Haruki Murakami
Haruki Murakami is a renowned Japanese author known for his unique blend of surrealism, magical realism, and contemporary themes. His works often explore themes of loneliness, alienation, and the search for identity. Some of his most famous novels include 'Norwegian Wood,' 'Kafka on the Shore,' and '1Q84.'
Books
This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.
-
1. The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle
A man's search for his wife's missing cat evolves into a surreal journey through Tokyo's underbelly, where he encounters a bizarre collection of characters with strange stories and peculiar obsessions. As he delves deeper, he finds himself entangled in a web of dreamlike scenarios, historical digressions, and metaphysical investigations. His reality becomes increasingly intertwined with the dream world as he grapples with themes of fate, identity, and the dark side of the human psyche.
The 273rd Greatest Book of All Time -
2. Norwegian Wood
Set in Tokyo during the late 1960s, the novel follows a college student as he navigates a complex love triangle while grappling with his own mental health and the societal pressures of the time. He's torn between his love for a beautiful but emotionally troubled woman and his growing feelings for a lively, outgoing classmate. As he confronts his past, present, and future, the narrative explores themes of love, loss, and personal growth.
The 1114th Greatest Book of All Time -
3. Kafka On The Shore
"Kafka On The Shore" is a surreal and philosophical novel by Haruki Murakami that follows two parallel storylines. The first is that of Kafka Tamura, a 15-year-old boy who runs away from home to escape an Oedipal prophecy and searches for his missing mother and sister. The second storyline follows Nakata, an elderly man who has lost his memory but possesses the ability to communicate with cats. As their paths converge, they encounter strange and mystical events that challenge their perceptions of reality and identity. The novel explores themes of fate, free will, and the human psyche, and is a captivating and thought-provoking read.
The 1539th Greatest Book of All Time -
4. 1Q84
The novel is a complex and surreal narrative that intertwines the lives of two protagonists: a woman assassin who becomes embroiled in a mysterious and dangerous cult, and a male writer caught in a complicated love triangle. As they navigate their respective challenges, they unknowingly cross into an alternate reality, referred to as 1Q84, where the lines between fact and fiction blur. The novel explores themes of love, fate, and the power of the individual against the constraints of a conformist society.
The 2091st Greatest Book of All Time -
5. A Wild Sheep Chase
A Wild Sheep Chase follows the story of a recently divorced advertising executive in Tokyo who is given a mysterious assignment by a sinister, powerful man: to find a particular sheep with a star-shaped birthmark. This mission leads him to travel across the snowy landscapes of Northern Japan, crossing paths with peculiar characters, and exploring themes of loneliness, fate, and identity. The narrative is a blend of detective story, postmodern critique, and surreal journey, infused with the author's unique style of magical realism.
The 2873rd Greatest Book of All Time -
6. Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World
In this novel, two parallel narratives intertwine, one following a data encryptor in a dystopian, futuristic Tokyo who becomes embroiled in the machinations of a mysterious scientist and his granddaughter, the other set in a surreal, dreamlike town where a man is tasked with reading old dreams from unicorn skulls. As the story progresses, it becomes evident that the two worlds are connected in a profound and unsettling way, leading to a shocking conclusion that explores themes of consciousness, identity, and the nature of reality.
The 3378th Greatest Book of All Time -
7. Dance, Dance, Dance
The novel follows an unnamed protagonist as he searches for a sense of purpose and connection in a rapidly changing world. Haunted by memories of a mysterious woman and driven by a series of enigmatic events, he returns to the Dolphin Hotel, a place tied to his past experiences. As he navigates through a series of surreal encounters with a cast of characters including a psychic teenager, a film star, and a one-armed poet, the protagonist embarks on a metaphysical journey that blurs the lines between reality and dreams, leading him to confront the complexities of his own consciousness and the nature of existence.
The 6881st Greatest Book of All Time -
8. Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman
"Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman" is a collection of 24 short stories that explore themes of love, loneliness, and loss, set against the backdrop of everyday life in Japan. The stories often blur the lines between reality and the surreal, featuring characters who find themselves in strange, dreamlike situations. The tales range from a man whose reflection takes on a life of its own, to a woman who falls asleep for weeks at a time, reflecting the author's signature blend of the mundane and the mystical.
The 10026th Greatest Book of All Time -
9. South of the Border, West of the Sun
The novel tells the story of a man named Hajime, who grew up as an only child in post-war Japan. He forms a deep bond with a girl named Shimamoto during his childhood, but they lose touch as they grow older. Hajime builds a successful life with a wife and two daughters, but he is haunted by his past. When Shimamoto unexpectedly re-enters his life, he is torn between his commitment to his family and his lingering feelings for his childhood love. The novel explores themes of nostalgia, regret, and the complexities of human relationships.
The 12352nd Greatest Book of All Time -
10. The Strange Library
A Novella
In this surreal and whimsical tale, a young boy visits a library to return some books and is unexpectedly ensnared in a bizarre and labyrinthine world beneath the building. Guided by a mysterious old man and accompanied by a sheep man and a voiceless girl, the boy navigates a series of peculiar and unsettling challenges. As he seeks to escape the library's clutches, he confronts themes of fear, memory, and the power of imagination, all while unraveling the strange and dreamlike reality that surrounds him.
-
12. What I Talk About When I Talk About Running
A Memoir
The book is a reflective memoir that intertwines the author's experiences as a dedicated runner with his life as a writer. Through a series of essays, he explores the profound connections between the discipline of running and the creative process, offering insights into how both activities require endurance, focus, and a deep understanding of one's inner self. The narrative delves into his personal journey, detailing the challenges and triumphs he faces in marathons and daily runs, while also contemplating broader themes of aging, solitude, and the relentless pursuit of personal goals. The author's introspective musings provide a unique perspective on how physical activity can shape and influence one's mental and emotional well-being.
-
13. 1 Q84 #1
In the first book of this intriguing series, the narrative unfolds in Tokyo in 1984, where two seemingly disparate characters, Aomame and Tengo, find their lives mysteriously intertwined. Aomame, a fitness instructor with a secret life as an assassin, begins to notice subtle changes in the world around her, leading her to question reality itself. Meanwhile, Tengo, a math teacher and aspiring writer, becomes embroiled in a literary project that blurs the lines between fiction and reality. As their paths converge, they navigate a surreal landscape filled with enigmatic cults, parallel worlds, and the search for truth and connection amidst a backdrop of existential uncertainty.
-
14. Koniec świata I Hard Boiled Wonderland
The novel intertwines two parallel narratives: one set in a surreal, dystopian future where a human data processor navigates a labyrinthine underworld of corporate espionage and mind control, and the other in a mysterious, isolated town where a man is stripped of his memories and tasked with reading dreams from unicorn skulls. As the stories unfold, themes of consciousness, identity, and the nature of reality are explored, leading to a convergence that challenges the boundaries between the two worlds and the protagonist's understanding of himself.
-
15. Po Zmierzchu
After Dark
The book is a collection of short stories that delve into the complexities of human emotions and the surreal aspects of everyday life. Each story explores themes of loneliness, longing, and the passage of time, often blurring the lines between reality and the fantastical. Characters find themselves in introspective journeys, encountering mysterious events and enigmatic figures that challenge their perceptions and lead to profound personal revelations. The narratives are imbued with Murakami's signature blend of magical realism and philosophical musings, creating a tapestry of poignant and thought-provoking tales.
-
16. Wszystkie Boże Dzieci Tańczą
The book is a collection of six short stories set in post-earthquake Japan, exploring themes of loss, identity, and the surreal intersections of everyday life. Each story delves into the lives of characters who are grappling with personal crises and existential questions, often encountering mysterious or fantastical elements that challenge their perceptions of reality. Through these narratives, the book examines the profound impact of trauma and the search for meaning in a world that seems both familiar and alien.
-
17. Kafka Nad Morzem
The novel weaves together the surreal and the real through the parallel narratives of a teenage boy named Kafka, who runs away from home to escape a dark prophecy, and an elderly man named Nakata, who possesses a unique ability to communicate with cats. As Kafka seeks refuge in a quiet library, he encounters a series of mysterious and metaphysical events that challenge his understanding of fate and identity. Meanwhile, Nakata embarks on a journey that inexplicably intertwines with Kafka's, leading both characters through a labyrinth of dreams, memories, and existential questions. The story explores themes of self-discovery, the subconscious, and the blurred lines between reality and imagination.
-
18. 螢・納屋を焼く・その他の短編
その他の短編
This collection of short stories delves into the surreal and enigmatic aspects of everyday life, exploring themes of isolation, longing, and the blurred lines between reality and imagination. Each story presents characters who find themselves in peculiar situations that challenge their perceptions and understanding of the world around them. Through a blend of magical realism and introspective narrative, the stories capture the essence of human emotions and the mysteries that lie beneath the surface of ordinary experiences.