• nl Nederlands
  • en English
AVO Magazine - One click closer to Japan
  • AVO Magazine
    • AVO Magazine, who?
    • Join the AVO Magazine team
    • AVO Magazine presents
    • AVO Magazine Podcast
    • Join AVO Magazine’s Discord Server
    • Submit News to AVO Magazine
    • Support AVO Magazine
  • Japanese Music
    • Music News
      • Music Announcements
      • Musical Snack
    • Curtain-raiser
    • Weekly MV Roundup
      • Weekly MV Roundup
      • About: 7 New Music Videos You Need To Check Out
    • Interviews Musicians
    • Music Reviews
    • Music Reports
  • Japan-related Events
    • Anime Events
    • Convention and expo announcements
    • Music Announcements
    • Other announcements
    • Reports
  • Japan-related Reviews
    • Book Reviews
    • Film Reviews
    • Game Reviews
    • Music Reviews
    • Other Reviews
    • Product Reviews
    • Series Reviews
  • Colophon
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
  • nl Nederlands
  • en English
No Result
View All Result
AVO Magazine - One click closer to Japan
No Result
View All Result
Home Reviews Book Reviews

Book Review: Haruki Murakami – Norwegian Wood

Chibishi by Chibishi
18 August 2017
Reading Time: 2 mins read
A A
0
Boek Review: Haruki Murakami – Norwegian Wood
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on RedditShare on LINE

With Norwegian Wood, Japanese author Haruki Murakami made his break-through in Japan in 1987. This worldwide bestseller with over thirteen million copies sold even reached the younger generation of Japan, something Murakami had not been able to do with his previous books. So what makes this novel so popular?

Haruki Murakami - Norwegian Wood

The surrealism and magical realism themes, that are always present in Murakami’s novels, is not found in Norwegian Wood (ノルウェイの森). This is a true coming-of-age story that touches the topics of loss, sexuality and love – topics that Murakami had yet to approach in-depth in his other works. The story revolves around our main protagonist Toru Watanabe who is reminiscing his university years in Tokyo in the 60s. His best friend Kizuki committed suicide when he was 17, leaving Toru and Kizuki’s girlfriend behind. You read about how quiet and serious Toru deals with the loss of his best friend, but also the feelings he starts developing for Naoko, who is struggling living with the remembrance of Kizuki and is slowly sinking into a serious depression. While Naoko is retreating into her own world more and more, Toru meets outgoing Midori who shows his a different way of living life.

What makes this novel so gripping is that the problems and feelings presented are relatable for an audience of both young and old readers. Toru’s road to maturity is shaped mainly by the tragic events he encounters in life and the way he, and others around him, deal with those events. Even if you cannot identify with Toru, this story has all sorts of ways to reach you personally. The downwards spiralling mental stability of Naoko makes you rethink the effect death can leave you with, and Midori’s vitality makes you remember the freedom and careless you felt when you were young.

Norwegian Wood is best recommended to readers who want to become more familiar with Haruki Murakami’s writing style, as the surrealism is his other novels can be off-putting to some. This powerful story was loosely based on Murakami’s life and also exposes a different side of Japanese society, such as the depression and doubt Japanese youth struggles with.

Score: 85/100
Author: Haruki Murakami
ISBN: 9780099448822 (Vintage)
Language: English
Number of pages: 389

ADVERTISEMENT
Chibishi

Chibishi

One-time contributor.

Related Posts

Kyoto Garden (Holland Park, London) | Photo by Henry Kellner via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Other Reviews

A walk in the park of Kyoto Garden (Holland Park, London)

by Peter Dennis
4 July 2022
0

In a bustling metropolis such as London any moment of peace and tranquillity is a welcome relief and there’s no...

Read more
Esprit D'Air - Oceans (album cover)

CD Review: Esprit D’Air – Oceans

4 July 2022

Product Review: Heart – Tropical-Rouge Pretty Cure Rainbow Jelly

8 June 2022
Product Review: Pigeon – Microwave Shortcake

Product Review: Pigeon – Microwave Shortcake

4 May 2022
Goodbye Eri/SAYONARA ERI © 2022 by Tatsuki Fujimoto/SHUEISHA Inc.

Should you say hello to “Goodbye, Eri”? — Bite-Sized Review(s)

28 April 2022
Next Post
Product Review: Popin Cookin – Donuts

Product Review: Popin Cookin - Donuts

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

I agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Donate a digital coffee to keep AVO Magazine online
ADVERTISEMENT
Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube Soundcloud Discord


Online magazine since 2012. AVO Magazine is a Japan-related entertainment website with information about events in especially The Netherlands, Belgium and the rest of Europe. There is a big focus on Japanese music. Other contents we publish are reports, reviews, informative articles, and interviews. AVO Magazine originated from AVO Forum, started on 16 May 2003.

Contact (Francisca Hagen): info[@]avo-magazine.nl

Please do not use text and photos made by AVO Magazine without permission. An email is easily created. Let's support each other!

Affiliates

JPU Records

1_General CDJapan

Featured on

HYPER JAPAN TV logo Lucydafirst - Crate Culture logo

AVO Magazine Approved

  • Arlequin Photography
  • Get Your Genki
  • Idol is SHiT
  • Japan Jams
  • Japone Artists
  • The Sushi Times

Join our Discord Server

©2003 - 2022 AVO Magazine - One Click Closer to Japan!
*Donate to keep AVO Magazine online *

No Result
View All Result
  • AVO Magazine
    • AVO Magazine, who?
    • Join the AVO Magazine team
    • AVO Magazine presents
    • AVO Magazine Podcast
    • Join AVO Magazine’s Discord Server
    • Submit News to AVO Magazine
    • Support AVO Magazine
  • Japanese Music
    • Music News
      • Music Announcements
      • Musical Snack
    • Curtain-raiser
    • Weekly MV Roundup
      • Weekly MV Roundup
      • About: 7 New Music Videos You Need To Check Out
    • Interviews Musicians
    • Music Reviews
    • Music Reports
  • Japan-related Events
    • Anime Events
    • Convention and expo announcements
    • Music Announcements
    • Other announcements
    • Reports
  • Japan-related Reviews
    • Book Reviews
    • Film Reviews
    • Game Reviews
    • Music Reviews
    • Other Reviews
    • Product Reviews
    • Series Reviews
  • Colophon
  • Contact
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.