Norwegian Wood
-
Hey guys. I’ve been a bit of a Haruki Murakami binge lately. Most recently, I read Norwegian Wood - the book that made him super famous (at least in Japan). I also just finished the 2010 film version.
Basically, no one I know has read it or plans to and I need a place to vent. So here we go, BB.
Spoilers Ahead
If you want to actually know what I’m talking about, go watch the movie. It’s 2 hours and at least roughly the same as the book. Plus, Reiko is hot.
For those of you who are like “fuck it, I’ll just read your analysis” first off all, bullshit. You’re not actually going to read this. Second of all, ok.
Now, a quick summary for those of you non-existant readers.
The book is told from the perspective of Toru Watanabe - a 20-year-old student in Tokyo during the late 60’s. The story revolves mostly around his best friend, Kizuki (who tragically committed suicide at 17), and his best friend’s girlfriend, Naoko (who Toru happens to be in love with). After Kizuki’s death, Naoko can’t handle the pressures of the world and move into a sanitarium in the mountains near Kyoto. During this time, Toru is conflicted - he simultaneously wants to wait for Naoko to overcome her issues and move on to a new love, Midori, a girl from his university. Throughout the book Toru deals with the struggles of life and choosing between two women who he holds dear.
Or at least, that’s what wikipedia would lead you to believe.
“The novel is a nostalgic story of loss and burgeoning sexuality. It is told from the first-person perspective of Toru Watanabe, who looks back on his days as a college student living in Tokyo. Through Watanabe’s reminiscences we see him develop relationships with two very different women — the beautiful yet emotionally troubled Naoko, and the outgoing, lively Midori.”
Fuck. That.
The book begins with suicide. Kizuki, the cool guy, the infinitely charismatic, gone from the world. At the fucking start of a love story. What the fuck? In his absence Naoko struggles to find meaning, and Toru, unlike Kizuki, chooses to live, despite life’s difficulties.
Noako and Toru lose touch after Kizuki’s death, however fate puts them back together a few years later. After rekindling their friendship, a sexual encounter on Naoko’s 20th birthday brings her to the limits of her sanity, forcing her to abruptly move home and eventually to a sanitarium for reasons completely unknown to Toru.
During the lack of correspondence, Toru encounters four more equally fucked people.
First is his college roommate, Storm Trooper. Storm Trooper is the butt of all jokes, likely teetering on the edge of autism. He has odd habits, is completely oblivious, does not understand boundaries and, like Kizuki, disappears abruptly, although for unknown reasons as opposed to suicide.
Next is Nagasawa. Ambitious, smart, douche of a man, Nagasawa has no concept of empathy. While in a steady relationship he regularly sleeps around and brings it up to his girlfriend. A morally ambiguous character Nagasawa is more focussed on his legacy that the people around him.
Third is Hatsumi, Nagasawa’s girlfriend. Aware that Nagasawa is cheating, she is hopelessly in love with him and unable to leave him. When Nagasawa goes abroad for his government work, she marries only to commit suicide, likely due to her inability to be with nor move on from Nagasawa.
And finally, Midori. The character that finishes this indecisive “romance.” Where was the romance again? Midori comes from a past lacking real love. Her mother is long dead from a brain tumor and her father is in the hospital for the same condition. Forced to look after her father, Midori has the added benefit of a boyfriend who is angry with her forward sexuality and blatant inappropriateness. Looking for some non-judgemental love, she finds Toru, who is too focussed on Naoko to truly understand her condition.
Oh, so we’re finally going to talk about Toru? Fuck no. There are still more fucked up characters.
Eventually, while Naoko is in the Sanatarium, Toru goes to visit. Naturally, he runs in to a handful of unnamed characters who are fucked up enough to be in the santarium. He also meets one with a real name: Reiko Ishida. Reiko is Naoko’s roommate and a long time (7-year) resident of the institution. Reiko’s sad story is that she was once a promising pianist, however due to the stress of performance, she injured her hand and was never able to reach her peak. But no, that’s not even why she’s int he Sanatarium. That’s just why she’s fucked up to begin with. Her breaking point lies with another character.
After Reiko’s musical mishap, she becomes a stay-at-home mother. During this time she manages to find the strength to play piano again, not for fame, but for personal pleasure. A neighborhood housewife insists that her daughter is given lessons by Reiko. The thing is, the daughter is a pathological liar. Fabricating everything necessary, the daughter wins Reiko’s trust, eventually putting her in the position to set a sexual trap for Reiko. Yeah, this fucking 13-year-old lesbian traps the naive 30-year-old Reiko. Despite her unwilling Enjoyment, Reiko manages to stop the girl who proceed to spread the rumor around the neighborhood that Reiko raped her as well as partially convincing Reiko that her life is a lie and she’s actually a lesbian. Thus Reiko landed in the Sanatarium.
Oh, and while we’re at the sanatarium, let’s talk about Naoko’s sister. During Toru’s visit, Naoko explains the story of her sister: a beautiful, smart, capable woman who couldn’t fucking handle the pressures of life and committed suicide, again, for fairly mysterious reasons. Feeling a pattern here? I sure am.
So now, finally, let’s talk about Toru. You know, the main character. Toru is the confused 20-year-old going through college waiting for the love of his life, Naoko, to get better and leave the sanatarium. While he’s waiting, he falls in love with another woman, Midori. Stuck between his love and duty towards Naoko and his new love for Midori, Toru lives in limbo. Until finally, a decision is made for him: Naoko commits suicide. Completely broken, Toru roams the Japanese countryside, mourning. When he finally returns to Tokyo, Reiko brings him the inner workings of Naoko’s mind. Despite Toru’s love for her and his desire for her to come live with him, Naoko had wanted to live with Reiko outside the sanatarium. In a sense, Naoko had confirmed Toru’s suspicion that she never loved him. What the fuck kind of love story is this?
So finally. We’re done, right? Sure Toru’s sad, but he’s got Midori still, that’ll work out, right? To finish of the book Toru calls Midori and tells her that he loves her and is ready to be with here at which point Midori asks “Where are you now.” Knowing completely well that he was just at the train station, Toru is taken aback by this question. Where is he, he wonders? The fucking end.
WHAT THE FUCK!? No, but actually, Toru’s whole life was so rooted in waiting for Naoko that he’s now completely lost. The boundaries between his mental condition and physical understanding are blurred. He’s barely living. Hope you enjoyed the ending.
So yeah, this is clearly a love confused love story between Toru, Naoko, and Midori.
Fuck you.
-
Norwegian Wood sounds like something completely different to me.
-
@Almost said:
Basically, no one I know has read it
I read it about 2 years ago I think. Yet to watch the movie though. At the time I found it a confusing but still enjoyable read, it gets you thinking.
I started reading “Kafka on the shore” this summer but have yet to finish that.
-
@Scuzz It’s a Beatles Song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lY5i4-rWh44@Schamper Kafka was really good. Much harder to follow though.
-
I have never listened to The Beatles and they really aren’t my thing.
I was thinking more on the lines of a porn film. -
I didnt read it or watch movie
I didnt even know it existed till just now
Your challenged your bs call and read whole damned post >>
And i dun wanna read this book now or watch movie x.x
