For anyone who read Murakami's Norwegian Wood
DiscussionsAsian Fiction & Non-Fiction
Rejoignez LibraryThing pour poster.
Ce sujet est actuellement indiqué comme "en sommeil"—le dernier message date de plus de 90 jours. Vous pouvez le réveiller en postant une réponse.
1mwentlandt
I posted this in Book Talk but figured it might just as well go here...
I've heard so much about Murakami that I wanted to dive in and enjoy it, but I just can't keep going in Norwegian Wood. The first 100 or so pages were excellent and engaging, but once the book shifted entirely to Naoko's experience at the "Ami Hostel" and introduced the character of Reiko, I feel like the tone and environment of the story were completely shattered. The drastic change in environment and how the characters interacted just seemed to end it for me.
So what I'm asking is this: convince me that I really need to struggle through Norwegian Wood and it will be worthwhile in the end - otherwise I'm (regrettably) going to move on to something else. Thanks!
I've heard so much about Murakami that I wanted to dive in and enjoy it, but I just can't keep going in Norwegian Wood. The first 100 or so pages were excellent and engaging, but once the book shifted entirely to Naoko's experience at the "Ami Hostel" and introduced the character of Reiko, I feel like the tone and environment of the story were completely shattered. The drastic change in environment and how the characters interacted just seemed to end it for me.
So what I'm asking is this: convince me that I really need to struggle through Norwegian Wood and it will be worthwhile in the end - otherwise I'm (regrettably) going to move on to something else. Thanks!
2gscottmoore
A whole piece of art is a whole piece of art. You can only know/understand the book after reading it.
I remember reading a book by a Polish writer, Kvorecky or Borowoski or someone. The book was really lame, but I had nothing better to do. It was about a guy vacationing somewhere, idly chatting with people and wandering around. I almost bailed on the book 3 or 4 times. At some point around the 2/3rds mark I began to realize that the first-person story was written by the serial killer periodically referred to in the book. He was in fact the killer and did not know he was the killer. Then the whole book snapped into focus and it became a profound reading experience.
But it didn't come early and it didn't come fast.
Just a thought.
-- Gerry
I remember reading a book by a Polish writer, Kvorecky or Borowoski or someone. The book was really lame, but I had nothing better to do. It was about a guy vacationing somewhere, idly chatting with people and wandering around. I almost bailed on the book 3 or 4 times. At some point around the 2/3rds mark I began to realize that the first-person story was written by the serial killer periodically referred to in the book. He was in fact the killer and did not know he was the killer. Then the whole book snapped into focus and it became a profound reading experience.
But it didn't come early and it didn't come fast.
Just a thought.
-- Gerry
3Medellia
While I know it's often a fan favorite, Norwegian Wood would've been my last recommendation for a Murakami novel. I've read all of them now, and Norwegian Wood is my least favorite, followed by After Dark.
In a nutshell: I'd recommend Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World (unless you don't like science fiction); I'd recommend Kafka on the Shore (unless you don't like magic realism); and I'd recommend The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle (with the caveat that I found that one slow going at first). For the shorter novels, Sputnik Sweetheart is my pick.
However, I didn't find the first 100 pages of Norwegian Wood particularly engaging, so maybe take this opinion with a grain of salt. :)
In a nutshell: I'd recommend Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World (unless you don't like science fiction); I'd recommend Kafka on the Shore (unless you don't like magic realism); and I'd recommend The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle (with the caveat that I found that one slow going at first). For the shorter novels, Sputnik Sweetheart is my pick.
However, I didn't find the first 100 pages of Norwegian Wood particularly engaging, so maybe take this opinion with a grain of salt. :)
4mwentlandt
I appreciate the responses.
I did finish Norwegian Wood, and I appreciate the point about taking the whole before judging it; very true, though difficult when there are many things I'd like to give a chance and not a ton of time.
The book did bother me though. I really like Murakami's style - very easy to read. But this book insisted on an incredibly dark tone and still denied any real insight into who Naoko was or what she was about. For that reason the characters seemed selfish (with a possible exception of Midori, who was more genuine and understandable) and the whole thing seemed rather ridiculous... despite the fact that I didn't really find this book enjoyable, I am going to read some other Murakami soon - there were times when I thought Norwegian Wood could be something good, but it never quite got there. Thanks for the recommendations!
I did finish Norwegian Wood, and I appreciate the point about taking the whole before judging it; very true, though difficult when there are many things I'd like to give a chance and not a ton of time.
The book did bother me though. I really like Murakami's style - very easy to read. But this book insisted on an incredibly dark tone and still denied any real insight into who Naoko was or what she was about. For that reason the characters seemed selfish (with a possible exception of Midori, who was more genuine and understandable) and the whole thing seemed rather ridiculous... despite the fact that I didn't really find this book enjoyable, I am going to read some other Murakami soon - there were times when I thought Norwegian Wood could be something good, but it never quite got there. Thanks for the recommendations!
