ノルウェイの森/ Norwegian Wood - 1987
Norwegian Wood (ノルウェイの森, Noruwei no Mori) is a 1987 novel by Japanese author Haruki Murakami. 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, readers see him develop relationships with two very different women—the beautiful yet emotionally troubled Naoko, and the outgoing, lively Midori.
The novel is set in late 1960s Tokyo during a period when Japanese students, like those of many other nations, were protesting against the established order. While it serves as the backdrop against which the events of the novel unfold, Murakami (through the eyes of Watanabe and Midori) portrays the student movement as largely weak-willed and hypocritical.
This is my first Murakami, but it won’t be the last. I wonder how much of this novel is
ReplyDeleteunique or typical of his mastery of mysticism vs reality contrast. I wanted to keep reading to follow the character driven plot, but I was also deeply held in his sensory description which allowed a softer dreamlike state. The haiku-like simple choice of just the right word allowed me to complete his painting from personal experience or memory, a dominant theme of the story. A young Hemingway was advised to eliminate all “very” from his description, and Murakami does this with his clean word triggers. Whether told from recollections of a 37 year old protagonist or Naoki’s plea not to be forgotten, memory is a fading current that runs throughout.
Again, not having read Japanese works, I don’t know what I expected, but except for names of characters and places, this story could have been populated anywhere. The time setting of the 60’s is curious , as while it is a factor, it’s apolitical. The characters notice the turmoil but are kept to their own small worlds of isolation and loneliness. Perhaps Toro’s search for the meaning of life is more indicative of his young age and straining maturation than his decade in time.
ReplyDeleteThe passage of time, however, is significant and emphasized through details. It ties to the theme of death vs life, as main characters choose to end their lives early. It becomes major tension in the plot as Toro grapples with the mental illness that cripples Naoki as it closes her inside herself. In contrast, his ability to express his thoughts verbally and through letters allows him the salvation of release as he connects with the outside world. Whether he is able to open himself enough to step away from the thread connecting him to the finality of lost souls into life and love as represented by Midori is a question left unanswered. Yet the brilliance of the novel being based on his memory 17 years later is proof of his choice even if much is left to speculation.
This is a hard one to talk about as Murakami is my favorite author and his writing is more of a feeling/emotion to me than just text on page. This is probably his most realistic work and by that I don't mean with symbolism or his usual nuance but rather topically and narratively.
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