Murakami adapted the first section of the novel from an earlier short story, "Firefly". She is everything that Naoko is not— outgoing, vivacious, and supremely self-confident. spoilers. he couldn't bring himself to forget about what had happened because he had promised Naoko to always remember. Songwriting History “Norwegian Wood” began to be written by John Lennon while he was on a skiing vacation in St. Moritz in the Swiss Alps with his wife Cynthia and producer George Martin and his wife between January 25th and February 7th, 1965. The political upheavals and student strikes of the period form the novel's backdrop. Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami // Review and Discussion - Duration: 12:17. The ending of Norwegian Wood,as expected ,was a bewildering yet deep one. Kizuki's death deeply touches both surviving friends; Watanabe feels the influence of death everywhere, while Naoko feels as if some integral part of her has been permanently lost. The climax is what I disliked the most about Norwegian Wood. The ending of Norwegian Wood,as expected,was a bewildering yet deep one. Stunning and elegiac, Norwegian Wood first propelled Haruki Murakami into the forefront of the literary scene. He does not want to hurt Naoko, but he does not want to lose Midori either. In 1968, Toru is a … [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]. Despite his love for Naoko, Watanabe finds himself attracted to Midori as well. There were no English trade hardcover editions of the novel published until October 2010, when an exclusive limited edition for Waterstone's was released by Vintage Classics (ISBN 9780099528982). LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Norwegian Wood, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. I have seen alot of people theorise different endings to this book, but there are some hidden symbolic passages within the last chapter of the book that gives the ending more clarity. Influenced by the introspective lyrics of Bob Dylan, the song is considered a milestone in the Beatles' development as songwriters. To be fair I don't think it's so much the ending that I had an issue with but the fact that the entire book felt manipulative of the reader's psyche. During this and subsequent visits, Reiko and Naoko reveal more about their past: Reiko talks about the cause of her downfall into mental illness and details the failure of her marriage, while Naoko talks about the unexpected suicide of her older sister several years ago. *sniff* This book has a very special place in my heart, so just reading your comments or thoughts about the book is enough for me to be transported back to the world of Toru *sniffs* *calms herself* *sniffs again*. The 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. I guess there is an erotic element to it, but it's more accurately soft-core porn that is needlessly explicit. Can someone please help me understand the ending of the book! Thanks! Posted by lisathatcher on October 18, 2011 in Film Reviews, ... Just finished reading Julian Barnes novella The Sense of an Ending where he states flatly that the sexual revolution might have been occurring in London but it hadn’t made it to the outer realms of the United Kingdom till the 70’s. Archived. There he meets Reiko Ishida, an older patient there who has become Naoko's confidante. Norwegian Wood has been translated into English twice. Norwegian Wood study guide contains a biography of Murakami, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. [10] Like other books in this pocket-sized series, the English text was intended for Japanese students of English, and even featured an appendix listing the Japanese text for key English phrases encountered in the novel. It was pine really, cheap pine. When he returns to Tokyo, Watanabe unintentionally alienates Midori through both his lack of consideration of her wants and needs, and his continuing thoughts about Naoko. Kizuki and Naoko are particularly close and feel as if they are soulmates, and Watanabe seems more than happy to be their enforcer. It has been too long since I read Norwegian Wood, but there is a lot of Japanese symbolism in the book that is lost in translation, especially in the names and dates. I just finished reading it and I want to be able to grasp the meaning of it as much as I can. The "fire" is the end of the joint. 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. These events are set against a backdrop of civil unrest. I stopped brooding over this since I realized the book was never really about them. After about a month of wandering, he returns to the Tokyo area and gets in contact with Reiko, who leaves the sanatorium to come to visit. On balance, for me it is a yes. The novel is a nostalgic story of loss and burgeoning sexuality. It was written mainly by John Lennon and credited to the Lennon–McCartney songwriting partnership. ); 2000 (Rubin trans. I don't mind sex in a novel, but it seems gratuitous in here. All I want in this world is you. It is told from the first-person perspective of Toru Watanabe, who looks back on his days as a college student living in Tokyo. “I have a million things to talk to you about. he was just reminiscing about those memories that occured during his teenage years. spoilers. Prefacing this with the fact that I've read a lot of Murakami's work prior to this, not entirely sure why I got around to this one so late. Norwegian Wood (ノルウェイの森, Noruwei no Mori) is a 1987 novel by Japanese author Haruki Murakami. Just finished Norwegian Wood.... about that ending (Spoilers) I've read a couple of Murakami's other works and enjoyed them; namely Kafka on the Shore, and Hard Boiled Wonderland. The two translations differ somewhat. Ending of "Norwegian Wood" by Haruki Murakami. Norwegian Get real, boys and girls. Norwegian Wood: Death, grief and sex. The original Japanese title, Noruwei no Mori, is the standard Japanese translation of the title of the Beatles song "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)". The political upheavals and student strikes of the period form the novel's backdrop. ... isn't it good, Norwegian Wood." Reiko stays with Watanabe, and they have sex. "Exploring the map of one's inner existence", "Japanese author's focus, flavor appeal to younger interests", "The loneliness of the long-distance writer", http://www.nipponcinema.com/tag/kiko_mizuhara/, "Tran to adapt Norwegian Wood for Asmik Ace, Fuji TV", "Jonny Greenwood to score Norwegian Wood", Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World, Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage, Underground: The Tokyo Gas Attack and the Japanese Psyche, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Norwegian_Wood_(novel)&oldid=1014814457, Articles containing Japanese-language text, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, 1989 (Birmbaum trans. After he sees Reiko off, Watanabe calls Midori to declare his love for her. Watanabe, grieving and in a daze, wanders aimlessly around Japan, while Midori—with whom he hasn't kept in touch—wonders what has happened to him. Norwegian Wood begins with Toru Watanabe, a 37 year old man traveling to Hamburg. Although the novel deals with heavy themes, it leaves us with a … Welcome back. She led him on, then said, 'You'd better sleep in the bath'. Available on iTunes! Watanabe and Midori share a special kind of relationship where both of them understand each other. Reiko counsels him to seize this chance for happiness and see how his relationship with Midori turns out. But then I recalled again, there was a scene of him on the plane, listened to the Norwegian Wood tunes, Watanabe recalled himself in Santa Fe, watching the sunset, so Watanabe must still alive. Jonny Greenwood wrote the score for the film.[19]. The hidden Japanese symbolism in the Norwegian wood ending. Prepare for a super rambly book review/book chat. Damn onion-cutting ninjas! A film adaptation of the same name was released in 2010, directed by Tran Anh Hung. Mori in the Japanese title translates into English as "wood" in the sense of "forest", not the material "wood", even though the song lyrics refer to the latter. I didn't understand the ending of this book, what happened exactly? I really liked the surrealism, so didn't think I was going to like Norwegian Wood that much hearing that it … save. Norwegian Wood Summary. John Lennon claimed he had no idea where the title came from, but Paul McCartney said he came up with it, inspired by the Norwegian Wood in the Asher household, where he was staying. Posted by 2 years ago. The film stars Kenichi Matsuyama as Watanabe,[12] Rinko Kikuchi as Naoko,[13] and Kiko Mizuhara as Midori. The ending of this book is hiding in plain sight, it's in the first paragraph of the book, a lonely grown-up man outliving and reliving the tragic loss of his best friends. The second translation, by Jay Rubin, is the authorized version for publication outside Japan and was first published in 2000 by Harvill Press in the UK, and Vintage International in the United States.[1]. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. So she makes him sleep in the bath and then finally in the last verse I had this idea to set the Norwegian wood on fire as revenge, so we did it very tongue in cheek. ", and the novel ends with Watanabe pondering that question. Close. [9] This song is often described in the novel, and is the favorite song of the character Naoko. But when Midori asks where he is, Watanabe is plunged into a kind of existential confusion. He writes a letter to Reiko, asking for her advice about his conflicted affections for both Naoko and Midori. he said it himself that he will live for Kizuki and Naoko. Christy Anne Jones 43,450 views. I want the two of us to begin everything from the beginning” [p. 293]. The hidden Japanese symbolism in the Norwegian wood ending. I recall that there is a very strong case for the ending being positive, but I'm having trouble finding sources. This earlier translation has been discontinued in Japan. Norwegian wood. This idyllic existence is shattered by the unexpected suicide of Kizuki on his 17th birthday. He thinks back to the 1960s, when so much happened that touched his life. John Lennon was the primary writer, and finished writing the words and with Paul McCartney. Archived. The novel is a nostalgic story of loss and burgeoning sexuality. share. A lot was left to the reader’s imagination when then story finished. A 37-year-old Toru Watanabe has just arrived in Hamburg, West Germany. Norwegian Wood study guide contains a biography of Murakami, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Watanabe visits Naoko at her secluded mountain sanatorium near Kyoto. https://www.beatlesbible.com/songs/norwegian-wood-this-bird-has-flown Thanks for exploring this SuperSummary Plot Summary of “Norwegian Wood” by Haruki Murakami. is this a good book to read when you're feeling down? “Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)” is usually known simply as “Norwegian Wood.” It is a song by the Beatles, first released on the 1965 album Rubber Soul and credited to John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Forest settings and imagery are significant in the novel. After hearing the 'Norwegian Wood' by Beatles, he is overcome with nostalgia and begins musing about his teenage years. Joy, pain, sorrow, loss, love, and death are intertwined with life and those of us who choose to go on living and feeling. Norwegian Wood (ノルウェイの森, Noruwei no mori) is a 2010 Japanese romantic drama film directed by Tran Anh Hung, based on Haruki Murakami's novel of the same name.The film was released in Japan on 11 December 2010. [1] The first was by Alfred Birnbaum (who translated many of Murakami's earlier novels) and was published in 1989 in Japan by Kodansha as part of the Kodansha English Library series. It is through this experience and the intimate conversation that Watanabe and Reiko share that night, that he comes to realize that Midori is the most important person in his life. "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1965 album Rubber Soul. The two of them spend more and more time together going for long walks on Sundays, although feelings for each other are never clarified in this interval. The story was subsequently included in the collection Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman. The end was too rushed and abrupt. Hello everyone! [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]. There are differences in nicknames: Watanabe's roommate, for example, is called "Kamikaze" in the Birnbaum translation, and "Storm Trooper" in the Rubin translation. Murakami’s books have always pushed me into deep contemplation. Norwegian Wood is a masterpiece of the inner mind and will bring you back to places and feelings that you thought only you had ever experienced. Posted by 5 years ago. Norwegian Wood is a simple coming-of-age tale, primarily set in 1969-70, when the author was attending university. 15. In the end her mind snapped again, and as a result she left her husband and went to Ami Hostel. … I want to see you and talk. [1] [14][15][16][17][18] It was presented at the 67th Venice International Film Festival. I can imagine someone, maybe the Beatles, talking about pot at some point early on, and seeing the word “marijuana” for the first time, never heard of it and trying to pronounce it: “muh-ree-joo-what? Norwegian Wood is a modern literary depiction of depression, suicide and the sense of grief born from loss. As a reader deeply engrossed and invested in the lives of the characters, I did not get the necessary closure. Locations used in the film include the Tonomine highlands, Mineyama highlands and Kasumi coast. Thanks for this A2A. 8 comments. The students at Watanabe's college go on strike and call for a revolution. At the age of 17, Kizuki, his best friend, decides to end his life leaving behind Toru and his girlfriend, Naoko, broken. The ThemeTracker below shows where, and to what degree, the theme of Death, Suicide, Grief, and Existentialism appears in each chapter of Norwegian Wood. Watanabe is befriended by a fellow drama classmate, Midori Kobayashi. Harpeth Rising performing their cover of The Beatles "Norwegian Wood" on Scruffy City Ramble in Knoxville, TN on 5/16/13. The Norwegian Wood quotes below are all either spoken by Midori Kobayashi or refer to Midori Kobayashi. Ending of "Norwegian Wood" by Haruki Murakami. Norwegian Wood is a fake wood that was used to make cheap furniture. When he hears an orchestral cover of the Beatles' song "Norwegian Wood", he is suddenly overwhelmed by feelings of loss and nostalgia. [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. I like the interpretation of Alice of the Moon, but it does not work a 100% for me. i do believe Toru is very much alive. The track features a sitar part, played by lead guitarist George Harrison, that marked the first appearance of the Indian string instrument on a Western … 80. Norwegian Wood (ノルウェイの森, Noruwei no Mori) is a 1987 novel by Japanese author Haruki Murakami. Right from the first time I heard the song, the word was out that Norwegian wood was a term for pot. On the night of Naoko's 20th birthday, she feels especially vulnerable and they have sex, during which Watanabe realizes that she is a virgin. Inexplicably, the students end their strike and act as if nothing had happened, which enrages Watanabe as a sign of hypocrisy. As thirty-seven-year-old Toru Watanabe lands at the airport in Hamburg, Germany, the plane he’s on begins playing an instrumental cover of the Beatles’ “Norwegian Wood.” The song hits Toru hard, and he finds himself flung back into memories of his youth. Afterward, Naoko leaves Watanabe a letter saying that she needs some time apart and is quitting college to go to a sanatorium. A later letter informs Watanabe that Naoko has killed herself. [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. Midori asks, "Where are you now? A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. The Perks Of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky - Duration: 4:38. This edition kept the two-volume division of the original Japanese version and its color scheme—the first volume having a red cover, the second green (the first UK edition in 2000 also kept this division and appearance). In Norwegian Wood I just wished the damned thing would end. Watanabe, his classmate Kizuki, and Kizuki's girlfriend Naoko are the best of friends. Following are my perspectives on the ending : Toru and Midori probably didn't end up together. [11], A film adaptation directed by Tran Anh Hung was released in Japan in 2010. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one: ). Close. ), This page was last edited on 29 March 2021, at 06:59. Midori reciprocates his feelings, and their friendship grows during Naoko's absence. I'm reading ALL of the Haruki Murakami novels - so I'll be doing a book review for each. Toru, a serious young college student in Tokyo, is devoted to Naoko, a beautiful and introspective young woman, but their mutual passion is marked by the tragic death of their best friend years before. about Midori, he knew deep inside that he loved her but figured he could never be happy again. 12:17. Score for the ending: Toru and Midori I do n't mind sex in a novel, but seems. A backdrop of civil unrest get the necessary closure we sign you in to your account! 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