Kafka on the shore by Haruki Murakami reviewed

Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Just returned last night from a fabulous journey through relationships, lives, timeless love and concepts, all woven beautifully into a surreal tale, giving flight to the readers’ imagination, by Haruki Murakami in his book ‘Kafka on the shore’.
It is awe inspiring fiction at a different level. Had never read him before and had only heard what a great writer he is. Now am part of his fan club! I only hope the next book I read written by him does not disappoint.

In Kafka on the shore, he deals with filial and sibling love, self realisation and delves into time and space dimensions to make it surreal.

He also touches briefly on the horrors of war and the justifications of draft evaders.

I like the way he has shown how literates and illiterates cope with life situations using the knowledge gained from books and or life experiences.

I will leave you with a few quotes that I loved from the book.

“…most of the books have the smell of an earlier time leaking out from between their pages – a special odour of the knowledge and emotions that for ages have been calmly resting between the covers.”

“As if it was lying in wait for me, silence wraps itself around me tightly once I’m alone.”

Here I would like to commend Philip Gabriel who has translated the novel into English from Japanese without losing out on the delicate nuances of the original.

“Unsure of where they’re heading, my words are sucked into the void.”

“…asking questions is embarrassing for a moment, but not asking’s embarrassing for a lifetime.”
“Having an object that symbolises freedom might make a person happier than actually getting the freedom it represents.”

“How you live determines how you die”

The pace of the narrative varies but never to an extent that you would want to stop reading. It is a thriller but at a different level and even the ending or climax is gentle, no screaming, just pure thrill.

Read the book to know what I mean. 🌝


View all my reviews

Book review - Thar Express

‘Thar Express’ the debut novel by Nagendra Murti is a beautifully woven tale that keeps you on the edge of your seat all throughout. The twists and turns in the well thought out and well researched plot make it a ‘can’t put the book down’ thriller.

Thanks to Blogadda I got to read this book for a review else am sure would have missed it as unfortunately there is hardly any buzz about it. It is published as an eBook and there is no paperback version, probably the reason why there are no ‘book signing launches in book stores and hence a lack of publicity.

But guys, it is one hell of a thriller and keeps you on the move all throughout the country from Kashmir to Tamil Nadu, literally, as the protagonist who has lost his memory, is on the run to find his lost identity. And since he is found in a state of amnesia in Kashmir, close to the Indo-Pak border, the Indian Army is very suspicious of his antecedents and will do anything to get hold of him. This also brings to fore the rivalry among the Army, the local State Police and the Anti Terrorism squads.

What I particularly liked was Nagendra Murti’s style of writing and his ensuring that just enough detailing of the plot is given without getting into too much of atmospheric details. There is no romantic interlude except that which is absolutely necessary to take the story forward. It is very crisp and sharp to keep you moving along with the protagonist ‘Mano’ (No, that is not his real name either and by telling you this am not diluting any suspense of the tale J)

This book gives one an insight into the anguish suffered by a person who has lost his memory and the struggle that he has to go through to get back to his identity. Imagine, if one fine day you wake up in a hospital and don’t remember your name, profession and what or whom you love, whether you have a family or not and the world at large looks upon you as a criminal or a terrorist! This is a double whammy as in all probability you have lost your memory due to a traumatic experience and here again you are going through a traumatic experience to get out of one! Strange but true. Nagendra has kept the storyline and ‘Mano’ running at a tight pace throughout without letting up even a bit by keeping the chase alive and the chasers as shadows chasing the elusive source of light.

An eBook which has a wonderful storyline, well edited and devoid of any speed breakers to ensure a smooth journey for the reader who will gasp at the end. Why? To find out you will have to read it. Am not going to spoil the fun by revealing anything here. It is available on Amazon.in for Rs.181/- only and remember it is an eBook and there is no paperback or hardcover version.

'The Hunt for Kohinoor' Reviewed

The Hunt for Kohinoor by Manreet Sodhi Someshwar
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

‘The Hunt for Kohinoor’ authored by Manreet Sodhi Someshwar, is a sequel to her ‘Taj Conspiracy’. I have not read the ‘Taj Conspiracy’, hence when I received ‘The Hunt for Kohinoor’ for review, I was a bit apprehensive. But once I started reading it, it does not make you wish you had read the first one, except of course the fact that you will definitely want to read the first one because now you know how well she writes!
Manreet Sodhi Someshwar is the first Indian female Indian author whom I have read who writes a fascinating nail biting thriller that is unputdownable! Though it is written over four hundred and twenty five pages, not once does the story seem stretched. You just flow with the narration and be a part of the plot that twists and turns through the high mountain passes of Afghanistan and the twisted lanes of espionage that has its share of double crossers and traitors and the diehard patriots.
All characters have been fleshed out so neatly that not once you feel any of them are not in place.
The plot is beautifully woven with a hairline difference between fact and fiction. It is regarding how the peace process is derailed between India and Pakistan by the terror outfits. The American interest in the subcontinent is also portrayed very well.
Manreet Sodhi Someshwar has done her homework very well and it shows as she takes you on a journey full of thrills and spills.
Suffice to say that it is a must read for all lovers of espionage as divulging anything more would be tantamount to being a spoilsport.
You can visit her at www.manreetsodhisomeshwar.com and the-long-walk-home.blogspot.com , via Facebook at www.facebook.com/ManreetSodhiSomeshwar , via Twitter @manreetss
Published by westland ltd. In 2013, it is available on Flipkart.com and Amazon.in (free delivery)


View all my reviews