Cover 4

Tokio blues

Tokio blues: Norwegian Wood

1987 • 384 pages

Ratings13

Average rating3.5

15

This is the fourth book I have read of Murakami and the most different one. It is, as he said himself, too realistic, lacking this magical realism events or dream-like situations, this surrealism as well, that we know from other books of this author. I've read an interview where he admits he was ‘experimenting' with this book. The best one for me is for sure “A Wild Sheep Chase”. Anyways, not being better than others and certainly being different does not means this book is bad. I enjoyed it in many ways. Again it's so easy to identify with the characters and their issues, and to let yourself feel overwhelm by nostalgia, by the past, by memories. To wonder why you did what you did or how different your life would be if you would have done or would not have done this or that. On the other hand, this works as well to analise concepts such as youth and their approach towards sexuality, death, suicide, mental health, studies. There is an interesting depiction of Japan as well.... I would say give it a try, but be warned: this is good but is not as crazy as other stories of Murakami.

June 20, 2018Report this review