Target Audience for Norwegian Wood
This book is best suited for readers interested in contemporary Japanese literature, those who appreciate stories about love, loss, and mental health, as well as fans of introspective and character-driven narratives.
Author Background of Norwegian Wood
Haruki Murakami is a renowned Japanese writer known for his blend of surrealism and realism. Born in 1949, he has received numerous awards and his works have been translated into multiple languages.
Historical Context of Norwegian Wood
Norwegian Wood was published in 1987, set in the turbulent 1960s in Japan. This was a period marked by student protests, cultural shifts, and a growing Western influence. The novel reflects these changes and the impact on the youth of that era.
MindMap of Norwegian Wood
Chapter Summary of Norwegian Wood
Chapter1: The Beatles, Dormitory, Naoko
The chapter opens with the protagonist, Toru Watanabe, aboard a plane landing in Hamburg, Germany. As he hears "Norwegian Wood" by The Beatles playing over the aircraft's speakers, he is transported back to his youth in Tokyo during the late 1960s. The song triggers a flood of memories, particularly of his time with Naoko, a beautiful but emotionally fragile girl, and the complex web of relationships they shared. Toru recalls his days living in a student dormitory, where he led a solitary existence despite being surrounded by people. He vividly remembers his walks with Naoko, their deep conversations, and the emotional turbulence that characterized their bond. The chapter sets the stage for a story steeped in nostalgia and introspection, as Toru grapples with the bittersweet and often painful recollections of his past.
Airplane Memory Trigger: Toru hears ‘Norwegian Wood’ on a plane, leading him to reminisce about his past.
Complex Relationships: Toru’s memories are particularly focused on his relationship with Naoko, highlighting emotional depth.
Student Dormitory: The setting of Toru’s solitary life in the dormitory emphasizes his isolation despite being surrounded by peers.
Walks and Conversations: Toru and Naoko’s walks and talks are central to their connection, showcasing their emotional turbulence.
Nostalgia and Introspection: The chapter sets up a narrative rich with reflective and bittersweet memories of the past.
Chapter2: University Life, Kizuki's Death
The chapter opens with Toru Watanabe reflecting on his life as a university student in Tokyo. He attends classes but feels detached and unmotivated, struggling to find a sense of purpose. The narrative shifts to recount the tragic death of his best friend, Kizuki, who committed suicide at the age of 17. This event deeply affects Toru and leaves him grappling with existential questions and a profound sense of loss. Toru’s relationship with Naoko, Kizuki's girlfriend, becomes more complex as they both try to cope with the void left by Kizuki's absence. They share long walks and conversations, finding solace in each other’s company but also an unspoken tension. Toru’s internal monologue reveals his struggle to understand the reason behind Kizuki’s suicide and the impact it has had on his own life. The chapter delves into themes of grief, memory, and the transition from adolescence to adulthood, painting a poignant picture of Toru’s inner turmoil and the emotional landscape he navigates.
University Life: Toru feels detached and unmotivated in his studies.
Kizuki’s Suicide: The death of his best friend leaves Toru grappling with existential questions.
Relationship with Naoko: Toru and Naoko find solace in each other but also experience unspoken tension.
Internal Struggle: Toru’s monologue reveals his difficulty in understanding Kizuki’s suicide.
Themes: The chapter explores grief, memory, and the transition from adolescence to adulthood.
Chapter3: Naoko's Birthday, Walks in the Countryside
The chapter delves into the deepening relationship between Toru and Naoko, focusing on their time spent together during her birthday and their long walks in the countryside. Toru feels a profound connection with Naoko, whose fragile mental state adds a layer of complexity to their interactions. They share intimate conversations that reveal more about Naoko's troubled past, including her struggles with depression and the suicide of her boyfriend, Kizuki. The serene countryside serves as a backdrop for their emotional exchanges, highlighting the contrast between the tranquility of nature and the turmoil within Naoko. The chapter ends with a poignant moment where Naoko expresses her need for understanding and patience, leaving Toru with a sense of responsibility and empathy towards her. This chapter is significant as it sets the stage for the evolving dynamics between the characters and foreshadows the emotional challenges that lie ahead.
Deepening Relationship: The chapter explores the growing bond between Toru and Naoko as they spend significant time together.
Naoko’s Mental State: Naoko’s fragile mental condition and her history of depression are revealed through intimate conversations.
Kizuki’s Suicide: The impact of Kizuki’s suicide on Naoko is a focal point, explaining her emotional struggles.
Countryside Setting: The serene countryside contrasts with the emotional turmoil experienced by the characters, enhancing the narrative’s depth.
Need for Understanding: Naoko’s plea for patience and understanding from Toru highlights the emotional challenges they will face.
Chapter4: Reiko, Ami Hostel
In this chapter, Toru Watanabe continues to navigate his complex emotional landscape, especially his relationships with Naoko and Midori. Toru visits Naoko at the Ami Hostel, a sanatorium where she is trying to recover from her mental health struggles. During his visit, he meets Reiko Ishida, Naoko’s roommate and confidante, who becomes a significant figure in Toru’s life. Reiko shares the story of her own troubled past, including her failed marriage and struggles with mental health, providing Toru with greater insight into Naoko’s condition. The conversations between Toru, Naoko, and Reiko reveal deeper layers of their characters and the burdens they carry. The serene yet emotionally charged atmosphere of the Ami Hostel serves as a backdrop for these revelations, highlighting the themes of love, loss, and healing that permeate the novel. As Toru leaves the hostel, he reflects on the complexities of human connections and the weight of emotional scars, setting the stage for further developments in his relationships and personal growth.
Toru’s visit to the Ami Hostel: Toru visits Naoko at the sanatorium, providing a setting for significant character interactions.
Introduction of Reiko: Reiko Ishida, Naoko’s roommate, becomes a key figure in the narrative by sharing her own troubled past.
Deeper character insights: Conversations between Toru, Naoko, and Reiko reveal more about their inner struggles and emotional burdens.
Themes of love and loss: The chapter explores complex themes such as love, loss, and healing, set against the serene backdrop of the hostel.
Reflection on human connections: Toru’s reflections on his visit underscore the novel’s exploration of the complexities of human relationships and emotional scars.
Chapter5: Midori, Record Store
In this chapter, Toru Watanabe continues to navigate the complexities of his relationships and the melancholy of his past. The chapter centers around his interaction with Midori Kobayashi, a lively and unconventional girl he meets at a record store. As they browse through vinyl records, Midori's bold and candid personality contrasts sharply with the more introspective and reserved nature of Naoko, Toru's other significant relationship. This contrast highlights Toru's internal struggle between moving forward with his life and remaining tethered to his memories of Naoko. Midori's straightforwardness and zest for life present a refreshing yet confusing dynamic for Toru, who is still entangled in his past. Their conversation meanders through various topics, from music to personal anecdotes, offering glimpses into Midori's complex character and her own struggles. The chapter encapsulates a moment of transient peace and connection, set against the backdrop of Tokyo's bustling urban landscape. This interaction with Midori leaves Toru contemplating the different paths his life could take, symbolizing a potential turning point in his emotional journey.
Toru’s relationships: The chapter explores Toru’s interactions with Midori and contrasts them with his connection to Naoko.
Midori’s personality: Midori’s lively and unconventional nature is a stark contrast to Naoko’s introspective demeanor.
Record store setting: The setting of a record store serves as a backdrop for meaningful conversations and character development.
Internal conflict: Toru grapples with the choice between moving forward with Midori or staying attached to his memories of Naoko.
Symbolic turning point: The chapter hints at a potential turning point in Toru’s emotional journey through his interaction with Midori.
Chapter6: Storm Trooper, Midori's Story
In this chapter, the protagonist Toru Watanabe navigates the complexities of his relationships. He encounters his eccentric dorm-mate, nicknamed 'Storm Trooper,' whose meticulous habits and peculiarities provide comic relief but also emphasize the loneliness that pervades the setting. Toru's interactions with Midori deepen, revealing more about her unconventional and candid personality. Midori shares stories from her past, including the struggles of caring for her father who is gravely ill. Her openness and vulnerability create a stark contrast to the other characters in Toru's life, adding layers to her character and intensifying the emotional landscape of the narrative. As Toru reflects on his own feelings and the tangled web of connections he has with others, the chapter delves into themes of isolation, intimacy, and the human condition. The interplay between Toru's introspective nature and Midori's forthrightness underscores the complexity of their developing relationship and sets the stage for further emotional exploration.
Storm Trooper’s quirks: The peculiar habits of Toru’s dorm-mate offer both comic relief and a sense of isolation.
Midori’s openness: Her candid nature and willingness to share personal stories reveal her depth and vulnerability.
Caring for her father: Midori’s history of looking after her ill father highlights her resilience and compassionate nature.
Emotional contrast: The differences between Toru’s introspection and Midori’s forthrightness create a rich emotional dynamic.
Themes of isolation and intimacy: The chapter explores these themes through the characters’ interactions and personal reflections.
Chapter7: Tokyo, Toru and Naoko
In this chapter, Toru Watanabe reflects on his deepening relationship with Naoko as they navigate their lives in Tokyo. Toru is a university student who frequently visits Naoko, who is staying at a sanatorium to recover from her mental health issues. Their interactions are tender but fraught with emotional complexity, as Naoko grapples with her past and the suicide of her boyfriend, Kizuki. Toru is supportive and caring, but he struggles with his own feelings of helplessness and the societal expectations placed upon him. The chapter delves into the internal conflicts both characters face and the emotional weight of their shared history. Murakami's writing captures the somber and introspective tone of their meetings, highlighting the themes of love, loss, and the search for meaning in a chaotic world. Their conversations are a mix of silence and poignant dialogue, reflecting the deep but often unspoken connection between them. The chapter ends on a contemplative note, with both characters left to ponder their uncertain futures and the fragile nature of their bond.
Toru’s reflections: Toru Watanabe reflects on his relationship with Naoko, highlighting their emotional complexities.
Naoko’s struggles: Naoko is recovering in a sanatorium, dealing with her mental health issues and the trauma of Kizuki’s suicide.
Emotional support: Toru provides support and care for Naoko, despite his own feelings of helplessness.
Themes of love and loss: The chapter explores themes of love, loss, and the search for meaning amidst chaos.
Contemplative ending: The chapter concludes with both characters reflecting on their uncertain futures and fragile bond.
Chapter8: Naoko's Letters, Memory of the Dead
In Chapter 8, the narrative unfolds predominantly through a series of letters written by Naoko to Toru. These letters reveal her inner turmoil and struggles as she grapples with her mental health while staying at a sanatorium. She delves into her past, recounting memories of her dead sister and former lover, Kizuki, whose suicides left indelible scars on her psyche. Naoko's letters express a poignant mix of hope and despair as she attempts to find stability and meaning in her life. The chapter also highlights Toru's response to Naoko's letters, where he reflects on his own feelings and the complexity of their relationship. Naoko's emotional vulnerability is laid bare, and the reader gains deeper insight into the profound impact of loss and memory on her mental state. The chapter paints a vivid picture of Naoko's internal battle, illustrating how the past can haunt and shape one's present, ultimately underscoring the novel's themes of love, loss, and the search for identity.
Naoko’s Letters: The chapter is primarily composed of letters from Naoko to Toru, providing insight into her mental state.
Sanatorium Life: Naoko describes her experiences and struggles while staying at a sanatorium.
Memories of the Dead: Naoko reflects on the suicides of her sister and Kizuki, which deeply affected her.
Toru’s Reflections: Toru contemplates his own feelings and the complexity of his relationship with Naoko.
Themes of Love and Loss: The chapter emphasizes the impact of love, loss, and memory on the characters’ lives.
Chapter9: Toru's Loneliness, Midori's Family
In this chapter, Toru Watanabe continues to grapple with his pervasive loneliness. He reflects on his complex relationships and the emotional turmoil he's experiencing, particularly with Naoko, who remains in a sanatorium. Toru's loneliness deepens as he navigates the spaces between his own desires and the expectations of those around him. His connection with Midori becomes more significant as she invites him to meet her family. This visit reveals much about Midori's background and personal struggles, highlighting her father's illness and the family dynamics at play. Despite their growing bond, Toru is haunted by his own feelings of isolation and the unresolved tensions with Naoko. The chapter delves into the intricacies of human connection and the impact of personal history on present relationships. Toru's introspection and Midori's familial revelations serve as a poignant exploration of their inner worlds, reflecting Murakami's themes of solitude, love, and the search for meaning.
Toru’s Loneliness: His struggle with pervasive feelings of isolation and emotional turmoil.
Naoko’s Sanatorium: The impact of Naoko’s absence and her treatment on Toru’s mental state.
Midori’s Invitation: Midori invites Toru to meet her family, signifying a deepening connection.
Family Dynamics: The visit reveals Midori’s father’s illness and the complexities of her family life.
Themes of Solitude: The chapter explores the themes of loneliness, love, and the search for meaning.
Chapter10: Midori's Kiss, Toru's Confusion
In this chapter, Toru Watanabe continues to navigate his intricate emotional landscape, particularly his growing connection with Midori Kobayashi. The chapter opens with an intimate moment between Toru and Midori, where she unexpectedly kisses him. This kiss is a pivotal event that leaves Toru both elated and bewildered, as he grapples with his feelings for both Midori and Naoko, his other significant emotional attachment. As the narrative unfolds, Toru finds himself in a state of confusion, torn between his loyalty to Naoko and his burgeoning affection for Midori. The chapter delves deep into Toru's internal struggle, highlighting the complexities of human relationships and the often conflicting nature of emotional bonds. Midori's playful yet sincere demeanor contrasts sharply with Naoko's fragile and enigmatic presence, further complicating Toru's emotions. This chapter is a critical exploration of Toru's inner turmoil and the difficult choices he must face as he attempts to reconcile his feelings for two very different women. By the end of the chapter, Toru's confusion remains unresolved, setting the stage for further emotional and relational challenges to come.
Toru’s Emotional Landscape: The chapter delves deep into Toru’s internal struggles and emotional conflicts.
Midori’s Kiss: An unexpected kiss from Midori triggers a mix of joy and confusion in Toru.
Loyalty to Naoko: Toru grapples with his sense of loyalty and responsibility toward Naoko.
Midori vs. Naoko: The stark contrast between Midori’s lively personality and Naoko’s fragile nature complicates Toru’s feelings.
Unresolved Confusion: Toru’s internal confusion remains unresolved, hinting at future challenges in his relationships.
Chapter11: Naoko's Suicide, Toru's Grief
The chapter delves into the profound sorrow and emotional turmoil experienced by Toru after the tragic news of Naoko's suicide. Toru receives a letter from Reiko, Naoko's roommate at the sanatorium, informing him of Naoko's death. This shattering event leaves Toru in a state of deep grief and confusion. He grapples with feelings of guilt, questioning whether he could have done more to save her. Toru's memories of Naoko flood back, and he recalls their intimate moments, her fragility, and her struggles with mental health. As he processes his grief, Toru finds himself increasingly isolated, withdrawing from his friends and his routine life. He takes a solitary journey to the countryside, seeking solace and attempting to come to terms with his loss. During this time, Toru reflects on the impermanence of life and the painful reality of losing someone he deeply cared for. The chapter poignantly captures Toru's internal battle and the profound impact of Naoko's death on his psyche, highlighting themes of love, loss, and the search for meaning in the face of tragedy.
Toru’s profound sorrow: The chapter explores Toru’s deep emotional pain upon learning about Naoko’s suicide.
Letter from Reiko: Toru is informed of Naoko’s death through a letter from Reiko, her roommate at the sanatorium.
Feelings of guilt: Toru struggles with intense guilt, questioning if he could have prevented Naoko’s death.
Isolation and withdrawal: Toru becomes increasingly isolated, distancing himself from friends and routine activities.
Solitary journey: Toru embarks on a solitary trip to the countryside to seek solace and come to terms with his loss.
Chapter12: Toru's Isolation, Midori's Love
Chapter 12 delves into the deepening isolation of Toru Watanabe as he grapples with his feelings and the emotional turbulence surrounding him. Toru is increasingly consumed by a sense of loneliness, exacerbated by Naoko's continued absence and the unresolved tension in their relationship. His detachment from the world grows as he becomes more introspective, reflecting on the transient nature of life and human connections. Amidst this, Midori Kobayashi emerges as a beacon of warmth and affection, providing Toru a semblance of stability and hope. Midori's candid and vivacious nature starkly contrasts with Toru's brooding disposition, offering him a different perspective on love and companionship. Their interactions are marked by Midori’s straightforwardness and the gradual unraveling of her own vulnerabilities. Despite Toru's internal struggles, Midori's unwavering support and love begin to plant seeds of change within him. The chapter poignantly captures the nuances of human relationships and the delicate balance between isolation and intimacy, highlighting Murakami's skillful portrayal of complex emotional landscapes.
Toru’s Isolation: Toru experiences profound loneliness and introspection.
Naoko’s Absence: Naoko’s continued absence heightens Toru’s sense of detachment.
Midori’s Warmth: Midori provides Toru with emotional support and affection.
Contrasting Personalities: Midori’s vivacious nature contrasts with Toru’s brooding disposition.
Emotional Nuances: The chapter explores the balance between isolation and intimacy in human relationships.
Flashcards of Norwegian Wood
Who is the protagonist of Norwegian Wood?
Toru Watanabe
Discussion Questions for Norwegian Wood
1.How do the themes of love and loss shape the characters' development?
2.What does the novel suggest about the impact of mental health on relationships?
3.How does the setting of 1960s Japan influence the story?
4.In what ways do Toru's relationships with Naoko and Midori differ?
5.What role does music play in the novel?
6.How does Murakami use symbolism to enhance the narrative?
7.What is the significance of the novel's title?
8.How does Toru's character evolve throughout the story?
9.What does the novel convey about the process of healing and moving on?
10.How do the secondary characters, like Reiko and Nagasawa, contribute to the main themes?
Book Reviews of Norwegian Wood
“I once had a girl, or should I say, she once had me...
this bird had flown.”
Beatles
Haruki Murakami borrowes his novel title “Norwegian Wood” from the Beatles.
On a cold soggy November day as Toru Wanatabe's flight makes its decent into Hamburg a version of the Beatle's track Norwegian Wood comes through the p.a. system. Thirty-seven-year-old Toru feels a shudder go through him. He remembers his story. Eighteen years have gone by when during a walk Nakao said to him:
"I’d never find my way back. I’d go to pieces and the pieces would be blown away."
The pieces do get blown away but Toru remembers every detail of the sad and strange love story, a story of life and death.
It began as a tale of three close friends Kizuki, his girl friend, Naoko, and Toru who spend much time together. A short time later Kizuki who was good at everything and had everything, it would seem, commits suicide. After this Toru’s and Naoko’s friendship develop into deep love. She is a much-troubled girl and eventually ends up in a sanatorium, Ami Hostel, in the mountains.
Other characters come into Toru’s life too. A fellow university student, Nagasawa, strong, debauched. He leads a charmed life at his university and only reads books by authors dead 30 years with one exception, Fitzgerald. Reiki is Naoko’s interesting room-mate. She is wise, kind, and spends much time learning to play new pieces on her guitar. It is when visiting Naoko in the Santorum that Toru first hears a version of Norwegian Wood played by Reiki. Midori, another strong character, a wild and energetic girl teaches Toru to take life as it comes. Her energy and flirtatiousness and a sense of sexual freedom give much relief to Toru through his troubled times.
Murakami's characters are fully developed and strong, and strong too is his dialogue. As always he is good at balancing the light and dark side of life. Throughout the story Toru is torn between his loyalty to Naoko and his attraction to others.
This novel like his other novels is deep and philosophical, at times strange but always with a touch of humour. Much of the author's love of Western music, of pop and jazz, comes into play in Norwegian Wood first published in in 1987
Toru’s painful love story is meditative and quiet. Naoko had insisted he remember her in the future, constantly reminded him not to forget her. He remembers.
Brief Description: At the start of the book, we meet Toru the businessman on an airplane. As he is getting ready to deplane, he hears the Beatle's song, Norwegian Wood, and it transports him back to the past--to the late 1960s when Toru was a quiet and serious college student who kept mostly to himself. However, a chance encounter with a girl from his hometown, Naoko, leads to a strange and unclassifiable relationship. The two are bound together by the suicide of a mutual friend years before, whose death continues to haunt their lives. Although Toru is doing his best to adapt and fit in with the world, Naoko struggles and eventually seeks help at an asylum. Toru, who finds himself bound to Naoko in ways he doesn't fully understand, is confused when he also finds himself drawn to a sexually liberated and outspoken fellow student, Midori. As Toru attempts to balance his commitment to Naoko and his attraction to Midori, he finds that he can only be free when (as the song says) "This bird has flown."
My Thoughts: OK ... I'll be upfront about why this book didn't work for me as much as it could have or I wanted it to. The main problem is that I was super-excited to try one of Murakami's fiction books and was prepared and pumped up for weirdness and alternate universes and talking animals and, unknowingly, managed to pick the one fairly straightforward book that Murakami wrote. (I only found this out afterwards. If only I'd read the blurb that said this book was "a complete stylistic departure" from his mysterious and surreal novels!) So, I was hoping for surrealism and found, instead, realism. Not to say this was a bad book, but it wasn't what I was expecting or hoping for. (Apparently, I should have chosen The Wind-Up Bird Chronicles or A Wild Sheep Chase instead.) The writing is graceful and fluid, and the story was accessible. Although tinged with melancholy and surprisingly graphic sex scenes/talk, Norwegian Wood ended up being a memorable and haunting coming of age story. It also evokes the strangeness and melancholy of the titular song.
Murakami is someone I've never fully embraced, yet keep coming back to. I don't like some of the fantastic and surreal elements of his writing, but I'm also drawn by the energy, intelligence, and inventiveness of it. And I also love how he infuses his work with elements of Western culture, especially music.
Norwegian Wood is a straight-on story about love and loss, and coming of age. It's not cluttered by any surrealism or fantasy. And it's loaded with musical references to classical and jazz, as well as the Western rock music of the late sixties. (As the title would suggest.) Thus, Norwegian Wood was exactly the right Murakami book to pick up next, the one book to push me further into his work.
It tells the story of Toru Watanabe, a college freshman living in Tokyo. Like many young men his age, he doesn't know what he wants to do with his life, and majors in drama for no real reason. And like many men his age, women both complicate and clarify things.
He has relationships with two completely different women: the troubled and introspective Naoko and the outgoing and spunky Midori. Naoko poses the most trouble for Toru for many reasons. First, she's the ex-girlfriend of Toru's best friend in high school, Kizuki, who committed suicide at 17. Kizuki's death had a major impact on both friends. For Naoko, she lost not just a boyfriend, but someone she had known since childhood, someone who had become almost a part of herself. For Toru, his friend's suicide changed his perspective on life, filling everything with the taste of death. `Death is not the opposite of life, but a part of it', becomes his new motto.
So when Toru and Naoko meet again, accidentally, on the subway, there's a connection, but a troubled one. The ghost of Kizuki hangs over them. They begin with odd walks through the city, Toru trailing Naoko like a puppy. But eventually a form of love develops. Once things eventually come to a head on her 20th birthday, their relationship becomes further complicated as Naoko runs away to a kind of sanatorium in the mountains over Kyoto. Months pass before Toru even knows where she's gone, and he lives in a sort of limbo, going to school, working at a record store. Waiting.
Meanwhile, he meets Midori, a fellow drama student. They form an immediate bond, though she has a boyfriend and has her own problems with her troubled family life, including a father dying of brain cancer. They become fast friends, and Toru finds himself attracted to her despite the pain he still feels at the loss of Naoko.
Of course, Naoko muddies the waters again by writing him to tell him where she is and inviting him to visit. There he meets Naoko's roommate, Reiko, an older woman with a talent for music. The three spend much time sitting around while Reiko plays guitar for them, including Naoko's favorite song, Norwegian Wood. In a sense, Reiko becomes the third woman in Toru's life, because she is open, and they develop a friendship in his short time there. With Naoko, he learns some more about her issues, but just enough happens to keep him connected to her, not enough to resolve their love. He is still in a limbo.
Murakami teases the frustrations of this state out of Toru. Toru agonizes over his dilemma, stuck between a woman he loves but can't have and a great woman he can have. Midori begins to fall for him and pressures him. But he's waiting for something to happen. Of course, something does. But then what? Has he waited too long?
This is a great story, but it is further strengthened by great characters. Besides Toru and Midori, whose honest, straight-forward manners combine with deep vulnerabilities to make them both irresistible, Murakami fills the landscape with great supporting actors as well. Reiko steals each scene she walks into. Toru's anal roommate "Storm Trooper" makes for some good laughs, and is a great source of conversation for Toru. Nagasawa is a privileged student of an elite university who is drawn to Toru through a shared love of Western literature and uses his influence to help Toru out of a few jams. Yet his arrogance and womanizing also adds a layer of complexity to the friendship, as these traits both compel and repulse Toru. The characters really make this book hard to put down.
Norwegian Wood is a great read and will definitely keep me on the path to reading more Murakami.
This is my favorite book and plot of all time. It really left me feeling all the feels and emotions. It is very detailed and you can definitely imagine every scene and their conversations. This is a book that I finished in just a day or two. After a few pages, I was hooked and didn't want to stop!
I ordered this book to see what the fuss over Murakami was all about, especially among the New York literati. I looked up rankings of Murakami's books and lists of his highest-rated books, and this came out consistently near the top. I'm not sure what I was expecting, perhaps something deeply philosophical and beautifully written. But I learned something very important from this book, and that is that there's a difference between a good story and good literature, and Norwegian Wood is the former but not the latter.
The story underlying Norwegian Wood is fundamentally a good story, but the prose is terrible, and none of the female characters, except for Reiko, are written realistically, and there is too much pornographic detail in the sex scenes compared to the level of detail devoted to the other minutiae of the story's content. Some of those scenes are downright misogynistic.
First, let's talk about the story. Murakami is skillful in setting up situations and moods that are underscored with a feeling of mystery and unpredictability beneath a banal surface, where you sense anything at all can happen for reasons you can't explain but can intuit, rather like in a dream. He also has made a penchant for tackling subjects that perhaps traditional or high Japanese culture has been hesitant to address: mental illness, depression, suicide, LGBTQ issues, female sexuality, nihilism, and apathy toward a typical modern work ethic. Perhaps it's healthy for a society that hasn't addressed these themes to do so. The problem is that these themes are nothing new to the West, which has been addressing them in the arts for at least a century. Perhaps this is why Americans feel so comfortable with Murakami's work.
After a while, though, all the depression and isolation in the book seems fetishized, like a type of pornography of alienation, with no cause other than the desire of the author to savor it. And few viable solutions as well. I mean, don't these depressed, lonely kids have their parents and family and friends to talk to? If Murakami is making a statement about the negative effects of a workaholic culture on its members, I'd be interested to hear more about that. But we don't really. The story has a few good touches, such as when Toru and Midori have lunch in her apartment while detachedly watching an apartment fire from across the street, and when Toru feeds her dying father cucumbers in the hospital. Otherwise, we just kind of watch these kids wander around and get lost.
But let's now talk about the prose. New York reviewers tend to call it "spare" but that's a bit too flattering. It's inarticulate, cliched, and hackneyed. It sounds like it was written by a teenager. You might try to defend the prose since the tale is told from the viewpoint of a teenage college student, but it's NOT told from the viewpoint of a teenage college student. It's told from the viewpoint of a 37-year-old man RECALLING his days as a teenage college student, so the prose SHOULD be richer and more sophisticated, but it's not. The narrator talks like this because Murakami writes like this. And he writes like this because he knows his audiences respond well to simple vocabularies and phrases and that this sells more books. It's just a cheap ploy for a wider audience. I felt like I was reading an article from Cosmopolitan magazine, like I was cheating myself out of a richer reading experience I could have gotten from another book.
Now let's talk about the female characters. Aside from Reiko, none of them seem real, and none of them behave in a way that a woman, or any real human person, would plausibly behave. Naoko is a diaphanous abstraction. Midori is a Manic Pixie Dream Girl. Hatsumi suffers too willingly under Nagasawa. They all seem to exist as vessels for male desires or absorbers of male suffering. Even Reiko, who is the realest and most likeable person in the book, has a backstory that is bizarrely implausible. She, a woman in her 30s, tells of being sexually assaulted by an oversexed, sociopathic, lesbian 13-year-old. When has that type of thing ever happened? When does that ever happen? When and where has such a girl ever existed? Only the in the misogynistic fantasies of male authors, perhaps. That's where. The backstory is so incongruous and unbelievable that it undermines the efforts of the author to have Reiko appear so trustworthy. It really comes across as another revelation of the author's sexual tastes that litter his books and seems to serve no other purpose.
Norwegian Wood gets tiresome sometimes in its descriptions of mundane activities, of eating, drinking, studying, and laundry. It's typically during the sex scenes where the detail begins to blossom into more flowery descriptions, but for no good reason save for perhaps the author's own desires and tastes. After a while, it becomes embarrassingly obvious that Murakami is attracted to underage girls with large breasts and that he likes manual sex, penchants that become even clearer while reading Kafka on the Shore. After a while, I wouldn't have found it surprising if Toru had ended up having sex with his male friends. After all, they're the only ones left he hadn't had sex with by the end of the book.
So lurid is the sex in this book, and so fetishized is the depression, and so flat is its prose that I wouldn't regard this as high literature at all. It comes across as pulp surrealism, or manga surrealism, an interesting tale told in a lowbrow way. Norwegian Wood is really not much more than high-priced pulp fiction. There's not much that's wrong with pulp fiction, either. Just don't pretend that it's high literature while selling it for the very same salacious reasons that pulp appeals to a mass audience. If this is considered Murakami's best book, I'm kind of not looking forward to reading any others. After this and the Kafka book, I'll give him one last try. If I don't feel good after reading the Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, I'm giving up on Murakami altogether and I'm sticking with Hesse, Kafka (the real thing), and Schulz.
Requently Asked Questions about Norwegian Wood
1.What is the main theme of 'Norwegian Wood'?
—'Norwegian Wood' primarily explores themes of love, loss, and the pain of growing up. It delves into the complexities of relationships and the impact of past traumas on the present.
2.Who is the protagonist of the story?
—The protagonist of 'Norwegian Wood' is Toru Watanabe, a college student in Tokyo who navigates his feelings and relationships during the late 1960s.
3.How does Toru's relationship with Naoko evolve?
—Toru and Naoko share a deep, yet troubled connection rooted in their shared past and the loss of their mutual friend, Kizuki. Their relationship is marked by emotional intensity and Naoko's struggle with mental health issues.
4.Who is Midori, and what role does she play in the novel?
—Midori Kobayashi is a vibrant and outspoken classmate of Toru's who becomes an important part of his life. She represents a contrast to Naoko, offering Toru an alternative perspective on life and love.
5.What significance does the song 'Norwegian Wood' by The Beatles hold in the novel?
—The song 'Norwegian Wood' symbolizes nostalgia and memory, encapsulating the mood of the novel. It is a recurring motif that evokes the past and the emotional landscape of the characters.
6.How does the novel address mental health issues?
—'Norwegian Wood' sensitively addresses mental health through characters like Naoko and Reiko. It explores the impact of mental illness on individuals and their relationships, as well as the challenges of seeking help and understanding.
7.What is the significance of the setting in the late 1960s in Tokyo?
—The setting in the late 1960s is significant as it reflects a period of social and political change in Japan. It provides a backdrop for the characters' personal struggles and the countercultural movements of the time.
8.How does Toru cope with the losses he experiences?
—Toru copes with loss by reflecting deeply on his relationships and seeking connections with others. His journey is one of introspection and gradual acceptance of the pain and beauty of life.
9.What role does the character Reiko play in the story?
—Reiko Ishida is a close friend and confidante of Naoko who also struggles with her own past traumas. She provides guidance and support to both Naoko and Toru, and her story adds depth to the novel's exploration of healing and recovery.
10.How does 'Norwegian Wood' end, and what message does it convey?
—The novel's ending is open to interpretation, but it suggests a sense of unresolved longing and the ongoing process of healing. It conveys a message about the enduring nature of love and the importance of moving forward despite past sorrows.
Content
- Target Audience
- Author Background
- Historical Context
- MindMap
- Chapter Summary
- Flashcards
- Discussion Questions
- Book Reviews
- FAQs