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stfflndg 's review for:
Norwegian Wood
by Haruki Murakami
I read some reviews while I was halfway through the book and most people were complaining how 'unrealistic' the characters are, and I thought it was funny, because when I picked up this book, I was marvelling on how Midori was a really interesting character. 'Unrealistic' is a harsh generalization of the characters in this book, because while they're not of mainstream personalities, they actually exist. I know, because I am very different from people (the way I talk and the way I think, well, especially obvious when I disagree with other people's comments of the characters being 'realistic'.) I liked how you can differentiate each character, and they are flawed, but they are nevertheless described as beautiful. The unique personalities were the one that made me continued reading, because they're very unpredictable, different and fresh - nothing like the generic characters other books dumped on you.
I can never relate to most generic characters of many other books, because I'm simply different. I can say that my mind works the way Midori does, and for once, I was happy to finally found a character I can identify with. I know some readers said Midori's an unrealistic character, but for me, she's very natural, interesting and curious. I know some people who could relate to Naoko, even Reiko, and believe me or not, I have known a man so similar to Nagasawa. Yes, they are real, and they exist. Perhaps most readers who deemed these characters as 'unrealistic' have never given themselves a chance to actually know people with personalities similar to Naoko, Reiko, Nagasawa, and even Watanabe.
Norwegian Wood is a beautifully melancholic book, as expected from Murakami. I found myself underlining my favourite lines with pencil and dog-eared pages with my favourite parts of the story. Norwegian Wood isn't a linear story, but rather, it's a storytelling of one's life. The entire plot itself was meant to tell a journey, growth and experience. And because of that, this book was only meant for people who wanted to experience the thoughts, emotions and feelings of the characters, rather than enjoying a certain plotline. Norwegian Wood is like that - it's like having conversations with you, ask you questions and gives you words of comfort when you need it. It makes you experience a handful of emotions - grief, loneliness, solitude, curiosity, joy, indifference, faith, content, nostalgic, inadequate, sorrow, longing, desire, amusement and everything else.
The only thing I didn't like about the story was everything sexual. I am okay with minimal amount of sex, but the casual sex was bugging me. But maybe it's just me, maybe I didn't like it because I don't fancy the idea of the characters being least intimate about anything sexual - and discussing sex like discussing a newspaper gossip. Otherwise, it would've been a 5 star.
Edit: I have now become the person who discusses sex like discussing a newspaper gossip. I’m giving this book a 5 star.
I can never relate to most generic characters of many other books, because I'm simply different. I can say that my mind works the way Midori does, and for once, I was happy to finally found a character I can identify with. I know some readers said Midori's an unrealistic character, but for me, she's very natural, interesting and curious. I know some people who could relate to Naoko, even Reiko, and believe me or not, I have known a man so similar to Nagasawa. Yes, they are real, and they exist. Perhaps most readers who deemed these characters as 'unrealistic' have never given themselves a chance to actually know people with personalities similar to Naoko, Reiko, Nagasawa, and even Watanabe.
Norwegian Wood is a beautifully melancholic book, as expected from Murakami. I found myself underlining my favourite lines with pencil and dog-eared pages with my favourite parts of the story. Norwegian Wood isn't a linear story, but rather, it's a storytelling of one's life. The entire plot itself was meant to tell a journey, growth and experience. And because of that, this book was only meant for people who wanted to experience the thoughts, emotions and feelings of the characters, rather than enjoying a certain plotline. Norwegian Wood is like that - it's like having conversations with you, ask you questions and gives you words of comfort when you need it. It makes you experience a handful of emotions - grief, loneliness, solitude, curiosity, joy, indifference, faith, content, nostalgic, inadequate, sorrow, longing, desire, amusement and everything else.
The only thing I didn't like about the story was everything sexual. I am okay with minimal amount of sex, but the casual sex was bugging me. But maybe it's just me, maybe I didn't like it because I don't fancy the idea of the characters being least intimate about anything sexual - and discussing sex like discussing a newspaper gossip. Otherwise, it would've been a 5 star.
Edit: I have now become the person who discusses sex like discussing a newspaper gossip. I’m giving this book a 5 star.