Literary · Romance
Norwegian Wood
Bestseller: about 12 million copies (estimate)Looking back at his student days in 1960s Tokyo, Toru remembers the death of his best friend and his fraught relationship with the friend's fragile girlfriend, while a livelier young woman pulls him another way.
Facts last checked 2026-10-16
- First published
- 1987
- Pace
- Slow
- Length
- Medium
- Pages
- 298
- Format
- Standalone
Read this if you want a quiet, melancholy coming-of-age novel about grief and loneliness.
Skip this if you expect the surreal side of Murakami, since this is his realistic novel, or suicide is a difficult subject.
The feel
Content warnings
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Quick answers about Norwegian Wood
- What is Norwegian Wood about?
- Looking back at his student days in 1960s Tokyo, Toru remembers the death of his best friend and his fraught relationship with the friend's fragile girlfriend, while a livelier young woman pulls him another way.
- Who should read Norwegian Wood?
- Read it if you want a quiet, melancholy coming-of-age novel about grief and loneliness. Skip it if you expect the surreal side of Murakami, since this is his realistic novel, or suicide is a difficult subject.
- How long and how fast is Norwegian Wood?
- It is a slow-paced, medium read of about 298 pages, first published in 1987.
- Does Norwegian Wood have content warnings?
- Content we flag: Suicide, Mental illness, Grief, Sexual content, Death.
- Can I borrow Norwegian Wood for free?
- Often, yes. Check Libby (OverDrive) to see whether your library lends Norwegian Wood; the borrow button above searches it for you.
- What should I read after Norwegian Wood?
- Readers who liked it often move on to Kafka on the Shore, The Bell Jar, Normal People.
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Where to get it
| Store | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Borrow free | ||
| Libby / OverDrive | Free with a library card | Borrow free with Libby from Libby / OverDrive |
| Print, new | ||
| Amazon | Check price | Buy new from Amazon |
| Ebook | ||
| Kobo | Check price | Buy ebook from Kobo |
| Google Play Books | Check price | Buy ebook from Google Play Books |
| Audiobook | ||
| Audible | Check price | Buy audiobook from Audible |
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