# data[].attributes.body
The movie trailer smoothly summarizes everything important in the book in just under 2 minutes.

# data[].attributes.headline
Reiko Playing "Norwegian Wood" by The Beatles

# data[].attributes.subject
Reiko Playing "Norwegian Wood" by The Beatles

# data[].attributes.body
"Norwegian wood" by The Beatles is Naoko's favourite song. Consequently, when Toru is older, everytime he hears the song he gets memories of his past, good and bad alike.

# data[].attributes.body
"The Midnight Library" is a book about a girl, Nora, who tries to commit suicide but finds herself inside a library situated between life and death, that shows all her possible outcomes in life. The book follows the same central themes as "Norwegian Wood", exploring the memories of Nora, the nostalgic choices in her past, and her regrets.

# data[].attributes.body
In "Norwegian Wood", Toru Watanabe is searching for his meaning in life. This is similar to Charlie Gordon in "Flowers for Algernon", where he wants something that gives him meaning in his life (for him, it is intelligence).

# data[].attributes.body
In this story, Toru finds himself irresistibly attracted to two women, Naoko and Midori. Although Toru loves Naoko wholeheartedly, she suffers from a grave illness that renders her emotionally and mentally unstable. Consequently, she is unable to reciprocate his love in the same manner that he loves her. Despite this, Toru consistently chooses Naoko, faithfully standing by her side even when she appears to push him away.

# data[].attributes.body
Toru's deep affection for Naoko endures even beyond her tragic demise. Her suicide shatters him, leaving him heartbroken and distraught upon receiving the devastating news. Despite the immense pain caused by her loss, Toru's love for Naoko remains persistent, illustrating the profound impact she had on his life.

# data[].attributes.body
"Hey, Kizuki, I thought, you're not missing a damn thing. This world is a piece of shit. The assholes are earning their college credits and helping to create a society in their own disgusting image." (Murakami 28)

Slowly missing Kizuki, Toru's way of thought begins to edge onto nihilism. He doesn't wish death, but he reveals he is angry and contemptuous of the world around him.

# data[].attributes.body
The Great Gatsby is mentioned many times in the book. Both books explore the concept of romantic idealism and they both portray characters that are searching for an unattainable love interest.

# data[].attributes.body
In Canada, at the start of the day, we sing the national anthem. Toru's private university does the same thing, with Japan's national anthem.

“May our lords reign. . .”
And up the flag would climb.
“Until pebbles turn to boulders. . .”
It would reach halfway up the pole.
“And be covered with moss.” (Murakami 13)

# data[].attributes.body
"If you only read the books that everyone else is reading, you can only think what everyone else is thinking." (Murakami 31)

# data[].attributes.body
Death is a significant theme in the book, and many characters, including Naoko and Kizuki, have committed suicide. Death symbolizes the fleeting nature of life and the search for meaning.

- "He [Kizuki] died that night in his garage." (Murakami 24)

# data[].attributes.body
Nature is used in the book as a symbol of beauty, calmness, and purity. It is often used to represent a form of escape from the chaos of the modern world. Toru, Naoko, and Midori take a lot of walks together, in which the book describes the scenery in a way that captures every detail.

# data[].attributes.body
My personality is very similar to the way Toru describes Kizuki's personality:

"He had a sarcastic side that often impressed people as arrogant, but in fact he was a considerate and fair-minded person." (Murakami 22)

# data[].attributes.body
Toru Watanabe's experiences with death and the conflict between the worlds of the living and the dead are used in "Norwegian Wood" to explore existentialism. Toru struggles with the interaction of life and death as he deals with his sadness, considers taking his own life, and wrestles with the meaning of his existence. He develops a nihilistic viewpoint as a result of his friends' deaths and his own existential issues. Toru decides to live on, but the line separating life and death continues to haunt him. In his portrayal of the contrast of life and death, Murakami emphasizes the need for meaning in a complex world.

# data[].attributes.body
Naoko tells Toru how she can never say things right, and people usually misinterpret what she is really trying to say. In my perspective, this is very similar to the way I speak, but not to the extent it reaches Naoko.

"I can never say what I want to say," continued Naoko. "It's been like this for a while now. I try to say something, but all I get are the wrong words—the wrong words or the exact opposite words from what I mean." (Murakami 21)

# data[].attributes.body
"Death exists, not as the opposite but as a part of life." (Murakami 25)

# data[].attributes.body
“To feel like conveying your thoughts to a person, to sit at your desk and pick up a pen, to put your thoughts into words like this is truly marvellous.” (Murakami 86)

Despite the fact that Naoko is writing from a sanatorium, a location with a negative image, the letter's real content is optimistic and uplifting.

# data[].attributes.body
"The dead will always be dead, but we have to go on living." (Murakami 111)

# data[].attributes.body
Trains represent a sense of movement and change. They are often used to symbolize escape, as characters use them to leave their problems behind and start anew. A lot of scenes use trains to depict changes in Toru Watanabe's feelings and/or behaviour.

"I sat on the bullet train to Tokyo feeling terrible about what I'd done, but there was no way to undo it. I would try to forget her." (Murakami 25)

# data[].attributes.body
Grief plays a big part in "Norwegian Wood," as Toru Watanabe deals with losing his friends and how death affects his life. After seeing the struggles and final deaths of Naoko, Hatsumi, and other people, Toru becomes surrounded by death, beginning with the suicide of his high school classmate Kizuki. Murakami examines the question of carrying on in a world of chaos and loss. Toru's anguish is so great that he begins to doubt his own existence and feels miserable. His perspective is shaped and his reflection on the line separating the worlds of the living and the dead is fueled by the deaths he encounters. Grief appears as a major theme, emphasizing the significant influence it has on Toru's journey and his perception of mortality.

# data[].attributes.body
Haruki Murakami's "Norwegian Wood" investigates how regret and nostalgia coexist in memories. When Toru Watanabe hears the Beatles' song of the same name as the book, he is immediately transported to his youth. Murakami illustrates the dual pleasure and suffering of recollection, wherein joy and happiness are entwined with depressing circumstances and terrible feelings. The book explores the intricate nature of memory, demonstrating how it can be manipulated, warped, and challenging to navigate. Toru's journey through his memories involves embracing moments of hope and coming to terms with regrets. Murakami believes that regret and nostalgia live within one's memory, transforming it into an alluring yet perplexing world that tempts one to think about the past.

# data[].attributes.body
"I realized that I had developed a kind of liking for this little man on the verge of death." (Murakami 192)

Toru's interaction with Midori's father really sits well with me. It reminds me of when I met my grandfather when he was on the verge of death. Even though I rarely saw him, I still liked him—just like how Toru has a liking for Midori's father even though he's seen him once or twice.

# data[].attributes.body
Toru's complex romantic journey unfolds against the backdrop of a story that goes beyond other romance novels. The magnetic pull he feels towards both Naoko and Midori reflects deeper themes within the narrative. The unrequited love he experiences with Naoko highlights the challenges that arise when profound emotional connection clashes with external circumstances. Ultimately, Toru's relentless devotion to Naoko emphasizes the enduring power of love, even in the face of tragedy.

# data[].attributes.body
Although Toru and Naoko maintain a correspondence through letters and occasional phone calls, Toru often feels depressed and longs for love, companionship, and stability from someone who is physically present. Midori's sweet and lively nature captivates Toru, and she becomes the person he seeks for support and reassurance. Midori reciprocates his affection, offering him the same love he yearns to receive from Naoko. She is an energetic and genuine girl who fearlessly expresses her thoughts and desires, while also caring deeply for Toru. Their connection blooms, challenging Toru's earlier commitment to Naoko.

# data[].attributes.body
Despite Toru's everlasting love for Naoko, even after she passes away, he changes in his final choice. Toru initially teeters on the edge of making the same choice in his grief about losing Naoko, in a story where many people seem to choose death over life. However, Midori-related memories come back, which causes him to change his perspective. Toru contacts Midori and declares his love for her. At this critical moment, Toru intentionally chooses Midori over Naoko and life over death. Although this choice might seem drastic, it represents Toru's ultimate rejection of the underlying pattern of death throughout the story.

# data[].attributes.body
The memories would slam against me like the waves of an incoming tide, sweeping my body along to some strange new place—a place where I lived with the dead.
[ . . . ] There Naoko lived with death inside her. And to me she said, "Don't worry, it's only death. Don't let it bother you. [ . . . ] Death is nothing much. It's just death. Things are so easy for me here." (Murakami 273)

Toru has horrible dreams, distorted memories, and terrifying visions. He frequently encounters Naoko's spirit during these episodes. The thought of joining Naoko in the peaceful afterlife is alluring to Toru, who is more alone, confused, and isolated than ever. However, Toru is aware that he cannot fulfil his promise to Naoko if he joins her.

# data[].attributes.body
"What happens when people open their hearts?" [ . . . ] "They get better."

# data[].attributes.body
"Nobody knew why she killed herself. [ . . . ] She was seventeen, too, and she never gave the slightest hint she was going to commit suicide. She didn't leave a note, either." (Murakami 143-144)

This text really describes our world today. Sometimes we never know what someone is going through. Anyone could be putting up a facade of happiness that we cannot look beyond.

# data[].attributes.body
The Ami Hostel is a sanatorium that is much different than normal hospitals in our world. There are no bars on the windows, and the gate is always wide open. There are no special administered 'treatments' like our regular hospitals. The patients inside follow a regular routine, but if they don't like it, the gate is always open. However, it is so peaceful there that nobody ever wants to leave.

This sort of atmosphere is a kind of "juxtaposition" to hospitals in our world, and honestly I think we should adopt the same features. Other than the wide open gates, I think following normal routines like the ones in the Ami Hostel, especially for mentally ill patients, would be a good idea if we want to help convalesce them.

"You have to be suited to that kind of convalescence in the first place." (Murakami 96)