From the introduction on the back cover, Norwegian Wood ("NW") sounded very much like a love story, but it is so much more. It is set in 1960s Japan, and is told from the perspective of an adult Toru Watanabe. The story is told in flashback fashion, sparked off by Watanabe serendipitously hearing the song "Norwegian Wood" being played one day, a favourite song of the girl he loved, many years after the events happened.
The gist of the story goes something like this: Watanabe's best friend Kizuki committed suicide when both of them were 17. His life changes forever after that. He became somewhat a loner. Gradually he found himself falling for his best friend's girlfriend, Naoko. But Naoko is psychologically scarred and unable to reciprocate his feelings. Sometime later, he meets this vivacious girl, Midori, who is everything Naoko is not. He is drawn to Midori, but is unable to forget Naoko. Even as he sets about resolving things, one day he receives news that Naoko had committed suicide. The story ends on a open note as he tries to call Midori...
If you are curious about the book, can check out the book at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwegian_Wood_(novel)
I generally make it a point not to read books translated from their native languages into English, thinking that I would not be able to appreciate the language and poetry of the original author. Notwithstanding this book made for good reading, if only because Murakami's thoughts and interplay between the characters were very vividly sketched out. (Kudos, I guess, to the translator too).
While I don't know if Murakami's portrayal of the zeitgeist of 1960s Japan was accurate, the characters' despondency, attitude towards life were deeply moving. A general sense of helplessness pervades this book, from the futility of education, the mindless seeking of casual sex, the randomness of life and the many suicides/deaths by different characters. One feels for the characters as they grope around in their own personal hell and try to live their lives with dignity, and sometimes choosing to end it. I remember being rather moved by how Watanabe posthumously realised that in Hatsumi's death, they had lost something quintessential and rare.
On finishing the book, I must say I was rather affected by it, and even thinking about it a few days after, it still retained its capacity to spur one to think further about growing up angst and life. For that, I term it a good read, because I haven't been this enthralled by a book in a while.
The gist of the story goes something like this: Watanabe's best friend Kizuki committed suicide when both of them were 17. His life changes forever after that. He became somewhat a loner. Gradually he found himself falling for his best friend's girlfriend, Naoko. But Naoko is psychologically scarred and unable to reciprocate his feelings. Sometime later, he meets this vivacious girl, Midori, who is everything Naoko is not. He is drawn to Midori, but is unable to forget Naoko. Even as he sets about resolving things, one day he receives news that Naoko had committed suicide. The story ends on a open note as he tries to call Midori...
If you are curious about the book, can check out the book at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwegian_Wood_(novel)
I generally make it a point not to read books translated from their native languages into English, thinking that I would not be able to appreciate the language and poetry of the original author. Notwithstanding this book made for good reading, if only because Murakami's thoughts and interplay between the characters were very vividly sketched out. (Kudos, I guess, to the translator too).
While I don't know if Murakami's portrayal of the zeitgeist of 1960s Japan was accurate, the characters' despondency, attitude towards life were deeply moving. A general sense of helplessness pervades this book, from the futility of education, the mindless seeking of casual sex, the randomness of life and the many suicides/deaths by different characters. One feels for the characters as they grope around in their own personal hell and try to live their lives with dignity, and sometimes choosing to end it. I remember being rather moved by how Watanabe posthumously realised that in Hatsumi's death, they had lost something quintessential and rare.
On finishing the book, I must say I was rather affected by it, and even thinking about it a few days after, it still retained its capacity to spur one to think further about growing up angst and life. For that, I term it a good read, because I haven't been this enthralled by a book in a while.
