Re-reading Norwegian Woods
24 Jul 2011 Leave a Comment
- Haruki Murakami
Read it again today.
Started reading this quiet lonely Sunday afternoon, in peaceful music just bought yesterday from the bazaar downstairs my office. I thought I should read more famous books. But 1/3 through it, I realise I might have read it before. Some paragraphs really look familiar so much so that I could guess what happened straight after. In any case, still managed to finish it cover to cover.
Had no deep impression of the story otherwise, just like most other books I have read.
Upon finishing reading, still did not find out why it’s lauded as one of the greatest books in the modern times. Except it makes me feel down. It makes you feel a stone sitting on your heart, hard to breathe.
Perhaps it is Japanese style depression. Everyone is brought up to please everyone and pretend everything is fine. Their only goal since they are born is to be the best child in the world, do well in everything and be a perfect man/woman for the rest of their lives. They do not talk about the real problems in their lives. Big problems would only grow bigger and they would not share with anyone. Only outlet is to end their lives, or to get crazy, or to let go and live each day as the last day. Those who do not live by this law…only live in novels?
Every culture may have its own strength and weakness. There is no way to judge who is better or worse, just like how incapable I am to link the vulnerability with the strength and endurance Japanese exhibited during Tohoku.
In any case, I spent a quiet peaceful afternoon perfectly conducive for studying on chewing on snacks, reading difficult novels and missing you.
