tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7252631163414371464.post8279340720995484082..comments2024-01-26T13:05:23.174-08:00Comments on The Terrible Desire: Norwegian Wood Read-Along Week 2: Is crazy contagious?Megshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10967657695336270359noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7252631163414371464.post-90092037835649560672012-01-18T11:27:35.943-08:002012-01-18T11:27:35.943-08:00Oh, her parents! I forgot about them. Yeah...that ...Oh, her parents! I forgot about them. Yeah...that would be more than most people could bear to lose TWO daughters to suicide. I was feeling burned out reading this book, but now I really want to know what happens next!MegsGrangernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7252631163414371464.post-32673697953098291462012-01-18T11:23:55.182-08:002012-01-18T11:23:55.182-08:00Hmmmm....very interesting. So his transformation s...Hmmmm....very interesting. So his transformation seems to be from a Nick to a Gatsby. By total coincidence, I ended up participating in a Great Gatsby read-along this month, too. I don't know if I would have gotten all these little references if I wasn't rereading Gatsby simultaneously. Pure luck!MegsGrangernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7252631163414371464.post-60251202671040696972012-01-18T11:20:19.927-08:002012-01-18T11:20:19.927-08:00Right?! I judged her too harshly. And if I stop to...Right?! I judged her too harshly. And if I stop to think about it, 20 is extremely young (even though it was just 6 years ago for me). Despite her inability to be a functioning part of normal society, she's able to see exactly what's going on and why she is the way she is. She's quite insightful for a 20-year-old, I think.MegsGrangernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7252631163414371464.post-29493516820762030692012-01-18T11:17:15.087-08:002012-01-18T11:17:15.087-08:00I have my fingers crossed that you're right ab...I have my fingers crossed that you're right about the serial killer thing. IF you are, I will fly to Chicago and high-five you in person.MegsGrangernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7252631163414371464.post-77909992406970551182012-01-18T10:08:29.023-08:002012-01-18T10:08:29.023-08:00Oooh, I like the new threesome thing! Maybe Naoko ...Oooh, I like the new threesome thing! Maybe Naoko can't function in groups that aren't like that! She definitely clearly needs someone to be extremely close to her at all times, which isn't really possible and so maybe why I now think maybe you're right about Naoko not being long for this world... but I kind of don't want that to happen, because omg her poor parents! And oh, God. I love Reiko. I hope she appears again, at least!Laura Rowsellnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7252631163414371464.post-77858294933993923012012-01-18T02:46:03.333-08:002012-01-18T02:46:03.333-08:00Oh hey, I can comment now? Weird. I also posted ...Oh hey, I can comment now? Weird. I also posted this on Alice's entry, but I'll post it again. Now that you mention it I can totally see Toru as Gatsby. It's not a perfect comparison, obviously, but it just occurred to me that he does find a better paying job, rent a real house in the suburbs, and fix it up with an eye towards living there with Naoko. I think he wants to save her from her illness and go back to the way things were before Kizuki's suicide, just like Gatsby wants to save Daisy from her loveless marriage and recapture their past relationship. ("Can't repeat the past? Why, of course you can!"). Annehttp://annequichante.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7252631163414371464.post-67800588535550359162012-01-17T21:03:40.858-08:002012-01-17T21:03:40.858-08:00*raises hand, keeps it up* I am guilty of not lik...*raises hand, keeps it up* I am guilty of not liking Naoko, but these last 2 chapters finally justified why she was so emotionally damaged. I think it's sad how Naoko sincerely believes she and Kizuki deserved tragedy for their relationship. I'm still trying to wrap my head around her "logic".<br />As for kicking the bucket - honestly, Murakami's on a roll! :PEtudesquehttp://www.etudesque.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7252631163414371464.post-33729517714753021012012-01-17T20:48:36.701-08:002012-01-17T20:48:36.701-08:00I STILL DO NOT REALLY LIKE NAOKO. Just saying. Als...I STILL DO NOT REALLY LIKE NAOKO. Just saying. Also: "In fact, it suggests that Naoko will not only NOT recover but will <br />follow her sister and Kizuki out of the world in an equally tragic <br />manner."<br /><br />This is possibly more likely an end than my serial killer theory. POSSIBLY. Because he totes doesn't know her anymore at the very beginning. So SOMETHING happens to her. Whether that means she was arrested for killing her sister and boyfriend, or ends up killing herself, only time shall tell, man.readingrambonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7252631163414371464.post-89496742600454550412012-01-17T19:27:54.084-08:002012-01-17T19:27:54.084-08:00I'm just glad I was able to write something ra...I'm just glad I was able to write something rational! I felt like my brain had gone to mush when I was done reading Chapter 6. All I wanted to do was eat grapes and feed some birds.<br /><br />I think you're right about Reiko affirming Midori's observation of Toru. And now we have it on good authority that he's an odd duck.MegsGrangernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7252631163414371464.post-19306569329621472412012-01-17T19:17:22.077-08:002012-01-17T19:17:22.077-08:00I hadn't picked up on the three-way action bet...I hadn't picked up on the three-way action between Toru Reiko and Naoko - nice catch.<br /><br />I felt like Reiko being Midori-lite was kind of a way of validating Midori's perspective on Toru. Like, "I know Midori is a little crazy-time, but it's true - the dude talks funny."<br /><br />Also, that gif at the top cracked is PERFECT. Cracked me up big time!Brookshttp://www.4everoverhead.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7252631163414371464.post-28369691413071296532012-01-17T18:29:14.734-08:002012-01-17T18:29:14.734-08:00I'm SO glad the triangle makes sense to you, b...I'm SO glad the triangle makes sense to you, because after I wrote that sentence I started to think it looked like gibberish. There's just TOO MUCH symbolism and nuance in this book. I feel like I'm reading into everything too much in an effort to get the subtle hints Murakami is hurling over my head.MegsGrangernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7252631163414371464.post-84254161981143653492012-01-17T18:27:12.349-08:002012-01-17T18:27:12.349-08:00Isn't it funny that our natural instinct regar...Isn't it funny that our natural instinct regarding people who appear to be TOO candid is that they must be hiding something? It's usually true, though. Those who talk the most and the loudest tend to have the biggest secrets lurking in the background. But I like Reiko...I hope she doesn't prove me wrong.<br /><br />And now I want some grapes.MegsGrangernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7252631163414371464.post-8995745974829949542012-01-17T17:55:48.585-08:002012-01-17T17:55:48.585-08:00*raising hand* I definitely am guilty of judging N...*raising hand* I definitely am guilty of judging Naoko too soon. Now I just want to cuddle her and get her some grapes to peel. <br /><br />I'm still on the fence about Reiko. I think she's an entertaining character, and I'm glad she's injecting some levity into the depressfest that Norwegian Wood is quickly becoming, but... there's something really strange about the way she presented her story to Toru. I don't think she was telling the whole truth. I'm hoping we get to hear more of her backstory later. Raynahttp://twitter.com/libereadingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7252631163414371464.post-8098677676201179292012-01-17T13:50:11.839-08:002012-01-17T13:50:11.839-08:00I love Reiko although I can't help but think o...I love Reiko although I can't help but think of her as Midori-lite. Or Midori-but-kinda-crazy. Just someone who isn't so mopey and bland.<br /><br />I never noticed the triangle of Toru/Naoko/Kizuki changing to Toru/Naoko/Reiko but that makes so much senseAlley Rivershttp://twitter.com/alleyecarinanoreply@blogger.com