This is topic Haruki Murakami - Norwegian Wood (a book) in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.


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Posted by Corwin (Member # 5705) on :
 
Has anyone here read it? Or any other books by the same author for the matter.

A friend of mine who went to Japan for an internship got the two books that are already translated in Romanian from a friend of his who studies there. He then decided that this one would be a cool Christmas gift. Not for me unfortunately... but I was the carrier of the gift so I got to read it on the plane!

A little bit about the book: while Adrian and someone else I know said the style is quite different from European/American writers, I didn't find it all that strange... Maybe he's more frank when talking about sex then others (Coelho not included...), but he does it so naturally that you don't feel like reading a cheep pornographic book or something. Instead he shows sex as what it should be: a beautiful experience between two people. (you can argue about the number, but if you want to, get your own thread! )

Mainly it's a story about the life of a Japanese teenager situated during the '60s - '70 (IIRC). It's quite "lyrical" in some parts, and I was surprized that I liked it - I'm not a poetry fan at all...

Anyway, if you're bored of SF (never!) or simply want to read something different (2 opinions out of 3 say it is ) take a shot at it.

[ January 13, 2005, 12:17 PM: Message edited by: Corwin ]
 

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Posted by David Bowles (Member # 1021) on :
 
Murakami is an incredible author. Norwegian Wood is actually a bit atypical of his work, which is usually a bit more surrealist and absurd. The single most important of his novels, the one that sits on my top ten books ever, is The Wind-up Bird Chronicle.

Be forwarned: if you have never read Japanese novels, they are considerably different from Western ones.

Murakami also has a sci-fi novel called Hard-boiled Wonderland and the End of the World that I also really recommend. Great stuff.
 

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Posted by ludosti (Member # 1772) on :
 
The Wind-up Bird Chronicle is the only book I've ever read that messed with my mind, in the sense that while I read it and for a little while after reading it, everything was surreal.

[ January 13, 2005, 12:26 PM: Message edited by: ludosti ]
 

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Posted by Corwin (Member # 5705) on :
 
Edit: In response to David

So I just happened to stumble on his most atypical and thus most "European/American-like" of his novels?

And no, I haven't read any other Japanese novels. I wonder what am I getting myself into?!

I don't know if I can find those two books that you've recommended here in France, but I'll give it a try. And there's always Amazon & the likes...

What was your opinion on Norwegian Wood? You said it's different from the usual Murakami stuff, but how does it relate to the American style?

Edit: ludosti: You mean seeing pigs fly and the likes?!

[ January 13, 2005, 12:28 PM: Message edited by: Corwin ]
 

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Posted by Mintieman (Member # 4620) on :
 
Ahh Murakami is an absolute genius. His books are simultaneously funny, insightful, and surreal. I think Hard Boiled wonderland is my favourite
 

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Posted by David Bowles (Member # 1021) on :
 
Corwin, I really liked NW, but it was less complex than his other novels, which embed the sort of story it tells within strange, dream-like plots and landscapes. It was very moving and heartfelt, like all his work, and yes, it had more of a Western feel to it than other things by him I've read. That strange disconnect so many of the characters in NW feel, by the way, is typical of his writing.
 

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Posted by Corwin (Member # 5705) on :
 
Thanks, David. Adrian was probably also influenced by the other book he'd read (I don't know the title though).

Since I see that those of you who posted in here have already read Murakami, I have a question for you: are there any other Japanese writers you like? Preferably translated in English.
 

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Posted by ludosti (Member # 1772) on :
 
I mean surreal in the sense that I was unsure of the reality of my surroundings, like they could suddenly change and shift in some dream-like way.
 

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Posted by Corwin (Member # 5705) on :
 
Since we're talking about sureal and all: a long time ago I read in a Romanian SF magazine a short story that has won a "young writers" award. It was about some strange game involving two oponents, each trying to get the other into an illusionary world and make him believe it's the real one. I don't remember the author's name, but whenever I'll get back home I'll try to look it up and see if he has written anything since, although I have little faith that he's been translated to English. Maybe someday, if I have too much time on my hands I'll translate that story myself. Maybe... And pigs fly!

[ January 13, 2005, 04:52 PM: Message edited by: Corwin ]
 

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Posted by David Bowles (Member # 1021) on :
 
bumping up
 

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Posted by Annie (Member # 295) on :
 

quote:

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The Wind-up Bird Chronicle is the only book I've ever read that messed with my mind, in the sense that while I read it and for a little while after reading it, everything was surreal.

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