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Content snapshot
Flag an inaccuracy →What's in this book, at a glance — five things readers want to know before they start.
Violence
Some
Some violence including murder; surreal and occasionally disturbing imagery
Language
Some
Some strong language
Sexual Content
A lot
Explicit sexual content including incestuous fantasy and dream sequences
Substance Use
None
No significant substance use
Emotional Intensity
A lot
Explores Oedipal psychology, fate, identity, and the porousness between the real and the supernatural
What this book is about
Fifteen-year-old Kafka Tamura runs away from home to escape his father's prophecy and search for his missing mother. Simultaneously, an elderly man named Nakata follows a trail of talking cats and mysterious deaths across Japan. The two narratives weave together in Murakami's signature blend of the mundane and the surreal, touching on memory, identity, and fate.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
Explicit sexual content including incestuous elements
Surreal and disturbing imagery
Psychological exploration of identity and fate
Reader Verification
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