In Tokyo, Toru, a quiet and unusually serious college student, deeply loves Naoko, a beautiful and introspective young woman. However, their shared passion is overshadowed by the tragic loss of their best friend from years ago. While Toru tries to adapt to campus life and cope with the loneliness and isolation he experiences there, Naoko struggles with the overwhelming pressures and responsibilities of life. She withdraws further into her own world, leaving Toru to seek connection with others and be drawn to a fiercely independent and sexually liberated young woman.
Norwegian Wood is a magnificent fusion of the music, mood, and ethos of the 1960s, interwoven with the story of a college student’s romantic journey into adulthood. Through the novel, the author brilliantly captures the essence of a young man’s first, passionate, and courageous experience of love, even in the face of hopelessness.
