Norwegian Wood

ByHaruki Murakami

Release Date: 2000-09-12
Genre: Literary Fiction

Score: 4.5

4.5

From 827 Ratings

Description

From the bestselling author of Kafka on the Shore: A magnificent coming-of-age story steeped in nostalgia, “a masterly novel” (The New York Times Book Review) blending the music, the mood, and the ethos that were the sixties with a young man’s hopeless and heroic first love.

Now with a new introduction by the author.

Toru, a serious young college student in Tokyo, is devoted to Naoko, a beautiful and introspective young woman, but their mutual passion is marked by the tragic death of their best friend years before. As Naoko retreats further into her own world, Toru finds himself drawn to a fiercely independent and sexually liberated young woman.

Stunning and elegiac, Norwegian Wood first propelled Haruki Murakami into the forefront of the literary scene.

Reviews

Read it
4
By arizour
I have been on a Murakami marathon for the past 1.5 years and this has been one of my favorites. It wasn’t as mysterious as his other novels but I couldn’t put it down.
Sad
1
By Callanish7
Not riveting ! It was a pitiful sad story about mentally ill college kids a kin to Catcher in the Rye and The Graduate only set in Japan. Disturbing self reflecting stream of consciousness that went on and on in a progressively aimless lost fugue state. ugh - but that was part of the point. This is a book that’s been written before …. So drab!
Wow just wow
5
By amyfaceamy
So amazingly sad. So beautiful.
Great book
5
By Ploughman7
A truly wonderful read.
✨
5
By Twinklemoon
One of the few writers able to capture the intricacies of relationships and the profound impact of events on the lives of others
Whole new perspective
5
By Isaac.perez
Im 16 and i hate reading but this just opened my eyes. I was just reading the sample and it’s such a beautiful book all the detail and the way he displays them. He wrote this to the point that you feel like your in the mind of the character. Really recommend this and its coming from a kid that hates reading. For sure buying this book and many more.
Not what i expected ..
3
By Sandy1525
I am a great fan of Haruki. He casts a spell on the reader through the complexity of his plots and his ability to mix reality with fantasy. Nowegian Wood turned out to be more about young adult sexuality than anything else. Parts of the novel gave the feeling that it was written by a novice and not a master story-teller. I misssed the master who wrote Kafka On The Shore.
Amazing
5
By Banefjhrl
I love this book, a romance cursed by tragedy; this book describes the harsh unfair reality of life in such a romantic but sobering way. I can't think of a book id recommend more to young men than this one here.
A rare gem of human tragedy
5
By Crooks2002
I just finished reading -(well listening via audiobook) to Murakami's Norwegian Wood. My heart feels torn right now- just as Toru Watanabe struggles between life and death in the depths of this novel. Mr. Murakami paints the picture of how now I can only imagine Japan of the late 60's must have been. Both turbulent and also carefree the time and place set the backdrop of a boy coming of age in circumstances in which no one of any age should have to endure, the death of his best friend.
I won't give a synopses anymore than I already have, though I would like to say how deeply this novel has moved me. Life can be cruel just as much as it can be rewarding- and it is what you make of what is presented to you. It has helped me to see this- it has reflected my life in many ways. Where does my heart lie in this tug of war between life and death. Where does Toru's lie? It is a question I won't soon let go- and one I won't soon ever know, I suppose. Read the book. Let it haunt you as it does me.
Great book
5
By JeanieG
Great book, easy read, sensual, sentimental, lyrical, bittersweet.