Norvegian wood

Haruki Murakami: Norvegian wood
In a translator's note at the end, there is a comment by H.M. that although he borowed a lot from his university days, this is not, by any means, autobiographical work. That it is a literary exercise in an unusual genre for him. His time in the university was rather dull.
What comes to my mind is that my own time in the university was not dull, somewhat because of my own doings and somewhat because of doings of history (Balkan war at the beginning of 1990-ies). I was doing some literary exercises afterwards, definitely NOT going into anything like description of the war times. But, then, there is so much what sneakes, we are our own flesh and it is impossible our own experiences would not colour our expression about the world. In this respect such a book ought to be biography of soul of time and place, together with people involved.

"Norvwgian wood" is a love story, some people perceive it like it? I would not say. It is rather a fate story, mixed with decision stories. Actors take their freedom to act. Outside rules are swept out, as in love story, but that's common to them all.

Highly reccomended reading.