I had read a book from a Haruki Murakami when I was in Citibank, Singapore. I had just happened to fall upon it among the books collection in the network at office (probably a Filipino added it).It was called Pinball.It was one hell of a weird book...about this one Japanese guy who lived with twin women and about the game pinball. I have very faint memories of that book.
I remember Victor (my malasian chinese friend...) mentioned Haruki to be one of his favorite authors.I even started with another online version of his book called The Wind-up bird chronicle.But left it half way because it was veering towards fantasy, which I am not so fond of.
I like real stuff...real people and real stories, I think.
A visit to Crosswords soon had "Norwegian Wood" in my hand.It was an English translation.Most Haruki novels are originally Japanese.
So it was Koru Watanbe, Naoko, Midori, Nagasawa, Hatsumi and Reiko who I was living with till the time I finished the novel. Japanese, youth primarily and their emotionally complicated lives.
Japanese youth had caught my fancy ever since I saw Babel. Hungry for love and thirsty for identity.But aren't youths all over the world the same? I guess they are more exposed to Sex and Alcohol, more exposed than us I guess.I''l stop at that.Have no research to back it.
A boy and a girl, bounded by the loss of a best friend and boyfriend (same person) respectively.An Asyllum. An alleged lesbian. A young girl burdened with responsibility.A womaniser. Explicit sexual narration.Suicides(3).
Why would you want to read it?
To get a taste of another culture, youth and LIFE.
I was drowned in this story of love, loss and sexuality.Totally..
The last line of the book was particularly wonderful and bizarre.
Bizarre...that's what you would think the title of my blog is..
It's nothing but Japanese numbers from 1 to 10. I learnt them whilst learning Taikwando:)
