List of 15 authors like Haruki Murakami
Haruki Murakami is well-known for his blend of magical realism, surrealism, and melancholy.
If you enjoy his work, you might also appreciate the following authors, who have similar styles or themes in their writing:
1
David Mitchell: David Mitchell is the writer who created the novel “Cloud Atlas.” The book presents a complicated structure with interconnected stories, which is similar to the layered narratives that Haruki Murakami often uses in his work. Mitchell's work often includes elements of fantasy and science fiction, woven into the fabric of reality in a way that Murakami's fans may find intriguing.
2
Kazuo Ishiguro: Kazuo Ishiguro writes novels that often explore memory and self-discovery, with a subtle and lyrical style that can be reminiscent of Murakami's own narrative approach. His works, such as “The Remains of the Day” and “Never Let Me Go,” offer thought-provoking stories that balance the surreal with the poignant reality of human experiences.
3
Banana Yoshimoto: Banana Yoshimoto is a Japanese author whose writing often explores themes of love, loss, and human psychology, much like Haruki Murakami. Her style is distinctive and she's gained a loyal following for her novels such as “Kitchen” and “Goodbye Tsugumi,” which offer a fresh perspective on everyday life in Japan.
4
Gabriel García Márquez: Gabriel García Márquez was a Colombian writer whose stories blend magical elements with reality. His novel “One Hundred Years of Solitude” is a masterpiece of literature that weaves complex family sagas with fantastical occurrences.
5
Italo Calvino: Italo Calvino was an Italian writer whose imaginative stories and fables often blend fantasy with real-world logic, similar to the whimsical and surreal elements found in Haruki Murakami's novels. His works, including “Invisible Cities” and “If on a winter's night a traveler,” offer a unique narrative experience that can be both thought-provoking and entertaining.
6
Julio Cortázar – His book “Hopscotch” has a non-linear structure that requires the reader to jump between chapters, reminiscent of Murakami's playful narrative techniques.
7
Paul Auster – The New York Trilogy by Auster has a touch of the surreal and deals with concepts of identity and coincidence, akin to Murakami’s themes.
8
Mikhail Bulgakov – “The Master and Margarita” by Bulgakov is a classic of magical realism that features the supernatural in a similar vein to Murakami’s work.
9
Philip K. Dick – While more science fiction oriented, Dick’s novels like “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” often explore the nature of reality, a recurring theme in Murakami’s books.
10
Jeanette Winterson – Her novel “The Passion” combines historical elements with magical realism and has an introspective style that Murakami fans might enjoy.
11
Jose Saramago – Known for his allegorical stories with a touch of the fantastic, such as in “Blindness,” Saramago’s writing can resonate with Murakami readers.
12
Angela Carter – With rich, imaginative storytelling, Carter’s “The Bloody Chamber” contains fantastical and surreal tales that might appeal to Murakami fans.
13
Neil Gaiman – His novel “American Gods” mixes the everyday with the mythic and supernatural, creating a narrative landscape that Murakami readers often find compelling.
14
Aimee Bender – Bender’s “The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake” explores the ordinary with a twist of the extraordinary, much like Murakami’s fusion of the mundane with the unreal.
15
Yoko Ogawa – Ogawa’s subtle and haunting tales, as seen in “The Housekeeper and the Professor,” offer a quiet and reflective experience similar to the one fans appreciate in Murakami’s work.
Every reader has unique tastes, so not all of these authors may resonate with you in the same way that Murakami does, but they all share certain literary qualities that might make their works worth exploring.