runs away from home, either to escape a gruesome prophecy or to search for his long-missing mother and sister. Nakata, an aging man who never recovered from a wartime affliction, is drawn toward him for reasons he can't fathom. Their stories slowly converge.

Why it's worth reading

It's one of Haruki Murakami's most beloved novels, a dreamlike mix of mystery, myth and coming-of-age.

You'll love it if you liked

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Good to know

It's surreal and many mysteries go unexplained. It has some disturbing scenes.

By the numbers

66.3Must-Read Score
  • Readers55 out of 100 · counts 42%
  • Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
  • Bestseller37 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
  • Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%

Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.

Where it ranks

Reads as

Moving, Adventurous

How we rank

Already read it? Upload your Goodreads or StoryGraph history and get the 50 best books you haven't read, tuned to your taste.Get my 50

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Explore the best-of lists

All 36 best-of lists →
Fantasy booksTop 25 · 459 rankedLiterary novelsTop 25 · 309 rankedModern booksTop 25 · 1,573 rankedBooks of the 2000sTop 25 · 490 rankedMysteries and thrillersTop 25 · 555 rankedMemoirs and biographiesTop 25 · 290 rankedScience fiction booksTop 25 · 313 rankedRomancesTop 25 · 233 ranked

Quick answers

Is Kafka on the Shore worth reading?

Yes. It's one of Haruki Murakami's most beloved novels, a dreamlike mix of mystery, myth and coming-of-age. It ranks #1,730 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 66.3 (the best book we found scores 99).

What is Kafka on the Shore about?

Teenage Kafka Tamura runs away from home, either to escape a gruesome prophecy or to search for his long-missing mother and sister. Nakata, an aging man who never recovered from a wartime affliction, is drawn toward him for reasons he can't fathom. Their stories slowly converge.

How long does it take to read Kafka on the Shore?

About 12 hours (467 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.

What should I read after Kafka on the Shore?

If you liked it, try The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami, 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami or Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami.