From the bestselling author of Kafka on the Shore: A magnificent coming-of-age story steeped in nostalgia, “a masterly novel” (The New York Times Book Review) blending the music, the mood, and the ethos that were the sixties with a young man’s hopeless and heroic first love. Toru, a serious young college student in Tokyo, is devoted to Naoko, a beautiful and introspective young woman, but their mutual passion is marked by the tragic death of their best friend years before. As Naoko retreats further into her own world, Toru finds himself drawn to a fiercely independent and sexually liberated young woman. Stunning and elegiac, Norwegian Wood first propelled Haruki Murakami into the forefront of the literary scene.
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"I really enjoyed this. Very tumultuous and haunting. The backdrop served as a brilliant correlation to the development of the characters. Sad and captivating with subtle humor. Also enjoyed historical insight into japan in the late 60s, early 70s. "
— Lucy (4 out of 5 stars)
" Didn't like is quite as much as his other books, but it was good. I read this because it was banned. "
— Lin, 2/19/2014" Absolutely out of my style. "
— Vivi, 2/16/2014" wonderful book, gloomy yet brilliant. it was my first of murakami and i fell in love... "
— D-aphni, 2/11/2014" This was the first book of Murakami that I read and it didn't 'wow' me. It was good because it was sad and I have a thing for sad literature but that was it. "
— Tzie, 2/6/2014" Is it a case of a flat translation or a cultural chasm? The sexually explicit parts are titillating, especially the book's highlight - a parenthetical narrative where the most prominent supporting female character describes her sole lesbian relationship; but otherwise the first-person narrator is a cipher and there are suggestions that his perspective is skewed without sufficient cues or clues to bring the objective correlative into focus. "
— Roger, 2/2/2014" 4 stars right up to the end, which just pissed me off. "
— Kristin, 1/31/2014" It was a love story and I usually don't prefer love stories but this really had something to give. The book was pleasant to read and the ending specially, was set brilliantly. "
— Sababa, 1/30/2014" Triste, amargo, un reflejo de cada ser. "
— Zyul, 1/24/2014" Murakami could have been the lead singer of a Midwestern emo band in the 90s. "
— Marcos, 1/18/2014" Desgarrador "
— Villa, 12/23/2013" Fantastic! Highly recommended. Reminiscent of Catcher in the Rye without trying to be it. "
— Chris, 10/22/2013" anything by murakami is a good pick - up "
— Lily's, 9/4/2013" A beautiful novel that challenges your imagination. Haruki Murakami is an extraordinary author. "
— Signel, 8/24/2013" Read it for the ending. "
— Kanika, 6/6/2013" I was skeptical to read Murakami's novels then. This book was my first attempt. I was surprisingly hooked! "
— Kaye, 1/29/2013" This is a great book. The characters are amazingly deep. "
— Luiz, 10/2/2012" The first Murakami book that I read (and I think the only romance book he wrote) and I enjoyed it! "
— River, 9/19/2012" :( No super-bizare supernatural werdiness? ????????????? That's what I love about you the most though... oh well must read the next one for more then. "
— Feathzzz, 5/12/2012" Meu review sobre esse livro aqui. "
— Luciana, 3/21/2012" Gripping, somewhat depressing, but worth the trouble. I'd read it again. "
— Mohima, 3/14/2012" Wonderful, dreamlike, flowing story. Slightly strange and completely enjoyable. "
— Jackie, 2/26/2012" My kind of love story...weird, honest, and filled with bad decisions. "
— Brian, 8/17/2011" Most readable Murakami. No cats, no supernatural stuff. Just a lot of imaginary sex and not-so-imaginary depression. Pretty readable but I can't say good. "
— Sharon, 6/1/2011" Don't read it if you're sad, but if you could use a little melancholy to cut the bright sunshine of a tropical beach while on vacation, go for it. Three cheers to the translator that so beautifully expresses Murakami's poetic prose. "
— Jenny, 5/24/2011" Crazy read. I knew what was going to happen to Naoki in the end because of the extreme foreshadowing, but I never even had a whiff of what was going to happen with Midori. I loved this book so much. "
— Anna, 5/23/2011" Haruki Murakami really knows how to make the readers go to another world, to another time ^_^. "
— Bharti, 5/23/2011" The book actually bothered me. It was quite depressive and portraying a very dark picture of life. The characters were lost in grief and search for purpose in life. Still as a book was well written. "
— David, 5/22/2011" Call me conservative, but the detailed sexual activities bothered me. And no, I don't get the point. But I do like some of the conversations. My favorite character was Midori. "
— Tiara, 5/19/2011" I didn't get much out of this book is all. Perhaps someone should give me a lecture on its significance. "
— Aliisa, 5/17/2011" Four suicides in one book can really depress a girl. "
— Corinne, 5/12/2011" Ik heb zojuist "de jacht op het verloren schaap" gelezen en raak een beetje verslaafd aan Murakami. "
— Ans, 5/12/2011" Love the simple straight forward plot. I guess it's my most erotic book I ever read "
— Cheefai7, 5/11/2011Haruki Murakami is a Japanese author of fiction and nonfiction works. His books and stories have been bestsellers in Japan as well as internationally, with his novel Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage topping the New York Times bestsellers list in 2014. His work has been translated into more than fifty languages. Murakami is the recipient of numerous awards, including the World Fantasy Award, the Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award, the Franz Kafka Prize, and the Jerusalem Prize.
John Chancer is an award winning narrator of numerous audiobooks. He has performed in theaters on both sides of the Atlantic. His television appearances have included Any Human Heart, Episodes, Spooks, The Long Firm, and William & Mary. His films include Casino Royale, Unstoppable, Grim, and Project: Shadowchaser.