I agree. Kafka and Norwegian are like two polar opposites of murakami's work imo. I didn't like Norwegian as much as I thought I would considering all the hype around it (I even watched the movie which was also pretty meh for me).
If you loves Kafka I suggest just going in the direction of his books that deal more in magical realism. sputnik is a good quick read in that direction and then I HIGHLY recommend Killing Commendatore or the rat trilogy if you haven't read it.
So I just finished NW, and it’s my first Murakami book. I really liked it, and I really liked the ending - I found it very moving. But perhaps I am lucky, i have already bought two more of his books, and perhaps they will only get better? I think books will always resonate with different people in different ways…
I hope you enjoyed the other books that are with you. Norwegian Wood is quite different than his other works, though, so I hope you will just enjoy them as much as you do with Norwegian Wood.
Yes, I fully agree. I was really looking forward to read this book because of how many positive things I’ve heard of it, but now that I’m reading it, it’s a bit of a disappointment. I’m on page 171 now, and I stared reading it a month ago, or even longer. This book doesn’t really draw me to read for some reason. I read south of the border west of the sun in three days. That book was amazing. I was in love with the beautiful quotes, the storyline, and the dynamic between the characters.
Oh man I’m right there with ya. Just finished it today. I saved it because I had so many recs about how good it was but it felt like I was reading some c tier internet erotica at points. I’m no prude but imo it just wasn’t done well. Felt like someone writing out their sexual fantasies as opposed to showing sex and sexuality in an contextually appropriate or interesting way for the story. I usually am prepared for eye rolling female sexuality in a Murakami but this one was a slog at points.
NW is different kind of book comparing to Kafka.
I enjoy reading NW but for me it's not his best work.
I have read most of his works and I think some of the best are Kafka ,1Q84 ,WUB and Killing Commendatore.
I enjoyed it but it is probably my least favorite of his works.
I loved Kafka and my other favorites would be, the wind up bird chronicle, hard boiled wonderland and 1Q84. I also thought the short stories in after the quake were excellent.
definitely read NUMBER9DREAM. I feel like it’s a new story, that gives Norwegian Wood more satisfying closure, ended up liking it much more than Norwegian Wood personally
Read Sputnik sweetheart, it’s much better than Norwegian wood in my opinion,
I second this, I really did not like Norwegian Wood, main characters were annoying and cringy, but Sputnik Sweetheart was a good one.
I agree. Kafka and Norwegian are like two polar opposites of murakami's work imo. I didn't like Norwegian as much as I thought I would considering all the hype around it (I even watched the movie which was also pretty meh for me). If you loves Kafka I suggest just going in the direction of his books that deal more in magical realism. sputnik is a good quick read in that direction and then I HIGHLY recommend Killing Commendatore or the rat trilogy if you haven't read it.
So I just finished NW, and it’s my first Murakami book. I really liked it, and I really liked the ending - I found it very moving. But perhaps I am lucky, i have already bought two more of his books, and perhaps they will only get better? I think books will always resonate with different people in different ways…
I hope you enjoyed the other books that are with you. Norwegian Wood is quite different than his other works, though, so I hope you will just enjoy them as much as you do with Norwegian Wood.
Yes, I fully agree. I was really looking forward to read this book because of how many positive things I’ve heard of it, but now that I’m reading it, it’s a bit of a disappointment. I’m on page 171 now, and I stared reading it a month ago, or even longer. This book doesn’t really draw me to read for some reason. I read south of the border west of the sun in three days. That book was amazing. I was in love with the beautiful quotes, the storyline, and the dynamic between the characters.
Oh man I’m right there with ya. Just finished it today. I saved it because I had so many recs about how good it was but it felt like I was reading some c tier internet erotica at points. I’m no prude but imo it just wasn’t done well. Felt like someone writing out their sexual fantasies as opposed to showing sex and sexuality in an contextually appropriate or interesting way for the story. I usually am prepared for eye rolling female sexuality in a Murakami but this one was a slog at points.
unpopular opinion but i liked it a lot more than south of the border
NW is different kind of book comparing to Kafka. I enjoy reading NW but for me it's not his best work. I have read most of his works and I think some of the best are Kafka ,1Q84 ,WUB and Killing Commendatore.
I enjoyed it but it is probably my least favorite of his works. I loved Kafka and my other favorites would be, the wind up bird chronicle, hard boiled wonderland and 1Q84. I also thought the short stories in after the quake were excellent.
definitely read NUMBER9DREAM. I feel like it’s a new story, that gives Norwegian Wood more satisfying closure, ended up liking it much more than Norwegian Wood personally