Norwegian Wood

“I want you always to remember me. Will you remember that I existed, and that I stood next to you here like this?”

“Will you wait for me forever?”

“Memory is a funny thing. When I was in the scene, I hardly paid it any mind. I never stopped to think of it as something that would make a lasting impression, certainly never imagined that eighteen years later I would recall it in such detail. I didn't give a damn about the scenery that day. I was thinking about myself. I was thinking about the beautiful girl walking next to me. I was thinking about the two of us together, and then about myself again. It was the age, that time of life when every sight, every feeling, every thought came back, like a boomerang, to me. And worse, I was in love. Love with complications. The scenery was the last thing on my mind.”

“If you only read the books that everyone else is reading, you can only think what everyone else is thinking.”

“What happens when people open their hearts?” “They get better.”

“Nobody likes being alone that much. I don't go out of my way to make friends, that's all. It just leads to disappointment.

“Don't feel sorry for yourself. Only assholes do that.”

“But who can say what's best? That's why you need to grab whatever chance you have of happiness where you find it, and not worry about other people too much. My experience tells me that we get no more than two or three such chances in a life time, and if we let them go, we regret it for the rest of our lives.”

Utterly beautiful and melancholic

This is one of my all time favorites. I am giving a 4 because I have a weird relationship with the book and it's not perfect.

Sometimes I remember the good parts then the bad. But still I all the parts are there in my heart. I can clearly visualise everything.

Stormtrooper, the walks with forests, the food and dates with midori.

The book has some weird stuff though. Like midori at the shrine at home.

Still I highly recommend it. This was my first Murakami and it has been a great journey since.

He made me remember how much fun I had reading as a kid and because of him I am able to enjoy reading like I used to.

It's just something when you find that one book and you just can't put it down. I was missing it and got to relive that feeling with this one. Can't wait to read more of Murakami.

Extremely good book. Reads like a dream playing out. Have my usual Murakami female character complaints, but otherwise very recommended. Loved how some characters acted as mirrors; basically all of their interactions with Watanabe were compelling. Very quotable at times.

Good stories don't necessarily teach me something immediately: they grow seeds of something personal that keep me contemplating about them. I love Norwegian Wood as the trail the story left in me still linger comforting me through hard times, reminding me that there are a lot of things that if I try to use logic to analyse I will put myself deeper in confusion.

Not really digging the main character. Too apathetic.

I genuinely do not know how I got to the end of this book, I should've DNFed it. I was stuck between being extremely bored and having the "misunderstood and lonely" male character reduce every single fucking women in this story to just a pair of tits plot line. the objectification of these women is quite frankly insane! mostly their stories pass as mere plot points for the main characters own life rather than them becoming their own characters.

also there is no way every girl wants to fuck this guy because he is genuinely awful and has no redeeming qualities. I assume this must be a part of murakami´s "magical realism" because it was fucking unrealistic!

8/10

Attraverso un lungo flashback il protagonista racconta della propria adolescenza, di come non ha la minima idea del proprio futuro, della ricerca del proprio posto nel mondo, ma soprattutto del rapporto con due ragazze l'una l'opposto dell'altra e della necessità di prendere delle decisioni (o la vita le prenderà per te).

Probabilmente è un libro più adatto a ragazzi adolescenti (che possono in qualche modo rispeccharsi e imparare qualcosa da Toru) che a gente della mia età. Eppure sto vivendo proprio in questo momento un periodo di grandi dubbi e confusione, fase che ho completamente saltato durante l'adolescenza (o forse sto vivendo solo ora la mia adolescenza), cosa che mi ha portato ad apprezzare molto (molto!) la prima parte del libro.

La seconda metà diventa quasi irrealistica, rimane un'ottima storia scorrevole e intrigante, ma la difficoltà nell'immedesimarsi nel protagonista mi ha portato un po' a distaccarmi dal libro, facendo scendere la valutazione.

As much as I tried to like it, I didn't. It wasn't bad, but it felt... too slimy, dirty; there were way too many unnecessary scenes that I will get into. Interesting book, but definitely overrated.

Incredibly sensitive and moving book. Detracted .5 for superfluous and uncomfortable sex scenes in later quarter of book that felt more fantastical than plot driven.

This will be my last Murakami book in a while. This book was just not for me. I just couldn’t get over the lack of plot and the badly-written females characters. It’s not terrible and there are some good reflections on death, but it just wasn’t my cup of tea

väldigt bra faktiskt. inte alls lika många frågetecken som wind up bird chronicles. spännande karaktärer, ofta väldigt vacker och tänkvärd men ibland också erotisk på ett väldigt konstigt sätt. lite sorglig med.

So long story short, I didn't like it.

And what put the nail in the coffin was Toru sleeping with Reiko and I quote:
“as if it were the most natural thing in the world for us to do”

Uh... no it's not??????????

Didn't like how the female character were written. And that's on period.

I'd heard Murakami didn't write women well, and perhaps I started with the wrong book of his. Among the lovely stretches of writing there were random bits that felt like incel fan fiction. And every time such a line would occur, I'd ask myself “is this because the characters are all supposed to be deeply flawed?” But I don't think that's the case.

I liked enough of the writing to try another of his books.

“Death is not the opposite of life but an innate part of life.”Wow. Reading this book was like reading an art, a masterpiece. It was my first time reading Murakami and I get why are there people who hate his work and people who absolutely love his work. And I'm one of the people who absolutely freaking loved it. The writing style is so beautiful it makes my soul happy. Reading it was like listening to a beautiful sad song that makes you nostalgic and you cry not because of sadness but because of how beautiful it is.I must wonder what the hell happened to Storm Trooper to disappear like that. Naoko also disappeared very unexpectedly. Her death was honestly a shock to me, I couldn't continue reading. I felt the same devastated emotions like Watanabe did and was happy that he didn't allow the darkness to swallow him like it did to Kizuki or Naoko. When he chooses Midori over Naoko, he basically chose to live and move on rather then be part of death.Some of the description of the women that Watanabe met might sound weird or even controversial. But it is from a adolescent man's point of view in the end.

i mean... idk the ending was kinda obvious. this book is certainly not the best of Murakami's works and it left me kind of empty. which is kind of the point I think, but still

nevertheless I had a good time reading it and I really liked the characters and all that

6/10 or 6.5/10

He pensado toda la lectura que le iba a dar cuatro estrellas porque me gusta mucho su prosa, su estilo y su forma de narrar, pero la historia en sí no me parecía tan buena... hasta que he llegado al final y todo ha encajado. No al estilo de una novela de misterio o policiaca donde el puzzle se resuelve al final, sino que ha sido entonces cuando algo ha hecho clic (que no crac, como diría Reiko) en mi mente y he visto hacia dónde quería llevarme el autor. Una historia sobre la soledad, el aislamiento, la incapacidad para relacionarse con los demás, la imperiosa necesidad de querer y ser queridos ( el amor aquí es, si no secundario, si al menos el final de un largo camino, no algo inmediato ni al alcance de la mano a corto plazo). Una colección de personajes que nadan en la desesperanza, inadaptados, en busca de ser salvados a través del amor (Naoko), el placer (Nagasawa), la redención (Watanabe), o un refugio que les proteja del mundo (Reiko). Todos ellos padecen una suerte de “autismo social” (dicho sea con todos los respetos hacia quienes tienen esa condición), que les impide madurar emocionalmente y continuar con sus vidas. Por ello, las personas que intentan acercarse a ellos sufren daños emocionales, Hatsumi, el propio Watanabe, y en menor medida Reiko.

Sólo cuando Watanabe comprende que Naoko es incapaz de amar, ni a él, ni a sí misma ni probablemente a Kizuki (tal vez por eso se suicidó aquel) decide apartarse de ella, romper amarras y abrazar el amor de Midori, que es la verdadera redención para él.

En definitiva, un viaje existencial a través del sexo, y la muerte, no como final de la vida sino como parte de ella.

Haruki Murakami's "Norwegian Wood" (originally published as "Tokyo Blues" in some regions) holds a special place in my literary journey. It served as my gateway to the captivating world of Japanese literature, introducing me to themes and a narrative style that continue to resonate with me.

While "Norwegian Wood" may not be a full-fledged exploration of Murakami's signature blend of fantasy and realism, it offers a glimpse into his masterful storytelling. The novel centers around a young man named Toru Watanabe, who navigates loss, grief, and the complexities of young adulthood in 1960s Tokyo.

Murakami's prose is deceptively simple, drawing the reader into Toru's introspective world. The first-person perspective creates a powerful and persistent hold, as we experience his emotional journey alongside him. The themes of alienation, first love, and loss are explored with a poignant honesty that resonates deeply, particularly with young adults.

"Norwegian Wood" may not be Murakami's most fantastical work, but it showcases his ability to weave the extraordinary into the ordinary. The novel's subtle dreamlike sequences and introspective musings create an atmosphere that lingers long after the last page is turned.

This is not a novel for those seeking fast-paced action or explicit emotional displays. Murakami's strength lies in his ability to evoke powerful emotions with quiet restraint. The characters, while flawed and relatable, unfold gradually through their actions and internal monologues.

Overall, "Norwegian Wood" is a captivating introduction to Haruki Murakami's literary world. While it may not be his most complex work, it offers a powerful and introspective look at the complexities of young adulthood. The novel's enduring themes, captivating first-person perspective, and subtle elements of magic make it a must-read for those seeking a unique and thought-provoking literary experience.

What a gentle and comforting read. Murakami!

Non ho mai percepito così tanta connessione con un autore, i suoi personaggi e il suo modo di scrivere. Esco dalla lettura che un po' di Norvegian Wood è rimasto dentro di me, è un libro che riafferma il mio amore per la lettura.

it took me so long to read this because i kept getting bored but i was curious enough about the hype to finish it.

why i didn't like this book:
Spoiler
1. the narrator is so pretentious for no reason
2. all the women felt very 2-dimensional and the only trait they all had was that they were emotionally dysfunctional but sexually desirable (to the narrator)
3. i was extremely disturbed by the way the female characters were encapsulated in this story because it emphasised the sexualisation and objectification of women, which is/was especially bad in this historical and cultural context.
4. no plot
5. overall made me uncomfortable (especially the sex scenes)

though i will admit i understand why people enjoyed this (the atmosphere of the seemingly mundane and ordinary with awful tragedies embedded in it)

DNF. The most boring Murakami book I've read. Didn't interest me one bit and I won't force myself into finishing it.

Some of this was really beautifully written (and funny at times) but then oh boy, the main female characters are SO sexualised. And they just read like a male fantasy, not like a real human beings.

dla wielbicieli Sally Rooney, Naoise Dolan, Meg Nolan
choć Haruki Murakami był pierwszy

Norwegian Wood to najwyraźniej książka Murakamiego, którą “wszyscy” w Japonii czytali, a zniechęcony bohater Toru Watanabe jest odpowiednikiem postaci Holdena Caulfielda z Buszującego w Zbożu dla wielu japońskich młodych ludzi.
Choć historia ma miejsce w Japonii, w późnych latach 60-tych, odnajdujemy w książce uniwersalny nurt emocjonalny, który nie sprawia wrażenia przestarzałego. Jest mrocznie emocjonalna, ale też zaskakująco sensualnie i czasem zabawnie. Toru Watanabe jest poważnym młodym człowiekiem na uniwersytecie w Tokio, próbującym zrozumieć świat i swoją w nim rolę. Lawiruje między relacjami z dwoma młodymi kobietami: Naoku, dziewczyną, którą znał jeszcze w liceum, kiedy to był częścią trójkąta przyjaźni z nią i z Kizuku, przyjacielem, który popełnił samobójstwo oraz Midori, opiniotwórczą, pełną życia dziewczyną, której obecność w jego życiu jest czystą radością.
Autor ujmująco snuje historię - choć to bardzo przegadana powieść, to jednak wszystko jest niezwykle efektowne i wciągające. Niewiele się “dzieje”, ale relacje i życie wewnętrzne są pięknie i trafnie ukazane. To historia pełna melancholii, bólu, żalu i kilku krótkich wybuchów przelotnego romansu. Murakami podkreśla ludzką kondycję: depresji, alienacji i samotności, jakby chciał powiedzieć: to już jest zbyt absurdalne, to jest wystarczająco surrealistyczne.

“Nikt nie lubi samotności. Ja tylko nie próbuję się z nikim na siłę zaprzyjaźniać. To prowadzi do rozczarowań. “

“Chciałam się zakochać w kimś przystojniejszym, ale zakochałam się w tobie. Nic na to nie poradzę.”

I don't see what all the hype around this book is, like yeah I guess it's kinda sad and explores loss and sexuality but like I wasn't really into all that. It was ok and picked up around the end but not by much. Overall I feel like there are better books out there that I wouldn't really recommend reading this one, but also I haven't read much of the authors other works.