Norwegian Wood (ノルウェイの森, Noruwei no Mori) is a 1987 novel by Japanese author Haruki Murakami.
The novel is a nostalgic story of loss and burgeoning sexuality. It is told from the first-person perspective of Toru Watanabe, who looks back on his days as a college student living in Tokyo. Through Watanabe's reminiscences, readers see him develop relationships with two very different women—the beautiful yet emotionally troubled Naoko, and the outgoing, lively Midori.The novel is set in late 1960s Tokyo during a period when Japanese students, like those of many other nations, were protesting against the established order. While it serves as the backdrop against which the events of the novel unfold, Murakami (through the eyes of Watanabe and Midori) portrays the student movement as largely weak-willed and hypocritical.
Murakami adapted the first section of the novel from an earlier short story, "Firefly". The story was subsequently included in the collection …
Norwegian Wood (ノルウェイの森, Noruwei no Mori) is a 1987 novel by Japanese author Haruki Murakami.
The novel is a nostalgic story of loss and burgeoning sexuality. It is told from the first-person perspective of Toru Watanabe, who looks back on his days as a college student living in Tokyo. Through Watanabe's reminiscences, readers see him develop relationships with two very different women—the beautiful yet emotionally troubled Naoko, and the outgoing, lively Midori.The novel is set in late 1960s Tokyo during a period when Japanese students, like those of many other nations, were protesting against the established order. While it serves as the backdrop against which the events of the novel unfold, Murakami (through the eyes of Watanabe and Midori) portrays the student movement as largely weak-willed and hypocritical.
Murakami adapted the first section of the novel from an earlier short story, "Firefly". The story was subsequently included in the collection Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman.Norwegian Wood was hugely popular with Japanese youth and made Murakami something of a superstar in his native country (apparently much to his dismay at the time).A film adaptation of the same name was released in 2010, directed by Tran Anh Hung.
as his first book to go "mainstream," i had always heard it described as one of his most bildungsroman/young man stumbles through sexuality themed, but i think this rather undersells it. it's definitely the most straightforward of his fiction i've read (and the earliest) but it had a lot to say (to me at least) about mental health and the struggle to bridge incomprehensibly different internal worlds. sex, wells, spiritual blockers, cats, music (more pop than jazz in this one), and food of course all play a feature role.
Review of 'Norwegian wood : Tokyo blues' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
I actually didn't have too great expectations with this one. I love Murakami, but i didn't think that this rather straightforward - and hence atypical - Murakami story would get to me particularly well. Well it did. It's a great story of teenage hopelessness, of the tendency for hopelessness to breed hopelessness and the truly twisted and beautiful minds of people.
