I used to love reading when I was in school, whether it was a very thick book or even a thin comic book. Fyi, I have collected so many comics and already read them all. So, that's how it describes how I loved reading. When I was in Highschool, I couldn't afford to buy thick imported novels so I borrowed some thick novels from my friends, who were bookworms (and had the privilege to buy some). I remember that i borrowed the twilight saga and harry potter from one of them and had to wait my turn after her and one other friend. Surprisingly, it was ok for me. It was ok for me to wait, and it was very ok for me to read that gigantic books. It was very fun, instead. Didn't mean to show off, but I could finish reading it like in days. By that, I really read a lot of books back then (but most of them were the borrowed books).
Times passed, and reading was not the only fun activity that attracted me anymore. I mean, i joined a lot of clubs during my university life and by that i almost had no time to stand still or reading. I also joined a lot of volunteer activities and events back then. I also joined a lot of writing competition in order to get some prizes (by that I mean some cashes for surviving the life). Hence, I was very busy and kinda feeling happy and fun because of that. After graduated, I got to work 7 to 5 everyday and also took some courses after work hours and just got home at night. At weekend, I ve been busied by some volunteer activities as well. So, i literally forgot about this reading activity.
In the past months, during pandemic, people were (and still are) forced to just stay safe at home. I see there are a lot of ways to do the fun things that have been posted in order to let people comfortable to stay at home for a long period of time. I also see people tend to be more creative and they create something during this pandemic. For me, I have done a lot of things during this moment. I play piano, I paint, I write, I play Ukulele, I learn to dance, I learn to cook, I sleep, I watch, and so on. Then, there's a time when I think I feel empty and kinda bored of what I have been doing. Randomly, my thought just directed me to read. So, it's been like almost 10 years since the last time I read like read for purpose of just reading- spending some times for it, spend my leisure time by reading. So, in between some of e-books I downloaded , I started to choose what I should read first after soooooo long and I decided to read stuff that Haruki Murakami wrote. Kafka on the Shore was one of to-read books that I've always been wanted to read if i have a chance. So Kafka on the Shore it was.
The book was surprisingly great.. I mean, I've known that a lot of people have recommended this book to read, but I just didn't think that this book is gonna be marvelous. Hence, I am gonna be the 1000th person who recommend this book. I was glad that I choose this book to be the first book I decided to read because it somehow made me want to read more books after finishing it. The book was thick, almost 500pages and for someone who hasn't been reading for so long, it took me about a month to finish reading it. I somehow felt relate to the story of the book, so i read some sentences about twice or three times to fully understand the meaning and the purpose of Haruki Murakami wrote the story. Moreover, Mr. Nakata... is really an outstanding being, and i was glad to know him through the story. He gave me so many lessons that made me re-think about life and its purposes.
Anyway, while i read that book, something funny happened to me. Surprisingly, it was like universe let me feel and become Kafka, at that time. I had to get out from home for self-isolation because of covid case that happened to one of my officemates. I was definitely Kafka, wondering around, thinking about the self that needed a roof for sleep at night, no option of staying at other houses (because i don't have), also had no much money to stay at expensive hotel for too long, but somehow found a way to keep enjoying the life.
It may sounds exaggerated, but Kafka on The Shore has one tiny place in my heart. It was like a piece of so many pieces of assembled puzzle in my life :")
