Dear all,
Read from chapter 43 to the end and keep notes on the plot in each chapter.
Write and post a reflection on the novel. Were you surprised by anything you believed would take place and didn't? Were you annoyed or satisfied with any aspect of the novel? etc.. These are sample questions to help you reflect on the novel.
Thank you.
Mrs Gougeon
Read from chapter 43 to the end and keep notes on the plot in each chapter.
Write and post a reflection on the novel. Were you surprised by anything you believed would take place and didn't? Were you annoyed or satisfied with any aspect of the novel? etc.. These are sample questions to help you reflect on the novel.
Thank you.
Mrs Gougeon
Personally, I was disappointed by the ending of Kafka. I was not expecting the death of Miss Saeki or of Nakata but it did not surprise me nor did it disappoint me. The death of Nakata upset me more than the death of Miss Saeki as she was already weak and spoke about death as if it was freedom. Nakata on the other hand seemed so lively throughout the novel and therefore his death affected me more. I was content with the change procured within Hoshino and I feel that his journey really had an impact on him. The reader is able to imagine a continuation of life for Hoshino, affected by the events that occurred in the novel. Kafka on the other hand, disappointed me. I did not expect him to go back home and it was not satisfactory for me. I felt that his journey did not impact or change him in any great way and this made me question the point of the entire novel. I enjoyed the novel as a whole but personally I found that the ending ruined part of it for me. A theory I have for Kafka’s behaviour is that he is a schizophrenic. He has the boy named Crow talking to him throughout the novel and along with the sightings of Miss Saeki’s 15 year old self and the entire village in the woods, schizophrenia seems like a possible explanation for Kafka’s unusual behaviour. I realise that this is an unlikely possibility but it helps me to understand the events that occurred throughout the novel as well as makes the ending seem more realistic.
ReplyDeleteThe ending of this novel left me unsatisfied. I was left with a range of opinions and feelings towards the characters and plot. I was surprised mainly by the fact that Miss Saeki and Nakata were connected somehow and that she had been waiting for him for some time. I was also surprised by the death of these characters and like Esme I was left unaffected by Miss Saeki’s character and did not really have an opinion on her death or really have any thoughts on it. However with the death of Nakata I felt much more connected and upset by it but I do however feel that the death itself of Nakata was satisfying as the setting and ending of his life was peaceful and calm and not as sudden as Miss Saeki’s. I liked that his death occurred during his sleep, as long hours of sleep represented Nakata and was a strange but recognizable trait of his. I was surprised and disappointed that in the ending of this novel Kafka was left completely by himself, as throughout the novel there was such great emphasis on “searching” for his mother and sister. The hardest thing I found about reading this novel was accepting certain aspects of what was going on without judging the situation or trying to make sense of the situation. I found the concept of the entrance stone so hard to understand and accept, although it was the item that connected the parallel stories together I just could not grasp that it was a stone that would change from heavy to light and heavy to light etc, that if opened would allow Kafka to enter an unknown land. Throughout reading the novel I hoped the characters of Kafka and Nakata would meet and was sure if they did not I would find the story pointless, however after finding out how the characters were all connected I was left pleased that the purpose of the parallel story was not left predictable but left me thinking. I was unsatisfied with the fact that Hoshino was to “liquidate” the strange shape that came out of Nakata as I felt that the idea of this strange shape was almost taking the story too far and I felt like I couldn’t actually take this section seriously as I kept picturing him trying to hammer a jelly like object. Lastly I was left confused when Sada drove Kafka back to the library as I just thought that his character was just completely random and although they shared the experience of having gone in the forest I didn’t really fully understand what the purpose of having him as part of the ending was.
ReplyDeleteThe ending of this novel was not what I expected and I was kind of disappointed as what I expected to happen while reading the novel did not happen in the end. For me, the first half of the novel had me not putting the book down because I had not read anything quite like it and I was fascinated to see where the story would go but unfortunately, I felt like towards the end of the novel, the sense of wonder began to fade. To be honest, I had to force myself to read the last quarter of the novel because I did not want to abandon the book after reading till this far. It’s not the storyline that did not engage me as much, it was an interesting storyline but it seems like the characters were not developing any further and it seemed like they were not going to. The entrance stone really confused me, as it was so difficult for me to understand the concept and purpose of it though I understand that it brings the parallel stories together but that is about it. I expected the two main characters in the two plots will meet somehow at the end of the novel but they didn’t and it really bothered me because I had high expectations that this event would happen especially with the reference of the entrance stone earlier in both plots. I did not expect Nakata’s death as much as I expected Miss Saeki’s death. Miss Saeki spoke about death earlier in the novel whereas Nakata seemed more content with his life, this may explain how Miss Saeki’s death was more sudden than Nakata’s but it did not really affect me that much. Though I enjoyed the novel, I agree with Esme that the ending where Kafka just decided to go back to Tokyo made me think that he came all the way and just left like that. It seems like his “adventure” did not change him drastically.
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ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, the ending of Kafka On The Shore was definitely not what I expected and left me feeling quite disappointed. I was surprised by the fact that Kafka just returned back to his original location after all the times of him saying he’d never go back home. I felt sort of deceived by the format Haruki Murakami set for each chapter as I assumed many elements were going to meet together and eventually solve themselves through the entrance stone, however, none of my expectations were revealed. I found Nakata’s death very emotional to read and especially Hoshino’s reaction to his death when he’s talking to him and as he steps back and realises “ I don’t know what the hell to do. And I miss your voice.” This sentence to me closured their strong relationship they had between each other in the novel, as they didn’t show a lot of affection, this line to me just proved how strong their bond was. The entrance stone and having different worlds confused me towards the end as I was not sure which characters were in which “state” and which parts were classed as magic realism. However, I was satisfied, as Johnnie Walker had not proceeded to the afterlife and Hoshino made it just in time to close the entrance stone. The only character I truly did not like in the novel was Johnnie Walker because of his cruel acts and I felt he let down most of the characters through magic realism. In addition, I also liked that the novel ended just how it began with Kafka and Crow talking to each other. At the start Crow warned him that he would only survive by becoming the “toughest fifteen year old boy in the world” and the ending paragraph is Crow telling Kafka that he is a survivor and “When you wake up, you’ll be part of a brand new world.”
ReplyDeleteI personally did not enjoy the way the novel ended. It was not a terrible ending but it was somewhat dissatisfying to me. I found the events and theme of magic realism in the novel more and more difficult to accept throughout each chapter. It was interesting to read about raining fishes and talking cats at first but towards the ending, I found the part where Hoshino had to fight the slimy creature that came out from Nakata's mouth to be unnecessary and made no sense at all to me. I was also taken aback when Miss Saeki stabs herself with her hairpin and let Kafka drink her blood. However, I enjoyed reading the part where Hoshino was telling Nakata about how he changed his life and meeting him was the best part of their journey together. I'm glad Nakata did not have a terrible death but died peacefully in his sleep, at the same time, I felt really sad to read about Hoshino being left in silence after talking to Nakata and then carrying him to the room where he sleeps forever. I did not expect Oshima's brother to appear as I thought it seemed quite late in the novel for a new character to show up. I had a hard time trying to figure out how Sakura is Kafka's sister, as I'm not sure whether they are blood related siblings or not. Also, I'm still uncertain about how Kafka woke up in the woods with blood on his chest from earlier on in the novel. Overall, I'm not totally unhappy about Kafka returning to Tokyo to finish junior high and to settle things with the police but I don't think he is old enough to look after himself and there isn't any other relatives that were mentioned in Tokyo which is why I am left with mixed feelings after reading this novel.
ReplyDeleteThe ending to “Kafka on the Shore” could have been much better. The way I hoped it would end was, Nakata being rewarded and Kafka dying. There was too much magic realism in the last few chapters. This is one aspect of the book that complements it but personally, makes it hard for me to follow the reasoning behind the events in the book. The death of Miss Saeki could have been speculated a few pages before reading about the actual death. Miss Saeki was already emotionally dead, since the loss of her lover, so there more reason to have her die than to keep her alive. Her death is positive as she can finally be free. I think her death was needed in the ending, and her asking Nakata to burn the pages also made sense. The slime creature that came out of Nakata felt out of place and was shocking to think that the creature was hiding inside Nakata. I wanted Nakata to come back to life, even though I knew that would never have happen. He was my favourite character in the book by far. His personality seemed humble and optimistic. It felt like he was content with his life and didn’t try to ask questions, like what Kafka likes to do. Kafka is only 15, but his frame of mind is so different that I found it hard to empathize with him. One redeeming factor could be that he lost (not death) his mother and sister, something that I could only imagine being devastating at such a young age, a reason for his actions. My understanding is usually through reason and intuition, but this book forces the reader to think with imagination and emotion. Even though the ending wasn’t what I had expected, I don’t regret reading this book because it was very different from other books we read.
ReplyDeleteAlthough the ending was very shocking to me, overall I was satisfied with the result. I have read how others have said how the ending was dissatisfying as it didn’t meet their expectations or ideals, but I didn’t feel that way probably because whilst reading the novel I was not able to form a version of the ending in my head. Firstly, I did not see Nakata’s death coming as if there was a dramatic change to be made to Nakata – such as death or regaining of his memory - I would’ve guessed it to be after he completes his mission to close the entrance stone. Nonetheless this seemed to be a nice ending for Nakata as it was very peaceful – like a reward for his innocence and kind nature. After learning of Nakata’s death however, I felt that Murakami was trying to raise the question of the purpose and meaning of life, which also occurred to me. The answer to this question was then given by Hoshino, the ‘15 year old Miss Saeki’, and Miss Saeki herself. They explained how a part of the deceased will still remain in those close to them and those who remember them. I felt like this explanation of life and death made by these characters was one of the main messages or answers Murakami tried to get across to the readers. Therefore, although this ending seemed rushed compared to the length of the whole progress of both Kafka and Nakata’s stories and perhaps even too surreal to accept, I believe it was an appropriate ending to summarize the development of the plot and the purpose of the characters. In addition, although Im not entirely supportive of Kafka’s decision to return to his home, I believe that the challenges and experiences he went through with different characters will not go into vain. I believe that returning to his home does not necessarily mean going back to the same kind of life he has had, but in fact will be very different as he would’ve matured and developed as a character. If there was one thing I disliked in the ending, it would be the acknowledgement of Miss Saeki as Kafka’s mother. It was obvious throughout the novel but I think I just didn’t want to accept it as their sexual relationship was very disturbing. But overall, I was satisfied with the ending as everything seemed to fit in well together.
ReplyDeleteThe ending of the novel left me very disappointed and unsatisfied. I felt like it really could have been way better. For instance, I did not want Nakata to die but as he did I felt really sad for he was one of the nicest characters. Though he did what he had to do, which was to burn Miss Saeki’s memories and open the entrance stone, I still feel like he should have made it till the end of the novel because he deserves so much better after the long journey with Hoshino and the fact that he lost his special ability to talk to cats. Kafka however, is still the same typical 15-year-old teenager who thinks he’s old enough to sticky situations. I think it’s very ridiculous how he wants to go back to Tokyo and finish off high school. It’s almost as if everything he had been through after leaving Tokyo, is pointless. What’s confusing to me is that towards the end, miss Saeki finally apologizes for abandoning Kafka proving that she is indeed his mother. I never expected her to confess this especially after her death and the sexual relationship with Kafka thus throwing the idea of her being the mother out of the window. However, obviously there’s nothing that could be done about it except to just accept the fact that she really is his mother, which makes the novel even more confusing to me. Moreover, the part where he phoned Sakura and called her “sister” in the end of their conversation was very surprising yet confusing. I am still left with confusion whether they are really siblings or not and also unsatisfied for the fact that it was never proven. Additionally, I felt like the slimy object that Hoshino killed was disturbing and unnecessary for I do not even understand the purpose of it. I also noticed how blood plays a major role in this novel. It left me hanging on to the part where Kafka woke up with blood on him but not Nakata though it did made me understand how these two characters connect to each other. However, I am slightly disappointed that they never got to meet. Overall, the ending definitely did not happen the way I expected it to be and even though it was disappointing the overall story is not that bad. I actually would not mind reading more of Murakami’s work.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, the ending of "Kafka on the Shore" was definitely not a bad ending, however I feel that it could have been done much better. I found myself feeling quite surprised and slightly disappointed about Nakata's death, and it came unexpectedly to me. The disappointment was probably due to the fact that I really liked his character (and preferred him from Kafka) and his kind and innocent nature. I also sort of wanted him to have a more heroic ending but am satisfied with the peaceful ending that he got. I also felt sympathy towards Hoshino as after Nakata's death, he could not and did not have the heart to leave the apartment and "felt completely drained". He wasn't prepared for Nakata's death, unlike when his grandfather died, and it felt comforting to know that Nakata has made a huge impact in Hoshino's life. The revelation/confirmation that Miss Saeki was, in fact, Kafka's mother did not leave me very shocked or surprised, as it was obvious to me from the very beginning that she would be - however it did have me feeling slightly put off due to the sexual relationship they had with each other. All in all, I did enjoy reading this novel!
ReplyDeleteI had a feeling something like this would happen. Both characters never met but they both had influences over each other without knowing it. Towards the end when Nakata meets Miss Saeki, it was frustrating to read because there he is, so close to Kafka yet so far. It was no surprise that Nakata died, his story was near the end and his part in the novel was his last act before he died.
ReplyDeleteHowever I felt that there were so many unanswered questions at the end of the novel and that is why the ending was not satisfying.
What about Kafka's past ? Who was Nakata really ? How can Hoshino talk to cats now ? Is Miss Saeki really Kafka's mother ?
Those are just some of the many questions that the ending fails to answer. It was disappointing because we came all this way, read so many pages, and we came to the end and it was just plain old boring. I did not feel shocked, sadness or the very least satisfied.
The ending of Kafka on the Shore gave me mixed feelings as the ending was unsatisfying, yet at the same time managed to conclude the story leaving very little loose ends. Based on what has previously happened the ending was regrettably suitable to the story. One of the reasons of this being the case is the theme of maturity, a concept created in the plot when Kafka first leaves home. In the story Kafka is considered quite young, thus he would find it difficult to survive if he did not mature. Kafka however did not see maturity as the defining factor to survival but rather perseverance and strength as stated by Crow where he says "You have to be the toughest 15 year old in the world". This ending is suitable because after experiencing all the fear, death, and confusion throughout the journey, Kafka realises that strength was only partially the key to survival, the other key was maturity, something that he did not realise until Miss Saeki's ghost asks for his forgiveness. When he spoke to the ghost in the forest, he realised that his life meant something, that he had to continue living for the sake of the people who have disappeared from his life and must comprehend the fact his life no longer just revolves around him. With this he matures and therefore understands that he must return home, knowing that Tokyo is his true home. However this ending to his story arc is slightly unsatisfying as it indicates that the journey was mostly useless because it ended with him going back to where he started. Therefore it seems that nothing had been accomplished in terms of Kafka's escape. On the other hand, it could be said that, because of this, it proves that one should not run from their problems as they are unable to, they must face it and conquer it; Kafka ran away to escape his father's prophecy but ended up fulfilling it. Nakata's ending was tragic but at the same time suitable. Nakata passes away in his sleep just before the entrance stone is closed and after the files are burnt. This is suitable because the ongoing motif of granting peace and closure correlates with his death. Nakata lived for as long as he did in order to fulfill a duty, closing the entrance stone and setting everything right. When he reached the library and found Miss Saeki, his duty had been completed. Thus when he knew he could trust Hoshino to finish the task, he passed away leaving behind no worries or regrets. This would make sense as Miss Saeki passed away shortly after burning her records so that she could move on. Her records acted as an anchor holding her down, so by burning them, Nakata released her from her metaphorical shackles; the same would then be Nakata in terms of his now finished duty. However this seems slightly unsatisfying as Nakata's death, although fitting, did not seem necessary as he was a key character whom I had invested a significant amount of time empathising with. Yet at the same time, I understand that this is how it should end as this was the peace that Nakata was looking for; a large burden has been lifted off him, which is a suitable reward for his perseverance.
ReplyDeleteI genuinely believe that this book is by far the most bizarre book I have ever read. It brought me back to a time before I read the book and asked a friend who was an avid reader of Murakami’s works about this novel who merely stated that “Kafka on the Shore is Murakami’s worst work”. Despite not having read any of his other works I could see how an individual would come to such a conclusion. Personally it gave me no gratification or satisfaction which most books seem to grant their readers towards the end of a novel. The equilibrium which was reached in the novel was never explained neither was the aspect of magic realism which I was looking forward to. This leads me to question the author’s motive in writing the book, was it a social commentary perhaps? Was it merely a story that spiraled out of control? And most importantly, how much of the author’s genuine intentions and feelings were lost in translation? Being a huge fan of the famous manga Naruto, I’ve been able to pick up on a lot of the symbolism and use of religious figures located in the manga. Upon learning about the origins of certain aspects in the manga, I was granted a better perspective and understanding as a reader which made me appreciate the work even more. As a result I believe that there must be certain use of symbols located in the novel which I have missed. What took me by surprise was the creature that crawled out of Nakata’s mouth, it was a very disturbing image and was just grotesque. Furthermore, I was also surprise by the lack of Sakura’s role in the novel as I’d imagined that she would play a more fundamental role in the novel but turned out to be a very passive character. I was very disappointed with Nakata’s death, not only it was unexplained it didn’t seem right. I thought that his consistent dedication and efforts towards his goal would eventually be rewarded by being wholly restored physically and mentally. In conclusion, I am left with little to no satisfaction due to the author’s lack of expansion in explaining the aspect of magic realism.
ReplyDeleteNothing really surprised me about the book until the monster came out of Nakata, felt that was kind of weird and not that necessary like many parts of the book. The book however, felt unfinished. It seems too open to too many conclusions and interpretations which kind of annoys me as we won't ever know the true exact meaning of the book. I enjoyed Nakatas section of the book over Kafka because of the more surreal feeling I had when I read the book, and I just enjoyed Hoshinos character and was quite happy with his conclusion at the end of the book. I didn't like Kafkas side of the book and felt like it was just the author running out of ideas and just put him back where he started. I expected him to do more than just return back to his home because it felt like that was the end of the world created by Murakami, once these events occurred everything went back to "normal" not the magic realistic ways that the whole world was. Overall, I think that for me the book was not as great but had much more potential to create a much more metaphorical world rather than leaving me quite blunt feeling like there was no more use to everything we learnt in the novel everything was just done there. One other thing is that it didn't feel that the main characters were actually main characters and more just random people. A theory that I made was that both Kafka and Nakata would leave to another world and become 1 whole person with the world resetting going back to the time where the problems actually initially occurred and would then not occur creating a different future with them not having knowledge of the pasts occurring.
ReplyDeleteI found the ending to the book unfulfilling but I understand how it came to be and the decisions made towards the end by Kafka, having moved back to Tokyo to continue with school. The thing I hated or disliked about the book is not gaining any closure, everything I have questioned about the book when reading it, are left unanswered and my answers are left just theories. I realise that after Kafka’s journey, and the places he had gone to, to fulfil his father’s prophecy he had learnt and found peace with himself somehow. Even though he may have not found out who his mother and sister were, he found closure for himself which allowed him to move on with his life. I have questions left unanswered, and presumably everyone else that has read the book. For example; what happened to Nakata originally during the world war that changed who he was, what happened to the police and the investigation looking for Kafka, he got back to school, so people know where he is now. What happened to Nakata and Hoshino after the entrance was closed. At the end of the book, I wanted answers and I thought it would come to a bigger conclusion, where everything will be answered, but in fact doesn’t answer anything, but the leaves the reader knowing the character has found closure and an answer to his journey and his questions. I wasn’t expecting the gourd like white monster with tail to come out of Nakata, I was as clueless as Hoshino was when it had happened, I didn’t understand the purpose of it, but for Hoshino to prevent it from getting to the entrance stone. I felt that it was left unexplained and it frustrates me not knowing.
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