Norwegian Wood (novel)

Norwegian Wood is a 1987 novel by Japanese author Haruki Murakami. It is a coming-of-age story told from the first-person perspective of Toru Watanabe, a young college student in Tokyo. The novel explores themes of loss, sexuality, mental illness, and the search for meaning in life during a period of social and political upheaval in Japan in the late 1960s.

The story revolves around Toru's relationships with two very different women: Naoko, the former girlfriend of his deceased best friend Kizuki, and Midori, a vibrant and unconventional classmate. Naoko suffers from a deep depression and eventually retreats to a secluded sanatorium. Toru's connection with her is characterized by shared grief and a promise he made to Kizuki. Midori, on the other hand, represents life, energy, and a more grounded approach to love and relationships.

The novel's title, Norwegian Wood, refers to the Beatles song of the same name. The song holds significance for Toru, as it evokes memories of Naoko and Kizuki. The novel is notable for its realistic portrayal of adolescent anxieties and its exploration of the complexities of human relationships. While Norwegian Wood is a love story, it is also a meditation on the nature of memory, the inevitability of loss, and the difficulties of navigating the transition from youth to adulthood. It is considered Murakami's breakthrough novel and has been translated into numerous languages, achieving widespread international acclaim.