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What are readers saying about Norwegian Wood?
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Chihoe posted a review at 2010-08-29 05:28:49.
(Language: English)
 
"Norwegian Wood" is the third book, and counting, of Haruki Murakami that I have read. This is definitely my favourite of his so far. It has that distinct Murakami style of narration and description of things so simple and small, yet vividly brought to life. Unlike the previous two Murakami books I read, "After Dark" and "The Wind-up Bird Chronicle", there is no supernatural elements in this story, making it so down-to-earth and very much more relatable for anyone who has gained love, lost love.Is it possible to love two people at the same time? Toru meets two girls in his life who he feels he does - Naoko, a childhood friend who is emotionally delicate, dealing with depression stemming from a tragedy that Toru shares the pain with too, and Midori, a classmate at college who is zestful and forthright, the complete opposite of Naoko, yet she has issues of her own tucked away too. Yes, flawed characters. Murakami has a flair in portraying them, subtly with dignity. You sense Toru's distance with worldly possessions surrounding him, Naoko's struggle with finding herself, and Midori's yearn for love and initimacy. The title and lyrics of The Beatle's song, "Norwegian Wood", is perfect for the novel: "I once had a girl, or should I say, she once had me". 
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-09-07 12:01:01.
(Language: English)
Despite the deserving accolades given to Murakami for this book it is a bit too monotonous and lethargic for my taste. I appreciate the existentialist plight of the protagonist and the manner in which he often coasts through the stimuli that drive his relationships (I am a Kafka fan) but I still feel like I'll never get those 8 hours of my life back. To me this was just a love story and I prefer Murakami's other more surreal and metaphysical works. If your interested in coming of age love stories with some embedded symbolism then this book is for you. If you're looking for a stimulating brain-bender read some of his other works instead.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-11-09 12:09:36.
(Language: English)
Norwegian Wood is a sort of period romance set in the wild and turbulent late 60s university campuses of Tokyo. The book left me a little disappointed, partly due to its slow pacing and partly due to the characters (which, while interesting, never felt particularly believable). Attitudes about sex and relationships seemed particularly bizarre (some of this may well be due to cultural or generational differences). Suicide is a recurring plot element, so don't turn to this if you're looking to be cheered up. This is a book where the ups and downs of life happens to the protagonist, and he feels little ability to change the world about him. I liked the use of symbolism, the use of music in the story, and the occasional touches of humor. The ending was pretty strong, and helped redeem what would otherwise have been a lower rating.
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A Reader posted a review at 2007-09-05 04:08:13.
(Language: English)
Upon hearing an instrumental version of The Beatles' Norwegian Wood on a flight to Hamburg, 37 year-old Toru Watanabe, quietly starts to reminisce all the way back to his college days in 1968 Tokyo. Thus begins Haruki Murakami's coming-of-age love story that deals with the beauty of music, the pain of loss, and how hope still reigns in how destinies are realized. Murakami warns that falling in love is not something one can define as the sudden rediscovery of a long-forgotten passion or the spirited re-emergence of lost innocence. Norwegian Wood, much to my satisfaction, is a much more straightforward and lighter (less thicker) read compared to the previous Murakami novels I have read. Although, still true to form, Murakami's trademark surreal episodes comfortably find their place here. It wouldn't be a Murakami story without them.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-07-28 10:01:07.
(Language: English)
I finished this book in one sitting, on one Sunday. That's how good this book is! From the flight to Hamburg to the protagonist's coming-of-age and beyond, this is a thoroughly absorbing love story with enthralling and mesmerising characters. The alienation that Toru experienced and his heartwrenching love story (with Naoko) were drawn out vividly through Murakami's masterful writing. To me, Naoko is the most intriguing character, you just feel and fall for her like how Toru did. Murakami's portrayals of Toru's everyday existence and (often painful and lonesome) thoughts and emotions waere superb and effortless. I especially love the way Murakami crafted the love letters between the Naoko and Toru, exposing their pains, weaknesses, loneliness and longing for each other. I wish I understand Japanese though, I am sure the book presents a different flavour in its original language. Murakami brings you on a subterranean ride of isolation leading to depression and when you expect some flicker of light at the end of it, he pushes you off the edge into sorrow and emptiness so gratifying that you can't wait to read the book again, to further dissect the characters and understand them and discover nuances you didn't know exist in the beginning (or so you think). Lovely! I especially like the discussion of normality in an abnormal world, and vice-versa. Looking beyond the backdrop of late 60s/70 Japan, this is a timeless love story with storylines, ideals and ideas that we can all identify with. A great book! *edit* removed spoilers after feedback, sorry guys...
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Tan posted a review at 2011-02-26 07:15:10.
(Language: English)
A dark, and very emotionally intense book - it explores romantic love and sexual love through the eyes of a young undergrad, whose friends are also grappling with their teenage emotions, some of whom take their lives in the course of the book. Set in Japan of the 1960s, the book also takes a swipe at the student uprisings that took place during that time. This book is less metaphysical compared to Kafka by the Shore and The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle , but is a worthy read and did not disappoint.
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A Reader posted a review at 2011-03-12 11:30:23.
(Language: English)
Though Norwegian wood was a very fascinating book and was hard to put down, it was still very depressing. Why would you continue to live in the past and let people walk all over you and still think that they love you? So many of these characters live selfish lives and take advantage of Toru. Yet, Toru is no better himself, because he lives his life in the past and ignores those who truly love him. The novel has graphic sexual moments, but it does enhance the feelings the characters have for each other. The only normal characters are Reiko and Midori - Toru doesn't deserve to be happy, especially when he is as selfish as Naoko. You want to feel sorry for him, but when he ignores those who care for him, it becomes hard to pitty him.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-02-08 01:27:40.
(Language: English)
Norwegian Wood is such an amazing book that carefully leads one into a provoking thought about human nature. It is about love, about responsibility, about our selfishness and desire, and about the sense of self-respect and loneliness. Though it is hard to say there is a clear plot in the novel, Murakami skillfully developed several characters, each of which was with multi-facet nature. It's a little weird as I went through this book and found I was not the readers of the book, instead, I became the characters inside the book while others were reading me, 'cause we share so many similarities with the characters that it's hard to tell the difference. I'm sure I will be reading this book again sometime later, so that I can fully absorb it.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-05-28 12:51:41.
(Language: English)
As a 22 year old still finding your feet in the world , What would you like to read ? So, you pick up 'norwegian Wood' and quickly brush through the plot and you cannot but miss 'THE Beatles' being mentioned and so you're already interested. Murakami takes this simple love story and turns into a poignant yet deeply realistic one involving basic human emotions. The characterisation is also so blunt and precise that even the most unthoughtful reader will be able to relate . The numerable musical references keep you gripped and this genre is also unique for Murakami. Well done Murakami! You THE MAN!
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A Reader posted a review at 2007-10-24 09:15:44.
(Language: English)
this is probably the darkest love story I have ever read and one of the most disturbingly sexual novels I have ever read as well.. The words are very beautifully written that you can't help to be drawn to the feelings the main character toru has. Murakami is great in describing the scenes....especially when describing the campus life. The longing connection of toru and naoko is so intensely written and all the things that separated and bound them together...kizuki...naoko's depression...toru's alienation.. is told in a very moving manner. read the book. "Memory is a funny thing. When I was in the scene, I hardly paid it any mind. I never stop to think of it as something that would make a lasting impression, certainly never imagined that eighteen years later I would recall it in such detail. I didn't give a damn about the scenery that day. I was thinking about myself. I was thinking about the beautiful girl walking next to me. I was thinking about the two of us together, and then about myself again. It was the age, the time of life when every sight, every feeling, every thought came back, like a boomerang, to me. And worse, I was in love. Love with complications" - Toru
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-04-08 10:35:16.
(Language: Spanish)
En el verano pasado Lenoir & Asociados recibió el encargo de la Universidad de Monterrey para colaborar con Tadao Ando Architect and Associates en el proyecto del Centro Roberto Garza Sada nombrado Gate of Creation. Vicente lidera desde entonces nuestro equipo de trabajo y tenia que volar a Japón en agosto. Una noche en la víspera del viaje decidí darle un libro para que leyera durante las horas que estuviera en el avión, hice una búsqueda en el web site de Gandhi ingresando la palabra Tokio y obtuve entre los resultados la novela Tokio Blues (Norwegian Wood) del japonés Haruki Murakami. Oscar me acompañó la tarde siguiente a la librería y se molestó conmigo cuando leyó la contraportada: “Mientras aterriza en un aeropuerto europeo, Toru Watanabe escucha una vieja canción de los Beatles que le hace retroceder a su juventud, al turbulento Tokio de los años setenta. Recuerda entonces con melancolía a la misteriosa Naoko, la novia de su mejor amigo de la adolescencia. El suicidio de éste les distanció durante un año, hasta que se reencontraron e iniciaron una relación íntima…”. Argumentó que la historia se parecía a la novela El Búfalo de la Noche de Guillermo Arriaga y que no tuve intenciones de regalársela a él, pero me acompañó al Cubo a entregarla. Antes de esto no conocía a este escritor, por lo que decidí que iba a leer otra de sus novelas que había llamado mi atención. Solo sabía que nació en Kioto en 1949 y que vende mucho, lo que me provocó desconfianza, considerando que la mejor vendedora inglesa es J. K. Rowling o su equivalente Stephenie Meyer en Norteamérica y definitivamente buscaba algo más intimo. Mi visita a Chihuahua a finales de septiembre me dió motivo para llevarle la novela a Oscar, pues sustituí con ella el agotado Ensayo sobre la ceguera de José Saramago. Yo había terminado de leer Al sur de la frontera, al oeste del Sol y Murakami logró lanzarme al desconcierto con su devastador final y hacerme miserable. Después leí en el periódico español El País que este japonés acepta que busca el desconcierto de sus lectores y conmigo fue voraz, o ¿es que yo quiero que me desconcierten? En fin, resulta que Oscar lee en cuatro días la novela y no para de decirme que la lea ya, mientras, yo estaba inmersa en la apatía hacia el autor. Aún así y como escasamente desatiendo sus recomendaciones, compré por tercera vez el libro y lo tuve en la mesa de noche hasta que lo comencé una mañana de octubre en la que no pude avanzar más allá de la página 23 y que sucesivamente estuve abordando con desgano. El protagonista de la novela Toru Watanabe los domingos no se da cuerda. Yo tampoco. Pero el domingo 30 de noviembre no fue un domingo regular. A las once de la noche del sábado anterior estaba acostada leyendo Tokio Blues cuando me quedé dormida en la pagina 184. Desperté al día siguiente a las 6:50 de la mañana, prendí la lámpara y retome la lectura que termine alrededor de las 11:30 en la pagina 381. Descubrí que a Murakami se le puede leer sin parar, solo interrumpí la lectura para bajar a desayunar. Otra novela que me dejó en inmensa desolación. No se que pasa con los japoneses que están tan vacíos. ¿O todos estamos vacíos y los mexicanos lo demostramos diferente? La realidad es que se suicidan y de maneras diversas como el personaje de Kizuki que a sus 17 años "conecto una manguera al tubo de escape de su N-360, sello los resquicios de las ventanillas con cinta adhesiva y puso en marcha el motor" o por hara-kiri como el escritor Yukio Mishima a sus 45 años. El suicidio tiene formas rituales en Japón, la muerte es considerada una manera de preservar el honor y una consecuencia a las acciones que cada uno toma. Pero en la novela de Murakami entendí el suicidio como la forma de librarse de uno mismo. Hay frases que son muy duras para que las piense un joven de 19 como "a mi, en realidad, no se me había ocurrido ser nada" o "buscaba las palabras en el vació" que son señales de una interioridad difícil de compartir. ¿Cuándo nos bastara solo ser para sorprendernos los unos a los otros? Estoy en proceso de intimidad con este escritor, quien no termina por engancharme del todo, pero que empiezo a apreciar con cautela. Y lo que pasa, es que yo ahorita lo que necesito es justo que alguien me de cuerda, por lo visto dos japoneses están dispuestos.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-10-29 01:01:25.
(Language: English)
This novel is derivative of some of the Western works mentioned repeatedly throughout - is it a conscious pastiche or an example of a Japanese artist/writer/musician keen to convince his Western readership/audience of his familiarity with parts of the Western literary canon? One review claimed it to be Murakami's most erotic work - I haven't read any other novels by him so I can not attest to that, but I can attest to the purple passages not having registered as particularly erotic with me. This may be a male - female thing but I felt them to be very clinical and matter-of-fact - rather boring in fact. And finally, I thought the female characters wholly unconvincing. Not only did I not recognize myself in any of them, but I didn't recognize any of my female friends or peers in any of them either. I acknowledge that translation difficulties may account for some of these problems (as I was not reading the Japanese original) but I doubt this problem can be wholly ascribed to that. Murakami's female characters don't sound any more like women than Michelangelo's painted women look like women - both men fail in their representations of women. The one thing I appreciated about the book was the honesty and courage with which Murakami explores different kinds of relationships, some of which would be considered taboo in many cultures. I found that refreshing, but sadly the technical aspects of the telling rendered these less compelling than they may otherwise have been.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-04-04 06:47:14.
(Language: English)
Looking at the title, it leads us to one of The Beatles song by the name of Norwegian Wood. Sets in around 1969, Japan, the story focuses on 18 - 20 years old age life of an “ordinary†Japanese student named Watanabe. Ordinary explains second rate university, making living out of part time job, and usual personal habits such as reading books and doing laundry every Sunday. While these ordinaries form their characteristics, they brought us through their companionship into something less ordinary. Or I might say something emotionally engaging and enjoyable.While having his university life in Tokyo, Watanabe encountered his dead best friend’s ex girlfriend unexpectedly. Naturally they started to form kind of special relationship, including walking around streets in Tokyo without any destinations on minds with distance in between. As they grew closer, strange calling got the girl away. Yet they were still in touch, understanding and encouraging each other. The relationship that they build is so pure and sweet. They don’t have to say a lot, yet they are dependant on each other. They need each other. The story seems kind this way, but actually there is much darker shade. Trying to put it simply; this book is about relationships with all of the specialties, highlighting the qualities of each individual while strongly influenced by the past time. Trying to put it harder; this book is about life and death.Having had someone close to them dead, they are constantly living in the shadow of the death. In my opinion, the only thing that keeps them together as well as they’ve been fighting against is death and all kinds of its self destructive fears. Sounds very depressing? When you read it, it won’t be depressing, it will be normal because understanding will come eventually.Along the stories, I’ve found a lot of things, that when I read them, I got hints of familiarity and could not agree more kind of feelings. That’s why I stated that this book is emotionally engaging. I feel like this book is an imaginative channel taking me travels through each part of stories with real emotions involved. Bravo Mr. Murakami, simple story line, yet so well written. ***After battling with death, Watanabe comes to a peace of mind as he concludes, Death exists, not as the opposite but as a part of life.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-04-14 10:27:31.
(Language: Spanish)
Ciertas canciones resuenan en el fondo de mi memoria como un grifo roto en un jardín secreto, una corriente sutil que mantiene vivas algunas flores entre la maleza. Norwegian Wood, la hermosa y brumosa canción de los Beatles, que presta su nombre a esta novela con toques impresionistas de mi nuevo autor de culto, Haruki Murakami, se asoma entre las casualidades de uno de esos viajes insípidos y cotidianos en que solemos perder la memoria, hasta el asiento de avión en donde Toru, el protagonista, espera su desembarco, y lo arrastra de vuelta a su propio jardín interior hasta instalarlo en una conversación con su pasado. Un recorrido de pasos inconclusos a lo largo de los recuerdos adolescentes, de paseos sin rumbo por interminables calles de Tokyo y bosques de ensueño en los suburbios, para seguir la pista de un amor intocable y suicida que se consume como un incendio en una tarde de domingo, y se reaviva en la fidelidad por los amigos y por uno mismo, y en la búsqueda de la propia originalidad al amparo de la propia tragedia. Murakami sin duda nos extiende una invitación a una velada melancólica y sensual, entre los fantasmas más hermosos e inseparables de la inocencia perdida y del inolvidable primer amor.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-06-02 12:52:02.
(Language: English)
It makes big impression on me! It is really good book. After his best friend commit suicide Toru left Kyoto and start new life in Tokyo as a student. One day he met friends girlfriend – and start hanging out with her. On her 20 years birthdays they spend night 2gether and then she disappear. At the end she land in kind of mental hospital. He felt in love in her but everything seems to be so complicated. But it is just beginning. It is all about love and death, loneliness and sex, normal and not normal state of mind…and everything settled mostly in Tokyo and other place in Japan…places that are now so familiar…
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Dhruv posted a review at 2007-08-08 01:57:04.
(Language: English)
Norwegian Wood: Loved it!!!! I picked it up from road side english book vender in beijing downtown at 3 in the morning after drinking on a weeknight! And wow! What a find! I havent read any of Murakami, and after reading much about him and his other work, am glad this is my first book of his. It's a beautiful story filled with pain / awe / confusion / wonderment of being young / confronting life / messing up / and growing up!! It left me feeling so much, mostly overwhelmed, as it triggered and touched so much of me deep inside. I started thinking of so many things that i have gone through all this while, things that i have carefully hidden away in dark place never to be visited. But this book did, and i had tears in my eyes as i was putting the book down. I had no idea if I was feeling all this because of the characters in the book or just me and things in my life. Death is not the opposite of life but an innate part of life No truth can cure the sorrow we feel from losing a loved one. All we can do is see it through to the end and learn something from it, but whatwe learn will be no help in facing the next sorrow that comes to us without warning.
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Maria Magdalena posted a review at 2013-01-13 07:46:53.
(Language: English)
Mucho tiempo atrás me habían recomendado este libro , este escritor me cautivó , la exquisita forma de narrar y exponer los pensamientos de sus personajes es a mi parecer un gran acierto en esta novela, aún cuando se trate de ficción se siente la historia muy real, con todas las imperfecciones que se pueden encontrar en la vida misma. Otra aspecto destacable es la sutil recomendación que hace el autor de otras obras literarias , así como también lo de la música, definitivamente creo que nada de lo expuesto por Haruki Murakami es al azar , un ejemplo claro de ello es el tema Norwegian wood de los beatles, que otro tema podría gustarle a la particular Naoko. Algunas citas que me parecen importantes: -"Leía muchísimo más que yo, pero tenía por principio no adentrase en una obra hasta que hubieran transcurrido treinta años de la muerte del autor. Sólo me fío de esos libros- decía" -""conoceré a alguien que me quiera con toda su alma los trescientos sesenta y cinco días del año. Estaba en quinto o sexto curso de primaria cuando lo decidí"
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alvi posted a review at 2009-06-30 07:12:46.
(Language: English)
“Norwegian wood” is a story of Wanatebe, a twenty year old student in Tokyo of the 1960s. Wanatebe is in love with two girls. One of them is Naoko, the girlfriend of Kidzuki, his late friend, who killed himself in the age of 17. Wanatebe and Naoko met through Kidzuki, and became “together” some time after his death. But Naoko is mentally ill, and is stationed in an asylum. Wanatebe, in the meantime, goes on with his life and meets Midori, a student in his university - a slightly twisted girl, whose hobbies are getting drunk and watching porn movies. I won’t spoil the rest for you… In some ways it’s a melancholic, elegiac book. In other ways, it’s thoughtful and optimistic - depends how you look at it, and in what mood you are when you read it. Anyway you see it, the book is written very well.
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A Reader posted a review at 2007-08-23 07:55:29.
(Language: English)
The author constructs the novel within an English Literature class setting. There are many references to other classic books and song names. The beautiful words describe the scenes in such detail. I can see the flag being raised in the courtyard in my mind. A variety of realistic characters. Very real character development. I love Storm Trooper. Not too much happens, but the description and poetry in the words make it a terribly good read. Moments in life - some very relatable, some very powerful. Very easy to step into this world. I love how he references other literature through out the book, music too - though I don't recognize the songs. And I love how he talks about the construction of a story inside the book ie. the deus ex machina reference via the English lecture. Deals with suicide. What happens when one person is waiting for another to move on in life. This if the first Murukami book I read. I was looking for a fictional book set in Japan because I had just been to Tokyo. I thought it was a way to understand the culture and its people better, and somehow came across a site that said he was a very famous author. Now I plan to read all his books and discover the magic he posesses as a writer.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-04-06 12:14:34.
(Language: English)
I picked up this book because everybody were talking about the writer.In Russia he is very famoust, his books are twice expensive then local writers. As I work at Japanese company, I decided to give it a try and bought the book. During the lunch brake i had it in my purse and was showing it to my japanese CEO..Then I started to read it -the beginning was beautiful, well writen.And afterwards came complete mess of situations,events,people. There was a scene of 33 years women who is having the finger inside of her vagina of 13 yearls old.What the hell?Nothing else to write about except how 33 years old feeling slim fingers of the child inside of her?In another scene girl desperately ask the guy to think about her while he is masturbating. And this is literature???Well,i didnt finish the book,the plot didnt interest me a lot. Will try his another book...
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A Reader posted a review at 2011-08-12 11:28:07.
(Language: English)
Murakami's most "normal" book, this is still not for everyone. Very slow, not much happens, main characters are depressingly lost and displaced except for the (thank God) refreshingly spunky Midori and Reiko, but even they are damaged. Murakami does, however, write beautifully and with incredible sensitivity - maybe too much at times. Descriptive sex going on in here, and a fair amount, so beware conservative readers and parents.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-11-25 12:11:23.
(Language: English)
Norwegian Wood is a sort of period romance set in the wild and turbulent late 60s university campuses of Tokyo. The book left me a little disappointed, partly due to its slow pacing and partly due to the characters (which, while interesting, never felt particularly believable). Attitudes about sex and relationships seemed particularly bizarre (some of this may well be due to cultural or generational differences). Suicide is a recurring plot element, so don't turn to this if you're looking to be cheered up. This is a book where the ups and downs of life happens to the protagonist, and he feels little ability to change the world about him. I liked the use of symbolism, the use of music in the story, and the occasional touches of humor. The ending was pretty strong, and helped redeem what would otherwise have been a lower rating.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-02-23 09:12:16.
(Language: Vietnamese)
Về những con người Nhật Bản có vẻ bình thừơng giữa nhịp chảy gấp rút của 1 đất nước giàu mạnh. Bên trong họ là 1 hố đọng rất sâu của những gì không thuộc về nhịp chảy đó. Khi xã hội tàn bạo dày vò,quá khắc nghiệt cho những tâm hồn nhạy cảm, trẻ trung vừa chớm nở,họ thà chọn tự kết liễu,hơn là tồn tại thể chất mà trái tim chết dần. Sống và đấu tranh hằng ngày trong mỏi mệt. Sống và để bản thân trôi đi vô định.Tự sát để giữ được cốt cách, và để được tự do. Cuốn sách đã thức tỉnh tôi về chân giá trị của cuộc đời,giữa vô số tình bạn,tình yêu,…và nhất là về ý nghĩa của tình dục.
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A Reader posted a review at 2007-09-08 02:46:29.
(Language: English)
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.
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Stan posted a review at 2010-06-16 09:55:20.
(Language: English)
Norwegian Wood ノルウェイの森 is a nostalgic story of sexuality and loss told by the protagonist narrator Toru Watanabe who arrives in Hamburg, Germany and hears the Beatles song "Norwegian Wood" at the airport. He begins to thnk back to his student days in the 1960's. Through his reminiscences, we see him developing relations with two very different women, the beautiful, but emotionally troubled Naoko and the vivacious, outgoing Midori. This was a hugely popular work in Japan, millions of copies were sold, and it made the author Haruki Murakami 村上春樹, much to his dismay, a superstar of sorts. In translation, it is also one of the most widely read Japanese works in the western hemisphere. Even though it is written in Japanese by a Japanese author with characters and locale, all in Japan, it doesn't seem like a very Japanese novel. I suppose the basic themes of love, sexuality, and death are universal enough to be international, but the author makes all kinds of references to western, rather than Japanese culture, in the setting and plot that evolves around each character. All the books that are read by each character are of western origin, e.g. The Great Gatsby by Fitzgerald, The Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann, and Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. Likewise, none of the music is Japanese, mostly British and American popular tunes of the 1960's, like "Norwegian Wood" by the Beatles and "Scarborough Fair" by Simon and Garfunkle, and many others. Would this really reflect the Japanese youth culture of the 1960's, the period described in the book? I believe Japanese literary critics have made similar comments, but some of them may be jealous and envious of the books tremendous popularity while ignoring any merits the book may really have. I read the book in Japanese, and I was also surprised by his use of language in the sex scenes of the book. He tends to use words derived from English like ペニス (penis), ウァギナ (vagina), オーガズム (orgasm), マスターベイション (masturbation),and レズビアン (lesbian). There are perfectly adequate words in the Japanese language to describe sex acts. But then the Japanese for whatever reason love to use words of foreign origin, typically English, in place of their own Sino-Japanese vocabulary. As far as I know, this also seems to reflect actual contemporary usage.
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