Norwegian Wood

Haruki Murakami

Aug 2010 · Sold by Vintage

About this ebook

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.

Ratings and reviews

So often we hear of situations where one member of a relationship seeks to fill a hole that is missing in the relationship. I am curious to read a Japanese author's take on the matter. Compared to American culture, Japanese culture and how they deal with relationships could be similar or different. The author was a nominee for the 2010 Neustadt prize.

There is something wonderfully smooth and collected about Murakami's writing. The thoughts and events that make up this story, though often difficult and troubling, all flow gently together, or sit like a calm clear pond.

This book has sex but it is beyond sex. Its about love, life and choosing to face it head on or not. In some ways it reminded me about Catcher in the Rye if you loved that book you'll like this too.

About the author

HARUKI MURAKAMI lives near Tokyo.

Newly translated from the Japanese by Jay Rubin.