u/Cheap-Cry2531

A little while ago, I shared a post about I had just started reading Norwegian Wood. A lot of you asked me to share my thoughts once I finished it. First of all, sorry for taking a little longer than expected—but here it is, my afterword.

I happened to pick up Norwegian Wood. At first I thought it was going to be a cozy romance novel peaceful and comforting somewhere along the lines. I didn't know what I was in for until I had reached the last page.

What I came across was not merely a love story; it was a powerful and deeply human account of loneliness, grief, loss, and the uncertainties associated with youth. The thing that surprised me most was just how realistic it seemed. On more than one occasion I forgot that I was reading fiction and it seemed as though I was reading someone's actual life, a feeling which the translator also refers to in the translator's note.

I'm not going to give away any spoilers, so let me put it this way: the book is deeply moving, progresses at a slow pace, and is highly reflective. It makes you stay with the characters rather than rushing through their experiences.

I kept thinking about this book long after I had finished reading it. Initially, I believed it was concerned with relationships, but eventually I came to the conclusion that the real theme of it is learning how to go on living in the face of all that life strips away. It was this quiet message that had the greatest effect on me.

The aspects that struck me were grief and loss, the contrast between isolation and connection, and finally the decision to go on with life. Even though there was a great deal of sadness, I was left with the thought that while we can't alter the past we can choose to keep moving forward.

I don't think I'd suggest this book to somebody who wants a fast-paced romance. However, if you do enjoy thoughtful, character-focused stories which examine human emotions with honesty and patience, then Norwegian Wood is definitely worth reading.

I had never read a novel by Murakami before and this certainly won't be the last one I read.