poetry in commotion...

norwegian wood (no penis jokes here)

Norwegian Wood by Murakami is a novel set in the turbulent years of the late 60s and early 70s where the hippie revolution was coming to sweep the world (or so they thought).  In a private university in Tokyo, the protagonist (Toru Watanabe ) struggles to choose between a girl of the past and a girl of the present amongst an existence filled with empty sex, alcohol binges and turbulent uncertainty.

What I liked about this book was the first person perspective of Toru, and the way he views the world.  He is a quiessential loner, and through his narration , you really get a sense of how devoid his world is of people.  So when he does talk to the few people in his life, the dialogue really jumps at you, especially since he's an incredibly interesting and intelligent person.  He reads Marx.  He can explain the purpose of English subjunctive.  His favourite book is the Great Gatsby. He's in love with Naoko and writes to her regularly.  Yet he sleeps around almost as if to pass time.  He's flawed, old fashioned, but at the same time uniquely male, with a firm grasp of the situation around him despite his insularity. These recollections are tinged with the unfocused lens of half forgotten memory and a little hindsight.

Like the song it takes its title from, its subliminally haunting and mysterious.  But worth a read should you have the chance.

Oh - and read this.  It's possibly one of the greatest short stories ever written.  Bear with me - you'll thank me later.

posted by jaseypoo! @ 10:08 PM