Books Norwegian Wood By Haruki Murakami

"Norwegian Wood" by Haruki Murakami is a nostalgic and poignant coming-of-age novel centered on Toru Watanabe, a college student in 1960s Tokyo. The story begins with Toru reflecting on his youth after hearing the Beatles' song "Norwegian Wood," which evokes bittersweet memories of love and loss.

Toru's close circle includes his best friend Kizuki, his friend’s girlfriend Naoko, and later a vivacious classmate named Midori. After Kizuki’s sudden suicide, Toru grows closer to Naoko, who struggles with her own emotional fragility and trauma. Their relationship is tender but fraught with sadness, culminating in Naoko’s institutionalization and eventual suicide.

Meanwhile, Toru develops complex feelings for Midori, whose lively personality contrasts with Naoko’s melancholy. The novel explores themes of mental illness, death, sexuality, and the search for identity amidst the turbulence of youth and societal change. Toru’s journey is one of grappling with grief and finding hope in human connection.