Book - Norwegian Wood

Norwegian Wood
Haruki Murakami
Amazon.com product link

From Publishers Weekly
In a complete stylistic departure from his mysterious and surreal novels (The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle; A Wild Sheep Chase) that show the influences of Salinger, Fitzgerald and Tom Robbins, Murakami tells a bittersweet coming-of-age story, reminiscent of J.R. Salamanca's classic 1964 novel, LilithAthe tale of a young man's involvement with a schizophrenic girl. A successful, 37-year-old businessman, Toru Watanabe, hears a version of the Beatles' Norwegian Wood, and the music transports him back 18 years to his college days. His best friend, Kizuki, inexplicably commits suicide, after which Toru becomes first enamored, then involved with Kizuki's girlfriend, Naoko. But Naoko is a very troubled young woman; her brilliant older sister has also committed suicide, and though sweet and desperate for happiness, she often becomes untethered. She eventually enters a convalescent home for disturbed people, and when Toru visits her, he meets her roommate, an older musician named Reiko, who's had a long history of mental instability. The three become fast friends. Toru makes a commitment to Naoko, but back at college he encounters Midori, a vibrant, outgoing young woman. As he falls in love with her, Toru realizes he cannot continue his relationship with Naoko, whose sanity is fast deteriorating. Though the solution to his problem comes too easily, Murakami tells a subtle, charming, profound and very sexy story of young love bound for tragedy. Published in Japan in 1987, this novel proved a wild success there, selling four million copies. (Sept.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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My personal comments under a cut... possible spoilers (at least I think so)

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SUEDE!!!!

woohoo!

I got a registered mail...

I went to pick up the registered mail...

MY SUEDE LIVE TICKETS HAVE ARRIVED!

This is essentially my first "Western" band standing live. So far, I've been to Avril Lavign's concert (cheapstake), Kelly Clarkson's (great!) and now it's Suede.

I've also been to a couple of Japanese bands/artists concerts, and they were all good too!

Now that the tickets are on hand, I want to plan what I'm going to do on that day. I was thinking of going to Hong Kong in the late afternoon, head to the concert, rave for a while, and then stay a night in Hong Kong, then spend the following day (Friday) shopping in Hong Kong. After that, it's Saturday and Sunday back in Macau, if the timing is right, we'd go for a swim and just lounge around... and after that weekend, it's back to work with the boss GONE FOR THE REST OF THE MONTH. That means, I'll have a lot of free time on my hands while in the office. I'll probably read till my eyes fall out. hm...

Anyway, that's what I'm thinking, not necessarily what really will happen, haha.