Check It Out

Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami
New Book Shelf call number 3212


Author Haruki Murakami often borrows titles of music for the titles of his books. Norwegian Wood refers to a Beatles song, “Norwegian Wood, (This Bird Has Flown) that was written by John Lennon, and was inspired by a love affair. When Haruki Murakami published his novel, in the late 80s, he became so popular in Japan that he chose to leave his country for a while settling in Europe and in the USA.

It is not a surprise that Japanese readers liked his novel so much, - especially the younger generation – because it is essentially a love story that spoke to many of his readers. The book is set in the 1960s Tokyo in a university where students like many other students around the world at that time were protesting against the present society. The main protagonist, Toru, is torn between Naoko, a beautiful but emotionally wounded young woman and Midori, who is full of life. As he faces love, death, loyalty, experimentation and then love again, we see a sharp picture of the 60s Japanese society through the eyes of Toru.

reviewed by —Erika Prange, Faculty Librarian Southwestern College.


Check out Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami, available now in the library on the New Book Shelf 3212.