The first time I read Norwegian Wood was
about six years ago. I picked up the book because I was familiar with the title
and read it as quick as I can just to gain some knowledge about it without deep
thinking. And this time after the discussions and some close readings, I have
had some more profound thoughts.
The
first time I read it I never thought it is a love story, because the love
presented in the book all seem some sort of “deformed”, as in not the common
love we see in reality. And I felt that Murakami was trying to raise something other
than the love theme. But this time as I read it, indeed I am feeling that
Murakami is attempting to explore notions such as loneliness, the complexity of
love etc. but on the other hand, it is no doubt a love story. To me, Naoko’s
suicide derives from her possibly perpetual love towards Kizuki that eventually
becomes masochistic. However, I do not consider this as mental illness, as I do
not think this is something that can be easily healed or healed at all. It is a
more complicated emotion that cannot be categorized or defined so arbitrarily,
nor does the affection Naoko holds towards Toru, Nagazawa holds towards Hatsumi,
and Midori and Toru hold for each other. In such sense, I feel that there may
be some common notions that readers can all interpret in the same way, but most
things in the book, only certain readers can resonate, but others may not
understand at all.
After
reading the fragments from Kokoro, I find the degree of complexity of
emotions very similar between Naoko and sensei. And sensei has expounded in more
details whereas Naoko did not do so, which makes the story more mysterious,
more interpretable and richer in meanings.
Overall, I really liked the book in literature sense, not particularly the story. And I have a presentiment that it will get heavier as time passes.
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