This surreal novel follows two interconnected narratives: Kafka Tamura, a fifteen-year-old runaway, and Nakata, an elderly man who can talk to cats.

Murakami blends Japanese folklore, pop culture, and philosophical questions into a dreamlike narrative. Characters experience prophetic dreams, talking animals, and inexplicable events, blurring the lines between reality and illusion.

The novel explores themes of fate, identity, and the search for meaning in a seemingly random world. It is a quintessential example of Murakami's unique blend of magical realism and modern anxieties.