Norwegian Wood

Paperback, 389 pages

English language

Published July 29, 2003 by Vintage Books.

ISBN:
978-0-09-955456-1
Copied ISBN!

View on OpenLibrary

4 stars (137 reviews)

Mientras su avión aterriza en un aeropuerto europeo, Toru Watanabe, de treinta y siete años, escucha casualmente una vieja canción de los Beatles: de pronto, la música le hace retroceder a su juventud, al turbulento Tokio de finales de los sesenta. Recuerda entonces, con melancolía y desasosiego, a la inestable y misteriosa Naoko, la novia de su mejor -y único- amigo de la adolescencia, Kizuki, y cómo el suicidio de éste les distanció durante un año, hasta que se reencontraron en la universidad. Iniciaron allí una relación íntima, truncada, sin embargo, por la frágil salud mental de Naoko, a quien hubo que internar en un centro de reposo. Al poco, Watanabe se enamoró de Midori, una joven activa y resuelta. Indeciso, acosado por los temores, Watanabe sólo experimentaba el deslumbramiento y el desengaño allá donde todo debía cobrar sentido: el sexo, el amor y la muerte. La insostenible situación le …

37 editions

Review of 'Norwegian Wood' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

3/5 Loved the writing, disliked the characters...

Norwegian Wood brought me to the conclusion that my relationship with Murakami's work is definitely a love/hate one.

Watanabe, Naoko, and Nagasawa are all detestable characters with no self-awareness regarding just how detestable they really are (Nagasawa aside, who is aware and proud of it too). Reiko and Hatsumi are the only two characters that are somewhat likeable—and even that is a stretch.

Despite the majority of the characters being unbearable, in their own respectful ways, the writing is the complete opposite. Overall, this was a good/great read but not one (in my opinion) that lived up to being Murakami being chased out of the Japan after this book gaining excessive attention and praise.

For me, this lays a little lower than some of Murakami's other work but that would not stop me from recommending it.

Review of 'Norwegian Wood' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

Extremely sick right from the beginning till the end.
Maybe when one is new to Haruki, it is different and that difference seems enticing.
But now that is my third book of Haruki, I don't think I would be reading any of his books every again.

The way he pens down the emotions of the characters seems very real.
But the world isn't as messed up and sick as the characters in his books.
The world is better, isn't it?

Well, a week after reading this book had an epiphany and a lot of things about the book made more sense. I actually like this book.
So updated the review and rating.

Review of 'Norwegian Wood' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

This was my first book by the author Murakami I have read. It took me only a few days because I don't wanted to stop reading at all. Here my thoughts about the book:

Style
---

First of all, the style how Murakami tells stories. Especially how he describes the characters and their behaviour. I felt with them and it never crossed my mind that the characters behaved in a way I can't understand. The book is a lot about the transition of childhood to adulthood with many sexual sences. But I never found them disgusting or in a way 'too much'. For me it was more like the expression of love.

Story
----

Murakamis main character is Toru Watanabe, age 19-23 while he studies in Tokio. The story is written in first person and has next to Toru about 4 other main characters: Naoko, Midori, Nagawase (spelled a bit …

Review of 'Norwegian Wood' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

My 3rd time read and still counting! The way Murakami depicts the entire society of Japan late 1960s through his characters is amazing: quiet and solitary Watanabe, depressed and traumatized Naoko, hurt but accepted Reiko, free-living spirit Midori (oh how much I love her), ambitious and arrogant Nagasawa, strange cleanliness and habit of Stormtrooper, etc. The novel seems so depressing at first since death and struggles exist everywhere. But in that moment life, love and hope appear from the dark.
"Hey, there, Kizuki, I thought. Unlike you, I've chosen to live - and to live the best I know how... I'm going to mature. I'm going to be an adult. Because that's what I have to do. I always used to think I'd like to stay 17 or 18 if I could. But not anymore. I'm not a teenager anymore... I'm 20 now. And I have to pay the price …

Review of 'Norwegian Wood' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

I just finished reading. I have very few words to talk about how this book makes me feel. It is a great feeling, though. A reflection of many sides of life, and death. Full of feelings and thoughts that, as always with Murakami, leave you wondering about why your life is so full of miracles but it is always a struggle to find them. Definitively deserves a second reading

Review of 'Norwegian Wood' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

This is the kind of book that stays with you. A coming-of-age story of a boy, who is as confused with his emotions as he is conflicted in the matters of heart. Despite essentially revolving around a love story, the book throws some light behind the disturbing and complex cases of deaths & suicides while forcing you to think about living in the present and enjoying life to the fullest.

This was the first Murakami for me, and I’ll surely be reading more of his books. Although originally being in Japanese, the translated version doesn’t feel translated at all, despite some hiccups here and there. All the characters are solid as well as interesting and the prose is beautiful. Some of the lines manage to bring a sigh from the hopeless romantic in me!

I’ll leave you with an excerpt:

“I have always loved [person A], and I still love …

Review of 'Norwegian Wood' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

That bit where you finish a Marukami and begin a three week period of figuring out all the hidden meanings and metaphors he's used. And even if, as claimed by the author, this was a 'straight' book, there's still that feeling of more to discover. Like did he ever figure out that Chivas Regal is, in fact, not great whiskey?

Review of 'Norwegian Wood' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

Having just arrived in Hamburg, Germany, 37 year old Toru Watanabe hears an orchestral cover of The Beatles’ song “Norwegian Wood” which reminds him of his college years. In high school his best friend, Kizuki completed suicide and Watanabe moved to Tokyo for college in the hopes to escape the pain. One day he was reunited with Kizuki’s girlfriend Naoko and they sought solitude in each other’s company. However this relationship wasn’t the right solution for Naoko and she left for a secluded mountain sanatorium near Kyoto.

Norwegian Wood is often referred to as the best starting point when diving into the works of Haruki Murakami, mainly because this is one of the few books that don’t have a magical realism thread to it. This is a good place to start but what I find fascinating is the way Murakami uses magical realism to explore ideas of the mind. Colorless …

Review of 'Norwegian Wood' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

A sad, thoughtful coming of age story from the point of view of a Japanese teenage boy. The author was recommended to me so I picked up this book to try. It's beautifully written, and reminded me a bit of Catcher In The Rye, but ultimately didn't really grab me. Still, an interesting read and I can see why the author is popular. Just not my style, I guess.

Review of 'Norwegian Wood' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

Very, very readable. Probably most erotic book I've ever read :-) Extremely unexpected twists, and few really really depressing parts.Those parts made me think about life, death and everything in between. How happiness is really fragile and we are constantly balancing on the edge of dark, deep well about to fall down. One way or the other, well worth reading.

avatar for pcalvin

rated it

4 stars
avatar for Enno

rated it

5 stars
avatar for wwiggins

rated it

3 stars
avatar for phocks@book.dansmonorage.blue

rated it

5 stars
avatar for lijadora

rated it

3 stars
avatar for Scoured8735

rated it

4 stars
avatar for elunedli

rated it

5 stars
avatar for LuddaLunatic

rated it

4 stars
avatar for vilhelmr

rated it

5 stars
avatar for thebbennett

rated it

3 stars
avatar for Enric

rated it

4 stars
avatar for overpear

rated it

4 stars
avatar for awboonstra

rated it

4 stars
avatar for jeri

rated it

3 stars
avatar for brunon

rated it

2 stars
avatar for unicornia

rated it

4 stars
avatar for mikianes

rated it

5 stars
avatar for stinkingpig

rated it

3 stars
avatar for yallah110

rated it

5 stars
avatar for Yukari

rated it

5 stars
avatar for wordeater

rated it

2 stars
avatar for giantrobot

rated it

4 stars
avatar for leeschneider

rated it

4 stars
avatar for eyal

rated it

4 stars
avatar for IX

rated it

4 stars
avatar for esouthe0

rated it

3 stars
avatar for AnsgarFrej

rated it

4 stars
avatar for Acton007

rated it

5 stars
avatar for MarianneBrix

rated it

3 stars
avatar for rift

rated it

5 stars
avatar for tealtorch

rated it

4 stars
avatar for RXN12

rated it

4 stars
avatar for YoursTrulee

rated it

5 stars
avatar for overtsun

rated it

1 star
avatar for dfings

rated it

5 stars
avatar for krisrex

rated it

4 stars
avatar for flylaika

rated it

2 stars
avatar for gadabyte

rated it

3 stars
avatar for simme

rated it

5 stars
avatar for TimmyMac

rated it

5 stars
avatar for ascagnel

rated it

4 stars
avatar for AudientVoid

rated it

4 stars
avatar for mellifera

rated it

4 stars
avatar for Adem

rated it

4 stars
avatar for runarskoll

rated it

5 stars
avatar for court_ellis89

rated it

5 stars
avatar for doug

rated it

4 stars
avatar for OffbeatPulse

rated it

4 stars
avatar for jimfl

rated it

4 stars
avatar for lumii

rated it

4 stars
avatar for jbtchr

rated it

4 stars
avatar for thursday

rated it

4 stars
avatar for lilyjreads

rated it

4 stars
avatar for Enno

rated it

4 stars
avatar for alexmu

rated it

4 stars
avatar for jeronimo

rated it

4 stars
avatar for lacop

rated it

4 stars
avatar for clnaanderson

rated it

5 stars
avatar for GvS

rated it

4 stars
avatar for fakelvis

rated it

4 stars
avatar for jmc142

rated it

5 stars
avatar for LemonSky

rated it

5 stars
avatar for gregorygandy

rated it

4 stars
avatar for alexmorse

rated it

4 stars
avatar for BojanB

rated it

5 stars
avatar for tsukikage

rated it

5 stars
avatar for ion

rated it

4 stars
avatar for Autolycus

rated it

3 stars
avatar for WorzelFG

rated it

5 stars
avatar for VaishaliP

rated it

2 stars
avatar for htesligte

rated it

4 stars
avatar for bestyja

rated it

5 stars
avatar for wzhkevin

rated it

4 stars
avatar for Andykz

rated it

4 stars
avatar for recri

rated it

4 stars
avatar for bab

rated it

5 stars
avatar for genex

rated it

4 stars
avatar for Stalwart

rated it

5 stars
avatar for ward

rated it

5 stars
avatar for veganmashuu

rated it

4 stars
avatar for Maltita@lectura.social

rated it

2 stars
avatar for Christopowers

rated it

5 stars
avatar for janson

rated it

4 stars
avatar for dnoate

rated it

5 stars
avatar for mananabanana

rated it

4 stars
avatar for SaraDK

rated it

5 stars
avatar for bioscape

rated it

3 stars
avatar for pd-bomber

rated it

3 stars
avatar for js

rated it

5 stars
avatar for grace

rated it

2 stars
avatar for po3mah

rated it

5 stars
avatar for NoUso

rated it

4 stars
avatar for facundo

rated it

1 star
avatar for MrKurtz

rated it

5 stars
avatar for marino

rated it

5 stars
avatar for Maltita@lectura.social

rated it

2 stars
avatar for Alex_Loar

rated it

5 stars
avatar for hill_valley

rated it

4 stars
avatar for Kylynn

rated it

4 stars
avatar for ovocie

rated it

5 stars
avatar for rmellema

rated it

5 stars
avatar for Woordenaar

rated it

2 stars
avatar for mogita

rated it

4 stars
avatar for nic

rated it

4 stars
avatar for leeschneider

rated it

4 stars