Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Norwegian Wood
Book Review: Will bring a tear to a glass eye.
Summary: 5 Stars
Toru Watanbe remembers his student days in 1960's Tokyo. A time when 2 very different women force his emotions apart. This is part delicate love story, part rites of passage novel. With both parts being able to balance each other wonderfully. Murakami's characters are delightfully surreal, especially the female ones. You feel that their mission in life is to torment Toru and he being a tortured soul can only stand back and let events lay siege to him. Murakami has created a dazzling piece of work that will stand the test of time. Buy 2 copies and give one to a friend.You'll enjoy this book after many readings.
Book Review: Not what I'd expected
Summary: 2 Stars
This novel came as something of a disappointment. I was expecting more profound than the quite routine rites of passage that reveals itself. The characters are of some interest, but are in the main affected, insecure middle classes: not too far away from the main bulk of British writing.Some parts are nice though: descriptions of journeys, music - Bill Evans' 'Waltz for Debby' is a good choice to soundtrack the main female character's mental disintegration.
So - quite close but no cigar.
Book Review: Not the best book ever written, but definitely my favourite.
Summary: 5 Stars
I have read most of Haruki Murakami's works, and this was somewhat unexpected. No sitting down wells or mysterious Greek islands, just a love story. Of course it is a lot more complicated than that, but you should read it yourself. I have lent my copy to three people now, all of them have enjoyed it enormously. My girlfriend cried several times, and, I probably shouldn't say this, but I almost did too. I would like to sit on a balcony some time watching a fire somewhere in the distance on the streets of Tokyo.Book Review: Was I alone in not finding this original?
Summary: 1 Stars
Not your average, if such a word is appropriate, Harvill title.Harvill books are usually bold, original statements of literary art: this is a very old-fasioned (it brought to mind the British writers Dornford Yates and Noel Coward) book with a plot so banal it's almost painful.
I also objected to the equally old-fashioned female subservience; all of the female characters seem solely designed to satisfy the youthful lust of the narrator.
Book Review: Pull the other one
Summary: 1 Stars
Murakami in another rubbish novel shock.After reading numerous ecstatic reviews I hurried along and bought this. Complete waste of time - a necropolis of prose. Story goes: boy doesn't grow up. Numerous females commit suicide. Supposed 'haunting' ending.
A cheap mag would reveal more.