Kafka on the Shore
by Haruki Murakami, Philip Gabriel
Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami, Philip Gabriel holds a highly rated rating of 4.13 out of 5, based on 167.6K reader ratings. First published in 2002. The book spans 467 pages.
About Kafka on the Shore
Kafka on the Shore, a tour de force of metaphysical reality, is powered by two remarkable characters: a teenage boy, Kafka Tamura, who runs away from home either to escape a gruesome oedipal prophecy or to search for his long-missing mother and sister; and an aging simpleton called Nakata, who never recovered from a wartime affliction and now is drawn toward Kafka for reasons that, like the most basic activities of daily life, he cannot fathom. Their odyssey, as mysterious to them as it is to us, is enriched throughout by vivid accomplices and mesmerizing events. Cats and people carry on conversations, a ghostlike pimp employs a Hegel-quoting prostitute, a forest harbors soldiers apparently unaged since World War II, and rainstorms of fish (and worse) fall from the sky. There is a brutal murder, with the identity of both victim and perpetrator a riddle—yet this, along with everything else, is eventually answered, just as the entwined destinies of Kafka and Nakata are gradually revealed, with one escaping his fate entirely and the other given a fresh start on his own.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Author | Haruki Murakami, Philip Gabriel |
| Published | 2002 |
| Pages | 467 |
| Genres | Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction |
| Average Rating | 4.13 / 5.00 |
| Total Ratings | 167,593 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What genre is Kafka on the Shore?
Kafka on the Shore is categorized as Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction. Its primary genre classification is Fantasy.
Is Kafka on the Shore worth reading?
Based on 167.6K reader ratings, Kafka on the Shore has an average score of 4.13 out of 5.00, which is considered "Highly Rated." Its large number of reviews suggests broad reader appeal.
How many pages is Kafka on the Shore?
Kafka on the Shore has 467 pages.
Who wrote Kafka on the Shore?
Kafka on the Shore was written by Haruki Murakami, Philip Gabriel. It was first published in 2002.
What is the ISBN for Kafka on the Shore?
The ISBN-13 for Kafka on the Shore is 9781400079280.0.
Data sourced from community book ratings and reviews. Last updated: April 15, 2026
