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Cover of Norwegian Wood by Haruki MurakamiNorwegian Wood
Classic · Fiction, Romance, Contemporary

Norwegian Wood

by Haruki Murakami
1987 · 298 pages · Fiction
64.6Must-Read
Score Classic
Lifetime bestseller
≈ 7 hours to read · about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day

What it's about

Toru, a quiet, serious college student in Tokyo, is devoted to Naoko, a beautiful, introspective young woman. Their bond is marked by the death of their best friend years before. As Naoko retreats into her own world, Toru finds himself drawn to a fiercely independent classmate.

Why it's worth reading

It's Haruki Murakami's most popular novel in Japan and the book that made him a star.

You'll love it if you liked

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Cover of Normal People by Sally RooneyNormal People
Normal PeopleSally Rooney

Good to know

Unlike most Murakami, it's realistic, with no magic. It deals with suicide and depression.

By the numbers

64.6Must-Read Score
  • Readers48 out of 100 · counts 42%
  • Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
  • Bestseller37 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
  • Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%

Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.

Where it ranks

Reads as

Uplifting

How we rank

Already read it? Upload your Goodreads or StoryGraph history and get the 50 best books you haven't read, tuned to your taste.Get my 50

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Explore the best-of lists

All 36 best-of lists →
Literary novelsTop 25 · 309 rankedRomancesTop 25 · 233 rankedClassic booksTop 25 · 762 rankedBooks of the 1980sTop 25 · 202 rankedFantasy booksTop 25 · 459 rankedMysteries and thrillersTop 25 · 555 rankedMemoirs and biographiesTop 25 · 290 rankedScience fiction booksTop 25 · 313 ranked

Quick answers

Is Norwegian Wood worth reading?

Yes. It's Haruki Murakami's most popular novel in Japan and the book that made him a star. It ranks #1,926 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 64.6 (the best book we found scores 99).

What is Norwegian Wood about?

Toru, a quiet, serious college student in Tokyo, is devoted to Naoko, a beautiful, introspective young woman. Their bond is marked by the death of their best friend years before. As Naoko retreats into her own world, Toru finds himself drawn to a fiercely independent classmate.

How long does it take to read Norwegian Wood?

About 7 hours (298 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.

What should I read after Norwegian Wood?

If you liked it, try Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami, The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami or Normal People by Sally Rooney.