Book Review: Norwegian wood by Haruki Murakami

Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Norwegian wood was my second Murakami, first being Kafka on the Shore. Where Kafka was everything a Murakami novel is known for...Surrealism, a sort of melancholic grimness, mysterious characters who don't fit in in the world outside, oodles of unaffected but respectful sex to fulfil something that is just a mere physical need, and references to some classic literature and jazz music (about which I have no clue at the least, I won't pretend).... Norwegian wood is different but at the same time carries on with the general undertone of poignancy common to his work. (When I think of Murakami, I can only imagine a short silhouette of darkness that passes you by, head down, glassy eyed, unattached from the world that is mooning over him.) Norwegian wood felt different may be because even though at every turn of page I was prepared for fish rains and talking cats, none appeared. But instead you find men and women struggling in the search for something (identity, love, self esteem et cetera) they never really find. They are all conflicted as to why love always eludes them and that is a Murakami world right there.
It is the story of Midori who loved Watanabe who loved Midori but also Naoko who took her life as she was not over the death of her boyfriend Kizuki who killed himself for reasons unapparent. In between you have Nagasawa who cannot help being indifferent to Hatsumi, who cannot leave him despite the relationship constantly making her feel inadequate and unwanted, leading to her slashing her wrists after she marries another man. You get the gist. It is insanely grim and complex. But at the same time, it is unputdownable for the way Murakami creates magic with words. He drills a hole in your heart and stab you over and over but when you reach that last page, you are already dangerously involved in his painful world that rehabilitation to the real world is a slow process that requires a few days. Murakami, you monster! 😅


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