19 Nov Book Review: *The City and Its Uncertain Walls* by Haruki Murakami
Introduction
Haruki Murakami’s latest novel, *The City and Its Uncertain Walls*, is a mesmerizing journey into the surreal, blending familiar themes of memory, identity, and the blurred lines between reality and fantasy. As a long-time fan of his work, I was thrilled to dive into this book, which revisits a short story Murakami first penned in 1980 but has now expanded into a full-length novel. This novel is quintessentially Murakami—dreamlike, enigmatic, and deeply introspective.
The book has already garnered significant attention since its release in Japan earlier this year and is now available in English, translated by Philip Gabriel. Fans of *Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World* will find echoes of that earlier work here, as both novels explore the concept of a walled city where inhabitants are separated from their shadows. However, *The City and Its Uncertain Walls* takes these ideas further, weaving them into a complex narrative that meditates on love, loss, time, and existential uncertainty.
Plot Summary
The story follows two timelines: one featuring a 17-year-old boy (*boku*) and a mysterious girl (*kimi*), while the other focuses on the same boy now grown into a 45-year-old man (*watashi*). The younger version of the protagonist forms an intense bond with the girl, who reveals that her true self resides in a strange city beyond high walls. In this city, people live without shadows, and only unicorns can pass freely between the city and the outside world.
When the girl suddenly disappears from his life, the boy becomes obsessed with finding her true self in this enigmatic city. Years later, as an adult librarian in a remote town, he continues to grapple with his unresolved feelings for her. The novel explores his journey back to the walled city—both literal and metaphorical—as he seeks answers about identity, belonging, and whether it’s possible to reconnect with lost love.
Character Descriptions
The Narrator (*Boku/Watashi*)
The protagonist is split across two timelines: as a 17-year-old boy (*boku*) deeply in love with *kimi*, and as a 45-year-old man (*watashi*) reflecting on his past while living a solitary life as a librarian. Murakami masterfully portrays his internal conflict—torn between his present reality and the haunting memories of his lost love.
Kimi
Kimi, the mysterious girl at the heart of the narrator’s quest, is both elusive and captivating. She speaks cryptically about her true self being trapped within the walled city without a shadow. Her disappearance sets the narrator on his lifelong journey of self-discovery.
Supporting Characters
- The Wealthy Senior: A mysterious figure who offers cryptic advice to *Watashi*, guiding him toward self-reflection.
- Yellow Submarine Boy: A quirky character who helps *Watashi* navigate his journey back to the walled city.
- The Librarian: A shadowy figure who assists *Boku* in becoming the Dream Reader within the city’s library.
A surreal depiction of a mysterious, walled city under a stary sky with shelves of books
Analysis
Strengths
One of Murakami’s greatest strengths is his ability to blend surrealism with deep emotional resonance. In The City and Its Uncertain Walls, he explores familiar themes—identity, memory, love—but does so with new depth. The novel’s dual structure allows readers to experience youthful passion and middle-aged reflection through the same character’s eyes.
Weaknesses
While beautifully written, some readers may find parts of the novel slow or overly introspective. The pacing can feel uneven at times—especially during long stretches where little action occurs beyond internal monologues. However, for fans of Murakami’s style, this contemplative pace is part of its charm.
Literary Devices
- Symbolism: The walled city represents both psychological barriers and societal constraints.
- Motifs: Shadows play a central role in exploring themes of identity loss.
- Magical Realism: Unicorns roaming freely between worlds blur the lines between reality and fantasy.
Themes and Motifs
Main Themes
- Identity: The novel delves into questions about what defines us—our memories or our present selves.
- Memory: The past haunts both timelines as characters struggle to reconcile their memories with their current realities.
- Reality vs Fantasy: As in many Murakami works, there’s a constant blurring between what’s real and what’s imagined.
Recurring Motifs
- The Walled City: A central metaphor for isolation—both physical and emotional.
- The Shadow: Represents parts of ourselves we lose over time or suppress.
- Libraries: As always in Murakami’s work, libraries are places where knowledge (and dreams) are stored but not always accessible.
Writing Style and Tone
The City and Its Uncertain Walls showcases Murakami’s characteristic deadpan prose, interwoven with moments of deep insight. His writing appears deceptively simple, yet it is rich with layers of meaning—a hallmark familiar to fans of his previous works like Kafka on the Shore. The tone strikes a balance between melancholy and hope; even in the face of existential uncertainty, there remains a glimmer of possibility for change or redemption.
“What is real? And what is not? In this world is there really something like a wall separating reality from unreality?” (Chapter 12)
This passage encapsulates much of what makes Murakami’s writing so compelling: his ability to make readers question not just his fictional worlds but their own perceptions of reality.
Evaluation and Conclusion
The City and Its Uncertain Walls may not be Murakami’s most accessible work for new readers due to its slow pacing and complex themes. However, for long-time fans or anyone interested in philosophical explorations of identity and memory, it offers rich rewards. It stands out among his later works for its emotional depth while revisiting familiar motifs from earlier novels like Hard-Boiled Wonderland.
For myself, I found the various and repetitive bouncing between underdeveloped worlds or existences a bit overcomplicated. By the end of the book I was losing interest. If you’re someone who enjoys magical realism or literary fiction that challenges your perception of reality while pulling you into an atmospheric dreamscape—this book is for you!
Favorite Quotes
- “In my head, there was a battle going on between reality and unreality.” (Chapter 8)
- “In this town without shadows… I felt like I had lost something essential.” (Chapter 16)
- “Perhaps it’s time to stop waiting—and start living.” (Chapter 36)
Spoilers/How Does It End?
The novel ends with Watashi returning to reality after finally confronting his unresolved feelings for Kimi. He realizes that while he may never fully reconnect with her true self—or even understand what happened—he must move forward with his life. This bittersweet conclusion leaves readers pondering whether we can ever truly let go of our pasts or if they forever shape us.
About the Author
Haruki Murakami is one of Japan’s most celebrated contemporary authors. Known for blending magical realism with deep psychological insights, he has written numerous acclaimed novels, including Norwegian Wood, Kafka on the Shore, and 1Q84. His influence extends far beyond Japan; he has been translated into over fifty languages worldwide.
Bibliographic Details
- Author: Haruki Murakami
- Title: *The City and Its Uncertain Walls*
- Publisher: Knopf
- Date Published: November 19th, 2024
- ISBN: 9780593801970
- Buy on Bookshop.org
FAQ Section
- What genre is *The City and Its Uncertain Walls*?
- This novel falls under magical realism with elements of literary fiction.
- Is this book connected to any other works by Haruki Murakami?
- This novel shares thematic similarities with *Hard-Boiled Wonderland* but stands alone as an independent story.
- What are some key themes explored in this book?
- Themes include identity loss, memory, isolation behind metaphorical walls, love across time dimensions, etc.
- I’m new to Haruki Murakami—is this book a good starting point?
- If you’re new to Murakami’s work but enjoy philosophical fiction or magical realism—it could be! However,*Norwegian Wood* might be more accessible as an introduction before diving into this one!
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Citations:
[1] https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-topics/bg900467/
[2] https://wordsandpeace.com/2024/10/23/book-review-the-city-and-its-uncertain-walls/
[3] https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/18/books/review/haruki-murakami-city-and-its-uncertain-walls.html
[4] https://www.vulture.com/article/haruki-murakami-the-city-and-its-uncertain-walls-is-fan-fiction-book-review.html
[5] https://www.chuo-u.ac.jp/english/features/2023/10/68153/
[6] https://bookchatter.net/2024/08/22/review-the-city-and-its-uncertain-walls/
[7] https://tonysreadinglist.wordpress.com/2024/11/19/the-city-and-its-uncertain-walls-by-haruki-murakami-review/
[8] https://bookmarks.reviews/reviews/all/the-city-and-its-uncertain-walls/
