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.

“A masterly novel. . . . Norwegian Wood bears the unmistakable marks of Murakami’s hand.” –The New York Times Book Review

“Norwegian Wood . . . not only points to but manifests the author’s genius.” –Chicago Tribune

“[A] treat . . . Murakami captures the heartbeat of his generation and draws the reader in so completely you mourn when the story is done.” –The Baltimore Sun

“Vintage Murakami [and] easily the most erotic of [his] novels.” –Los Angeles Times Book Review

1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die by Peter Boxall

This book is not Kindlized yet.  However, it is an important and useful title.

Below list, in reverse chronological order, comes from the book. It is not intended to be exhaustive. Rather, Boxall was trying to trace the development of the novel. It’s a starting point, not the Final Answer.

There are 46 books in 1700′s on the list.  First 23 of them are listed on part 1 . This post is part 2 for the remaining 23 books. Most of the books are free. Click on the links or images and enjoy:

966. Emile Jean-Jacques Rousseau Free

1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die by Peter Boxall

This book is not Kindlized yet.  However, it is an important and useful title.

Below list, in reverse chronological order, comes from the book. It is not intended to be exhaustive. Rather, Boxall was trying to trace the development of the novel. It’s a starting point, not the Final Answer.

There are 46 books in 1700′s on the list.  First 23 of them are listed below as part 1 . I will post part 2 for the remaining 23 books soon. Most of the books are free. Click on the links or images and enjoy:

943. Hyperion (German Edition) Friedrich Hölderlin Free

1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die by Peter Boxall

1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die by Peter Boxall