Hello everyone,
Time for another book review. I have this thing where I like to read people’s favourite books, it makes me feel like I get to know them better. Plus it gives you more things to talk about. Norwegian Wood (aside from being a Beatles song) is a book by Haruki Murakami. My housemate and her boyfriend both really love this book and recommended that I read it.
Norwegian Wood is set in Tokyo in the 60’s as Toru reflects on his university years, loves both lost and found and growing up. The late teens and early twenties is a very tumultuous time as you try to find your feet in the world and figure out where your life is going. For Toru this was no different, though tougher than most. His first love Naoko suffers from depression. Toru has encountered depression before, when he was 17 his best friend and Naoko’s childhood sweetheart suddenly committed suicide, gouging a deep wound in both their hearts.
It is only natural after such a tragedy for the people involved to grow closer and try to protect each other from further harm. However, it’s extremely difficult to protect someone from harm being done from the inside. The harder Toru tries to shield Naoko the worse she becomes, finally ending up in a sanitarium for alternative therapy.
As Toru struggles with this a girl name Midori rockets into his life and turns it all upside down. She becomes his best friend and confidente. As he slowly falls in love with her his heart is torn in two. What do you do when you love two people? The story follows Toru as his past and his present collide and his future balances on a knife edge.
Murakami weaves a compelling narrative, with characters you instantly emotionally invest in. I just could not put this book down, it tugged so hard on my heart strings. If you suffer from depression (which I am fortunate enough not to) or have known someone who does then this book will speak to you and hit you hard. It certainly hit me, it was insightful and devastatingly beautiful. It gives you a deeper understanding of what it is to be the person standing helplessly by as someone close to you suffers. It was a hard read, but I’m glad that I did.
Have you read this? What did you think? Let me know in the comments below.
xoxo
This sounds like a truly thought provoking read, I do know a few people with depression so I am keen to read this to see how it translates in print and identify any parallels. Great reviews, I am excited to give this a go, just hope I can find it! Xx
ReplyDeleteALittleKiran | Bloglovin
It's definitely not a book to read lightly, but it should be easy to get hold of :-) I hope you enjoy it!
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I have never heard of this but I will have to read it as it sounds like something I would really enjoy reading, great review!
ReplyDeletelxdia.blogspot.co.uk
I think you would enjoy it :-) Let me know what you think?
Deletexoxo
I'm been dying to read that author's work!
ReplyDeletexx Yasmin
http://banglesandbungalows.com
I can't recommend this book any more :-) You should stop what you're doing and read it right now!
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Awesome review!! <3 Loved reading this! <3
ReplyDeleteAmelia | http://amelia-g.blogspot.com.au/
I'm so glad you enjoyed it :-) I hope it has inspired you to read the book!
Deletexoxo
I read this book in my teens, and it left a pretty strong impression on me.
ReplyDeleteI've been into reading Murakami ever since, even though his works tend to either leave me feeling melancholic or deep in thought for a while. (Book hangover?)
You should definitely give "Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage" a try! It's pretty similar in nature, though personally I prefer this one over Norwegian Wood.
Book hangovers are a very real phenomenon. I completely understand, I feel like this book will stay with me for quite some time. Thank you for the book recommendation, I am keen to read more Murakami. Norwegian Wood will be a hard book to follow, it really resonated with me.
Deletexoxo