&sq=Qlik&lang=&file=File:NorwegianWood.jpg) First English-language edition | |
| Author | Haruki Murakami |
|---|---|
| Original title | Noruwei no Mori "Norwegian Forest" ノルウェイの森 |
| Translator | Alfred Birnbaum (1989) Jay Rubin (2000) |
| Language | Japanese |
| Genre | Literary fiction, romance novel |
| Publisher | Kodansha |
Publication date | 1987 |
| Publication place | Japan |
Published in English | 1989 (Birnbaum trans.); 2000 (Rubin trans.) |
| Media type | Print (paperback) |
| Pages | 296 (US paperback) 400 (UK paperback) |
| ISBN | 0-375-70402-7 (US edition) ISBN 0-09-944882-3 (UK edition) ISBN 4-06-203516-2 (JP edition) |
| OCLC | 42692182 |
| 895.6/35 21 | |
| LC Class | PL856.U673 N6713 2000 |
Norwegian Wood (ノルウェイの森, Noruwei no Mori) is a 1987 novel by Japanese author Haruki Murakami.[1] The novel is a nostalgic story of loss.[2] It is told from the first-person perspective of Toru Watanabe, who looks back on his days as a college student living in Tokyo.[3] Through Watanabe's reminiscences, readers see him develop relationships with two very different women—the beautiful yet emotionally troubled Naoko, and the outgoing, lively Midori.[4]
This novel is set in late 1960s Tokyo during a period when Japanese students, like those of many other nations, were protesting against the established order.[5] While it serves as the backdrop against which the events of the novel unfold, Murakami (through the eyes of Watanabe and Midori) portrays the student movement as largely weak-willed and hypocritical.
Murakami adapted the first section of the novel from an earlier short story, "Firefly". The story was subsequently included in the collection Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman.[6]
Norwegian Wood was hugely popular with Japanese youth and made Murakami something of a superstar in his native country (apparently much to his dismay at the time).[7][8] During the height of the popularity, Murakami would even leave Japan for a time.
A film adaptation with the same title was released in 2010, directed by Tran Anh Hung.
- ^ Winterton, Bradley (January 7, 2001). "Exploring the map of one's inner existence". Taipei Times. Retrieved December 20, 2008.
- ^ Bauer, Justin (October 5, 2000). "This Bird Has Flown". Philadelphia City Paper. Archived from the original on May 3, 2005. Retrieved December 20, 2008.
- ^ Poole, Steve (May 27, 2000). "Tunnel vision". The Guardian. Retrieved December 20, 2008.
- ^ Lindquist, Mark (June 3, 2001). "Japanese author's focus, flavor appeal to younger interests". Seattle Times. Retrieved December 20, 2008.
- ^ Houpt, Simon (August 1, 2008). "The loneliness of the long-distance writer". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on December 22, 2008. Retrieved December 20, 2008.
- ^ Rafferty, Terrence (September 15, 2006). "Review: Blind willow, sleeping woman". International Herald Tribune. Retrieved December 20, 2008.
- ^ Lewis-Kraus, Gideon (February 6, 2005). "Convergence of separate odysseys". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved December 20, 2008.
- ^ Naparstek, Ben (June 24, 2006). "The lone wolf". The Age. Retrieved December 20, 2008.