Set in Tokyo during the late 1960s, "Norwegian Wood" by Haruki Murakami tells the story of Toru, a college student navigating the aftermath of his best friend's suicide and the mental health struggles of his friend's girlfriend, Naoko. As Toru meets Midori, a progressive fellow student, he is faced with the challenge of letting go of the past to embrace the future. The novel delves into themes of mental health, suicide, relationships, and personal growth in a realistic and reflective manner, all set against the backdrop of late 1960s Tokyo.
Murakami's writing style in "Norwegian Wood" is described as poignant, reflective, and touching. The novel unfolds at a walking pace, punctuated by small moments of loss and heartbreak, devoid of the magical realism present in his other works. The characters, particularly Toru, Naoko, and Midori, are portrayed with depth and complexity as they navigate the complexities of life, love, and personal struggles.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings for Norwegian Wood include themes of suicide, mental health issues, and explicit sexual content, which may be triggering for some readers.
Has Romance?
Romance is a central element in Norwegian Wood, highlighting the complexities of relationships and emotional attachments throughout the narrative.
From The Publisher:
Toru, a quiet and preternaturally serious young college student in Tokyo, is devoted to Naoko, a beautiful and introspective young woman, but their mutual passion is marked by the tragic death of their best friend years before. Toru begins to adapt to campus life and the loneliness and isolation he faces there, but Naoko finds the pressures and responsibilities of life unbearable. As she retreats further into her own world, Toru finds himself reaching out to others and drawn to a fiercely independent and sexually liberated young woman.
Ratings (167)
Incredible (25) | |
Loved It (62) | |
Liked It (36) | |
It Was OK (20) | |
Did Not Like (14) | |
Hated It (10) |
Reader Stats (359):
Read It (172) | |
Currently Reading (5) | |
Want To Read (143) | |
Did Not Finish (4) | |
Not Interested (35) |
2 comment(s)
Haruki Murakami is one of those author I badly want to like, see so many loving his books. But unfortunately I just can't seem to enjoy them. I can agree that he is a good writer but the story or characters never works quite for me. Think I've only rated the trilogy more then 3 stars, at least the first one.
Creepy and weird just for the sake of weirdness
What can you read after
Norwegian Wood?
About the Author:
HARUKI MURAKAMI was born in Kyoto in 1949 and now lives near Tokyo. His work has been translated into more than fifty languages, and the most recent of his many international honors is the Hans Christian Andersen Literature Award in…
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