Even though I love Murakami, I just have to say - don't let Norwegian Wood be your first introduction to him. Read The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle first. Please. Norwegian Wood reads much more like an adolescent exercise - I can definitely see the comparisons to The Catcher in the Rye, which I've never really been fond of. This book can get a little self-indulgent, and the love story is more than a little ridiculous. But the prose is excellent as usual, and it almost feels like Murakami working out themes that he picks up more on later in his career. Also, I don't know if I'm the only one, but I don't usually read Murakami for plot - more so for the dreamy reality his words take me.