A Japanese author and novelist named Haruko Murakami wrote a novel entitled Kafka on the Shore or Umibe no Kafuka in Japanese term. This masterpiece by Murukami was published in 2002 and translated in English language in 2005. Kafka on the Shore in the current time is still well known and its translated version gathered numerous awards and recognition. It was nominated and recognized as one of the 10 Best Books of 2005 by the New York Times and received the World Fantasy Award for 2006. Within this novel, there is an excerpt that highlighted the character of Kafka, The Boy Named Crow. In this excerpt, Haruki Murakami explored the magical realism and led the readers to the metaphysical reality and its relation to dreams, dream of fate and a touch of Shintoism religion in Japan.
The excerpt revolves to the character of Kafka, a 15 year old boy who wants to escape and run away from his father's house and take a quest to find his mother and sister. The boy named Crow is actually Kafka's alter ego that holds his better and stronger personality and qualities. Crow is his desirable self and introduced in the excerpt as a friend who is talking to him comfortably. He gave Kafka an advice and stated the possible outcomes of his plans and decisions.
It is noticeable that Haruki Murakami used first person point of view in telling the Kafka on the Shore and its excerpt The Boy Named Crow. He also put his trademark in this novel and excerpt which is stories about families. These observes the Japanese way of writing novels and traditional Japanese literature. The Boy Named Crow gives the readers a chance to interpret the story in many and his or her own ways and can be perceived in a different way through re- reading it. Also, the excerpt contains a metaphor wherein the author compared fate in a sandstorm. This wants to tell that small sandstorms are part of nature. They are random. But if a storm keeps chasing us, maybe, it is more than that. These small sandstorms are meant for us that is why it keeps on chasing us. They will track us down until we accept the things that come in our way and step inside of it. Because these storms are fate that will make us a new person and will reveal who we are and where we are meant to be. The unique way of the author in writing this novel and excerpt made it more appealing and exceptional. It creates a big impact to the lives and perception of the readers in any aspects of life.
