by John Hambrick
When 37-year-old Toru Watanabe arrives in Hamburg, Germany, he is taken back to his college days in 1960’s Tokyo, as “Norwegian Wood” (which is also the title of this work of fiction) by the Beatles is playing over the intercom. Here begins the nostalgic tale of love, loss, and sexuality. As Toru reminisces we see intricate friendships unfold - the type of relationships that help one understand “the human experience”.
In particular, Toru relays his relationships with two contrasting women, Naoko and Midori. Naoko is quiet, misguided and misunderstood while troubled by the unexpected death of her 17-year-old boyfriend Kizuki. Midori is nothing like Naoko. She is outspoken, asks a lot of questions and lives for the moment.
Love is at Toru’s fingertips but can not be reached. When Naoko takes a leave of absence and moves into a sanatorium, Toru is stunned. His feelings toward Naoko are very strong and although she is unwell, it seems like she could be released at anytime. In contrast, Toru’s relationship with Midori develops and seems to have the potential to blossom into something great. This love triangle becomes a very complex situation for Toru.
Murakami makes this novel interesting by indulging the reader in each one of these intricate characters. While the situation is simple, the characters allow for a much more complex plot.
When reading Murakami's work, it’s important to put all predictions and expectations aside. Murakami’s prose is parallel with the walks Naoko and Toru used to take through the never-ending streets of Tokyo. Also as a part of this mysterious prose Murakami holds, he often leaves the reader with an ultimatum. The reader will be forced to decide how the story ends. It's a great title for the healthy mind because there's always something deeper than the words.
When 37-year-old Toru Watanabe arrives in Hamburg, Germany, he is taken back to his college days in 1960’s Tokyo, as “Norwegian Wood” (which is also the title of this work of fiction) by the Beatles is playing over the intercom. Here begins the nostalgic tale of love, loss, and sexuality. As Toru reminisces we see intricate friendships unfold - the type of relationships that help one understand “the human experience”.
In particular, Toru relays his relationships with two contrasting women, Naoko and Midori. Naoko is quiet, misguided and misunderstood while troubled by the unexpected death of her 17-year-old boyfriend Kizuki. Midori is nothing like Naoko. She is outspoken, asks a lot of questions and lives for the moment.
Love is at Toru’s fingertips but can not be reached. When Naoko takes a leave of absence and moves into a sanatorium, Toru is stunned. His feelings toward Naoko are very strong and although she is unwell, it seems like she could be released at anytime. In contrast, Toru’s relationship with Midori develops and seems to have the potential to blossom into something great. This love triangle becomes a very complex situation for Toru.
Murakami makes this novel interesting by indulging the reader in each one of these intricate characters. While the situation is simple, the characters allow for a much more complex plot.
When reading Murakami's work, it’s important to put all predictions and expectations aside. Murakami’s prose is parallel with the walks Naoko and Toru used to take through the never-ending streets of Tokyo. Also as a part of this mysterious prose Murakami holds, he often leaves the reader with an ultimatum. The reader will be forced to decide how the story ends. It's a great title for the healthy mind because there's always something deeper than the words.