First Impressions

I've been away on holiday and brought Kafka on the Shore along for a bit of reading material. At that stage, I'd hoped to get up to the first 50 pages at least to write out some comments when I regained internet access.
It didn't really work that.
I became so absorbed in the book I knocked down around 220 pages instead. Thinking that it would be a pity to stop reading just to hold on to my initial impressions, I wrote out by hand some short notes on the first 50 pages, then then after 100, then streaked on past there.

Anyhoo, I'll be transcribing my notes onto different posts, ending up with where I am now. Here is my first set of notes up until the 55th page:

"So far, the book has been divided into 3 main stories: that of Kafka Tamura the runaway, the Rice Bowl Hill incident during the second World War, and Nakata the mentally challenged cat-finder. At this stage, it's harder to find the connection between the stories and discern exactly where they are headed, however this is the forst of many books which use multiple points of view that I find agreeable. Often I find that there's one point of view I find tedious to read which puts me off the whole book, or I lose the momentum of the story because the plots are so fragmented. I don't feel this at all so far; each storyline has its own hook that I'm interested enough to see where it will lead. Generally speaking, the novel so far is very engaging both in terms of plot and language; even if a bit of a heavy read. The description is so dense that you feel as if you're doing a disservice to the novel by not giving every line your full attention.

Kafka Tamura's story line involves a decent amount of interation with a boy named Crow. Kafka initially stated that he had no friends, so we make the assumption that Crow is a physical manifestation of a part of Kafka's psyche. Crow seems to be giving voice to Kafka's doubts in an agressive way almost, making him almost dominant over Kafka. Perhaps this is why he was given the name Crow, as it connotes negativity, scavenging off the weak and dead, and generally ill-will. It's also worth noting that the original Japanese word for crow is 'karasu,' meaning to kill or parch. Crow tells Kafka about a sandstorm and about drowning: It's interesting how both of these link to the name through this meaning. Crow seems to have remarkable god-like freedom in his ability to conjure images like that for Kafka, despite his name representing a scavenger. Perhaps this internal struggle with Kafka for freedom is not something he can find be physically running away like he is, but more through self-awareness. This battle with the concept of freedom might become more of a theme in his story.
I'm quite drawn to his character because he seems intelligent far byond his years. I suppose that stems from his interest in literature, but it sees unnatural for someone to think with so many metaphors rather than simple description of more mundane observations. I felt this particularly in the passage in describing the countryside from the bus: "The sky is a blanket of grey, merging with the grey sea off on the horizon. It's hard to tell the difference between sea and sky. Between voyager and sea. Between reality and the workings of the heart." Not every 15 year old thinks like this, although there seems to be no 'normal' in this novel so far.

There isn't too much to write about just yet on the Rice Bowl Hill story line, as I understand I'll need more than just the 2 reports on it to make sense of it. I understand the story line, however the absence of a reasonable explanation for the event makes this storyline more science fiction than I thought the novel would be, given Kafka's story seems reasonably grounded in reality. I can't quite decide on why the report is meant to be from a US Army report rather than a Japanese one.

Finally, Nakata's story. This has only just begun, however the back of the novel tells me I'm not through with him just yet. He has the same name as the child from the Rice Bowl Hill incident who didn't wake up, so perhaps that could explain his mental disability. Nakata seems to be quite a polar opposite to Kafka, as Nakata is old and weak of mind despite having a strong sense of self. The phrase 'ignorance is bliss' springs to mind, as Nakata seems to have a great deal of freedom as his boundaries for reality are distorted: enough that he can even hold decent conversation with a quite charming cat. I don't quite understand how the cat can have seemingly superior intellect, as if this was going on in Nakata's head, shouldn't the an imagines conversation be limited to his own ability? In considering the magical realism the book employs to some extent, I suppose I mustn't assume that talking to cats is unheard of.
I also notice a bit of a theme of sexuality here; through both Nakata and Kafka's stories. The reference to such a carnal desire could also serve to show how much freedom living beings have. The freedom of choice is limited, as to some extent we are powerless to resist carnal instint. That could also be the purpose of including conversations with animals; to show how humans ignore the awareness that we are animals by believing themselves to be superior, however this difference is the illusion contructed by a language barrier.

A final note, just about the title. I'm assuming that Kafka Tamura is the main characte above the others, as he seems most talked about and was the fist to appear. I know little of Franz Kafka's works, but Kafka Tamura must identify with them enough to have chosen this name purposefully. Perhaps it is in reference to Kafka's 'Metamorphosis,' which could explain something of his attempt to find himself and isolation we feel from his loneliness. In any case, I love the book so far and I'm looking forward to the rest of it."