Reading notes: Norwegian Wood
Norwegian Wood was an incredible novel and unlike anything I've ever read. Murakami's writing has a serene quality to it, it's simple quick prose and ephemeral characters' emotions made it very relaxing to read. As water running off a duck's back, so did problems, emotions, difficulty and strife affect the protagonist Watanabe. Particularly in the first half, Watanabe drifts through life with little really touching him deeply.
In the second half of the book, what seemed like a vignette into random days, hours, of the Japanese university student's life, the drifting shreds caught in the wind, start to congeal into a story. A story with real consequences and direction. It's emotional, heavy, and drew me to tears. Some fundamental questions about life, duty, love and devotion are asked and answered with Murakami's relatively simple but plainly true philosophy. For this the older and wiser character of Reiko plays the role of sage to Watanabe.
Overall the book is beautifully written, and has deep emotional impact. It's very unique compared to western literature in style and subject. I would happily read it again.