The protagonist of Norwegian Wood is a young boy, Toru, who's just started college in Tokyo. The time span of the entire book is about two years, in which, he falls in love with his now deceased best friend's girl friend, Naoko, and at the same time is attracted to a somewhat off beat character called Midori. The story is really not that complicated. But that's besides the point. From what I have come to understand, complicated plots, and plot twists are not necessarily what sets Murakami apart from the rest of the crowd. What sets him apart is his way of execution of a seemingly ordinary event/plot. While I was reading, I didn't worry about the characters, where they were headed, or the outcome of their choices. I simply immersed myself in the art of storytelling that is just so unique of Murakami. I think I mentioned something similar before in my review of Kafka on the Shore, that what makes a book great is when you can lose yourself in the story, become one with the characters. That's what happened with Norwegian Wood too! Even though the experiences of the characters and my own life so far have absolutely nothing in common, somehow Murakami had managed to make me feel like he was writing, one way or another, about my life.
I think I have praised Murakami enough for one review. I should probably get on with the actual review now. As I mentioned, it's not one of Murakami's bizarre books. The characters, as eventful as their lives had been in the short 20 years, are nothing other worldly. They are normal people who have had things done to, by fate or other people, have your pick. Some of these characters are broken, some are hopeful, some are clowns, some are arrogant pricks, and some are just... plain ordinary. The premise is as simple as it gets. Toru is a smart young man who, although somewhat detached from the rest of the world, is in love with Naoko. His best friend, and Naoko's boyfrind, had killed himself when they were 17. Suicide is the kind of thing that is hard to get over. Both Toru and Naoko try to get past this in their own ways, and in the process end up getting involved in this complicated relationship. Naoko has a hard time accepting reality, while Toru vows to wait for Naoko no matter how long it takes for her to be ready to face the world again. Along the way we see other characters who give depth to these two main characters. There's also Midori, an alternate love interest for Toru.
You know, reviewing a Murakami book is just so very difficult. I mean, how do you review a book that doesn't have a specific plot along with twists and turns, but simply pulls you in and makes you part of the journey of the characters themselves? How do you talk about such a book without giving away the entire thing? Spoiling is the last thing I want to do in my reviews. All I can say about Norwegian Wood is that, as I was reading, I was practically living and breathing the book itself. Does that even make sense? Probably not. But I don't know how else to explain the experience that is a Murakami book. And yes, a Murakami book is an experience, alright.
Give it a go, I'm sure you won't regret it. And if you do regret it, well, there are all kinds of people in the world with all kinds of tastes, so I know, I get it. It's cool. But do give it a try anyway.
5 out of 5.
Title: Norwegian Wood (Buy on Amazon)
Author: Haruki Murakami (Translated by Jay Rubin)
Publisher: Vintage Books, September 12, 2000
Format: Paperback, 296 pages
Genre: Fiction, Adult, Contemporary
Source: University of Denver Library