Chandler was one of Murakami's favorite writers when he was growing up, and many of his books borrow motifs from the noir traditions that Chandler dealt in.
"When I started to write, the idea was very small, just an image, not an idea actually. A man who is 30, cooking spaghetti in the kitchen, and the telephone rings--that's it. It's so simple, but I had the feeling that something was happening there."
The son of a literature teacher, Murakami learned English in school and grew up with American fiction. His first novel was published in 1970. He graduated from Waseda University in 1973, with a degree in drama, after which he managed a jazz and coffee shop. With the publication of his novel NORWEGIAN WOOD, Murakami became a cult phenomenon in Japan. He has lived all over the world, including Rome, Athens, and a Greek island, as well as spending four years at Princeton as a visiting fellow, where more...
The son of a literature teacher, Murakami learned English in school and grew up with American fiction. His first novel was published in 1970. He graduated from Waseda University in 1973, with a degree in drama, after which he managed a jazz and coffee shop. With the publication of his novel NORWEGIAN WOOD, Murakami became a cult phenomenon in Japan. He has lived all over the world, including Rome, Athens, and a Greek island, as well as spending four years at Princeton as a visiting fellow, where he wrote THE WIND-UP BIRD CHRONICLE. Murakami's books are set in Japan, but they are infused with the urban, eclectic, Western culture he has absorbed all his life.less...
Norwegian Wood is the book that launched Murakami into international fame, which is interesting, considering how little resemblance it bears to pretty much anything else he's ever written. This version was translated by Jay Rubin, who also translated The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle and After the Quake, though an earlier translation by Birnbaum exists somewhere out there in the realm of eBay sales and rare book markets. Many people consider Norwegian Wood a good introduction to Murakami, assuming that the straightforward, non-magical storyline will be more accessible to those not familiar with his trademark style, but I strongly advise against that. Still, it's an interesting book, and despite all that I've just said, the author's voice is clear. Murakami has populated this story with colorful characters, and his sense of humor remains intact through what could have easily been a melodramatic coming-of-age story about a kid with a miserable life. There are chapters that are utterly brilliant, but unfortunately, there are also points in which the storyline feels contrived and artificial. Overall, this book is worth the time it takes to read for people who have no intention of reading Murakami's other books or people who have already read them, but if you're looking to recommend something to a friend, skip this one in favor of Elephant Vanishes or Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World. I'd like to give this novel 3.5 stars, but this program won't allow it, so you'll have to imagine that extra .5 at the end.
Norwegian Wood is the book that launched Murakami into international fame, which is interesting, considering how little resemblance it bears to pretty much anything else he's ever written. This version was translated by Jay Rubin, who also translated The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle and After the Quake, though an earlier translation by Birnbaum exists somewhere out there in the realm of eBay sales and rare book markets. Many people consider Norwegian Wood a good introduction to Murakami, assuming that the straightforward, non-magical storyline will be more accessible to those not familiar with his trademark style, but I strongly advise against that. Still, it's an interesting book, and despite all that I've just said, the author's voice is clear. Murakami has populated this story with colorful characters, and his sense of humor remains intact through what could have easily been a melodramatic coming-of-age story about a kid with a miserable life. There are chapters that are utterly brilliant, but unfortunately, there are also points in which the storyline feels contrived and artificial. Overall, this book is worth the time it takes to read for people who have no intention of reading Murakami's other books or people who have already read them, but if you're looking to recommend something to a friend, skip this one in favor of Elephant Vanishes or Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World. I'd like to give this novel 3.5 stars, but this program won't allow it, so you'll have to imagine that extra .5 at the end.