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Review of Norwegian wood by 'Haruki Murakami'

Genre: Tragic Romance, Psychological Fiction Published: 1987 Pages: 351 Tags: Death, Trauma, Bildungsroman Okay, I gave it a second chance, but I’m still skeptical. Although I enjoy reading emotional stories rooted in real-life suffering, I often struggled to grasp Murakami’s point in several places. Set in 1960s Tokyo, the story is narrated by Toru Watanabe, a 37-year-old man who is suddenly pulled into memories of his youth when he hears the Beatles' song “Norwegian Wood.” Watanabe is the kind of character who seems to attract — or be drawn toward — deeply troubled, emotionally complex people. Norwegian Wood explores a tale of love, loss, and the unsettling feeling of things left unfinished. The traumatic bond between Watanabe and Naoko, a fragile woman grieving the loss of her boyfriend Kizuki (Watanabe’s best friend), seems to be born from shared pain. Later, we’re introduced to Midori — vibrant, bold, and unpredictable. Watanabe finds himself torn between the tragic pull of h...
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Review on "Anxious People" by Fredrik Backman


Genre : Humor, Suspense, Psychological Fiction
Published: 2019
Pages: 338
Tags: Fiction

Anxious People is a funny and captivating read. The book explores the complicated human emotions and how humans seek refuge in them.

The story begins with a bank robber who failed to rob a cashless bank, runs into a random apartment viewing and holds 8 people hostage accidentally (yep!). While a young police officer, Jack and his colleague Jim need to get the hostages out of the apartment safely and take the robber into custody. The story starts with Jack and Jim investigating the hostages for clues, which doesn't quite go as planned thanks to the witty and slightly (maybe not) obnoxious characters.

The hostages in the apartment are Zara, an arrogant banker who carries an unopened letter and the weight of a guilt-ridden past in her bag for the past decade.  Roger and Anna-Lena, the retired old couple who seem to have found comfort in doing projects together rather than fixing their marriage and Ro and Julia, the young couple dealing with pregnancy and an uncertain future by trying to find a home. Estelle, woman in her 90s, with a happy married life and a harmless affair. The characters in the story are very thoughtfully linked to each other through several traumatic events.

I must confess that the book was so enjoyable for me because of Backman's skill in illustrating the sorrow of human experiences in a comical fashion. Fredrik's storytelling immerses readers, creating the illusion of genuine engagement with the characters. My constant looking forward to the next part of the book is the interviews. 

I wholeheartedly recommend this book if you are a reader who appreciates humor and sarcasm in the face of misfortunes.

[*Content Warning : mention of suicide.]

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