A review by damieu
Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Norwegian Wood is such a tender portrayal of coming of age and loss that it feels like it must be autobiographical. From the perspective of a middle aged man reminiscing on a transformative time in his life we are given the chance to both live his past experience and learn the insights of that past only granted by reflection separated by years. The strong atmosphere of memory is immersive and shared through simple but effective prose that only Murakami can pull off. Complex relationships with love, sex, friendship, and death provide so much to chew on without ever feeling forced. This is my second time reading this book and having just gone through the ages Toru passes through I can relate to many of the feelings Toru has much more than when I first read it at 19. Oddly comforting and endlessly compelling Norwegian Wood feels like it will be a defining novel I will continue to return to throughout my life.