tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post7316590114791040164..comments2023-10-20T16:03:03.157+01:00Comments on Devouring Texts: Norwegian Wood, Chapters 5-6Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17371636785566309578noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-2611768156115249762012-01-18T17:55:21.486+00:002012-01-18T17:55:21.486+00:00Aw, I didn't think of Naoko as putting Toru on...Aw, I didn't think of Naoko as putting Toru on a guilt trip! I think she genuinely wants Toru to be happy, and she thinks the only way that's going to happen is if he's away from her- and then if he interprets that as a guilt trip, then that's his thing, and not hers, you know?Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17371636785566309578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-36158324172350775942012-01-18T17:53:48.317+00:002012-01-18T17:53:48.317+00:00YAY for affirmation! And yay for me being intellig...YAY for affirmation! And yay for me being intelligible-ish! It's not something I'm often accused of...<br /><br />SO TRUE about Midori! Now I sort of want it to be true, just because it will have been an awesome authorial trick to make us all believe one thing about Midori and then just tear it down. Although also cruel, because SHE'S THE BEST ONE!Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17371636785566309578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-51692548467310068042012-01-18T17:51:30.888+00:002012-01-18T17:51:30.888+00:00I don't think Midori is a pathological liar ei...I don't think Midori is a pathological liar either, BUT we really don't know that much about her yet, other than that she's awesome! So, I'm not ruling it out, but I don't totally agree (with myself!) either.<br /><br />Ooh, I wonder that about Naoko too- I kind of want her to get better, but the way they're all talking it seems like she's never going to get better... so we'll just have to see I guess!Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17371636785566309578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-47044055852660023972012-01-18T04:53:27.785+00:002012-01-18T04:53:27.785+00:00I'm not quite warming up to Naoko, but I have ...I'm not quite warming up to Naoko, but I have to agree that these two chapters really bring out her selfless nature. Though she's emotionally fragile, she's matured while at Ami Hostel and has that self-awareness to embrace her "deformity". I think what sucks is that she's killing Toru with kindness - "go ahead and sleep around, just don't forget me, k thx"... ultimate guilt trip!!Etudesquehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13106938419901219249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-21744372763824703702012-01-18T02:11:14.367+00:002012-01-18T02:11:14.367+00:00THANK YOU for saying so many of the things I was t...THANK YOU for saying so many of the things I was thinking but couldn't articulate in any sort of intelligible way. We had a similar reaction to these two chapters, and I'm feeling very affirmed in my beliefs after reading your post.<br /><br />I didn't think of the possible Midori/piano girl connection though! Ohhhh...it would be so deliciously wrong if it were true. You know what that would mean? It would mean that every one of us who loved Midori would have been no better than all the people who believed piano girl's lie about Reiko. We would be falling under her spell. That would be incredible writing. Come on, Murakami! Please let it be true!Megshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10967657695336270359noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-16563902947369076682012-01-18T02:02:14.096+00:002012-01-18T02:02:14.096+00:00I love the Midori-as-piano-student theory! Althou...I love the Midori-as-piano-student theory! Although I don't think at all that she's a pathological liar/life ruiner. <br /><br />I do think there's more to Reiko than meets the eye, and her overwhelming honesty toward people she barely knows is a cover for deeper issues. I mean, if she's so paranoid, why is she opening up to someone she's known for a total of one day? <br /><br />I wonder if Naoko's going to spend the entirety of the book tucked away at Ami, or if she'll eventually come back to Tokyo.Raynahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03536910555459674118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-91301166811626357822012-01-17T22:34:19.933+00:002012-01-17T22:34:19.933+00:00It would be kind of interesting if Midori was thou...It would be kind of interesting if Midori was though, no?! Although AWFUL. I do genuinely think that all Naoko wants from Toru are a few visits and just not to be forgotten, and I don't think that's really asking very much- I think that, at this point, he's holding onto her a lot more than she is to him, except I don't really know why... It's tricky.Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17371636785566309578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-22893200793495862402012-01-17T21:58:56.046+00:002012-01-17T21:58:56.046+00:00I will be SO DEPRESSED if Midori turns out to be t...I will be SO DEPRESSED if Midori turns out to be the skanky piano-lesson seducer. <br /><br />I still don't like Naoko, but these chapters definitely helped me to have a little more sympathy for her. And you're right, she does just kind of want to do her own thing and get better, and it's great that she's telling Toru she's trying to fix herself but there's a chance that may never happen. Of course it'd be a lot more selfless if she just told Toru to stay away from her so that he can TRULY move on with his life, but whatever.Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11196903315080725315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-30277927003927705312012-01-17T21:41:55.764+00:002012-01-17T21:41:55.764+00:00I sooo nearly just deleted your comment because I&...I sooo nearly just deleted your comment because I'm not used to the whole replying system thing... whoops! THAT would have been a bit of a slap in the face!<br /><br />I'm kind of into misery in fiction just because of the whole catharsis thing, and also the not-feeling-alone thing... Although, this hasn't made me cry yet because it's not that kind of misery, and usually with my misery I like to have a bit of a cry. I'm actually going to stop talking now because I think I'm sounding a teeny bit like a crazy person... But you get my drift, right? RIGHT?!Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17371636785566309578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-64336346935967077262012-01-17T21:39:09.868+00:002012-01-17T21:39:09.868+00:00She is whiny, but I feel like she's being less...She is whiny, but I feel like she's being less selfish- like she's telling Toru to go off and find other girls and stuff, AND she seems sincere about it. I still don't exactly love her though (I just feel more sorry for her!) I kind of want to go to the retreat for a little time out... would that be bad/make me crazy? :sLaurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17371636785566309578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-8040002386927635892012-01-17T21:30:37.283+00:002012-01-17T21:30:37.283+00:00I am TOTALLY not into misery in books or film or o...I am TOTALLY not into misery in books or film or obviously life. NOT INTO IT. I guess I think that if we have to deal with it in reality, I don't want to think about it in fiction. Unless it's serving some purpose for the author, and EVEN THEN, the whole book shouldn't be that way. Like, Victorian misery, fine. But there're also bright spots. This, not so much with the bright spots.Reading Rambohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12614467198216577755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-7087017681691968662012-01-17T20:38:13.014+00:002012-01-17T20:38:13.014+00:00I'm happy you are enjoying this so much! I agr...I'm happy you are enjoying this so much! I agree, the retreat that Naoko goes to is probably the coziest sounding fictionalized placed ever written about. And you are much more sympathetic to Naoko than I was when reading this book. I thought she was whiny and selfish. I get that she has had a lot happen to her, but there comes a point when you've got to stop moping and stand up straight.Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10780185535345559390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-7211484073068704082012-01-17T18:14:03.113+00:002012-01-17T18:14:03.113+00:00Trust me, I'm not even sold on my own theory! ...Trust me, I'm not even sold on my own theory! I just had to put it out there, even if everyone else disagreed with me because it started being all I could think about! Also, ooh, Midori intrigue! Long chapters are LAME, even though this chapter was sort of awesome. WHERE DO YOU STOP WHEN YOU NEED A BREAK?! God, authors should really consider the feelings of their readers more...Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17371636785566309578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-25232415332248443192012-01-17T18:12:14.635+00:002012-01-17T18:12:14.635+00:00OMG I'm so glad it wasn't just me! I almos...OMG I'm so glad it wasn't just me! I almost didn't even say it because I didn't want to sound like a crazy person, but YAY not just me!<br /><br />I guess it was kind of him not being good enough, but wasn't it also sort of that he couldn't just be in his weird Naoko symbioticness at all times, so the world was difficult to be in? Or is that more her thing? I don't disagree with your explanation, just that I think maybe it was a bit of both?<br /><br />I LOVE THIS BOOK x A MILLION! And NOT only because that's how much better than The Help it is! (also, maybe you're not it's biggest fan because of its seemingly unending misery? Which, by the way, I'm often a big fan of!)Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17371636785566309578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-74291478010113597182012-01-17T18:05:53.582+00:002012-01-17T18:05:53.582+00:00I know right! Which I think is awesome because I t...I know right! Which I think is awesome because I think that's how you're meant to feel, all like relaxed and meditative because you're in the retreat. Reiko is pretty fab- She's really soothing and all as well as being life-filled, in a way Midori sometimes isn't. She is mildly mental though...Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17371636785566309578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-34018002937593804212012-01-17T16:49:05.406+00:002012-01-17T16:49:05.406+00:00That's an interesting theory about Midori bein...That's an interesting theory about Midori being the piano student, but I'm not sold on it yet. ALTHOUGH *Spoilers - I'm a chapter ahead* Midori isn't totally honest about everything.<br /><br />Also, long chapters are brutal, I agree.Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02748178730844113883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-87209748292724200552012-01-17T15:33:01.659+00:002012-01-17T15:33:01.659+00:00DUDE I WAS GOING TO MENTION THE POSSIBILITY THAT M...DUDE I WAS GOING TO MENTION THE POSSIBILITY THAT MIDORI WAS CRAZY PIANO GIRL BUT I THOUGHT TWO PLOT TWISTS IN ONE POST WOULD BE TOO MANY<br /><br />Awesome. *high fives* I hope that happens.<br /><br />"It is this which Naoko seems to think led Kizuki to commit suicide- the inability to cope with a world that wasn't exactly the way he wanted it"<br /><br />Weren't they saying he maybe did it because he kept blaming himself for not being good enough? So...not really counteracting what you're saying, but placing the blame more on himself than on the world? Somethin'?<br /><br />AGH I am just not a giant fan of this book. It's fine, and sometimes enjoyable, but it just doesn't...nope, something's missing.Reading Rambohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12614467198216577755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-6832439198097823022012-01-17T15:19:10.327+00:002012-01-17T15:19:10.327+00:00"I sort of fell into the story in a dreamy, d..."I sort of fell into the story in a dreamy, druggy kind of way" - that is exactly how I remember this part of the book.<br /><br />I loved Reiko during these chapters and I think it's in part because Midori is missing and she's like Midori-lite. You can see that spark of life in her, even if she's in that place.Redhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16456600806188531803noreply@blogger.com