Norwegian Wood tells the story of Toru, a university student who moves to Tokyo in 1969 after his best friend from high school commits suicide. Toru’s yearning for what he has lost is clearly expressed through the novel’s tone and amplified with its 1960s ethos. Yet, the essence of Norwegian Wood cannot fully be defined in terms of nostalgia. Rather, Murakami’s emotive language and characters are akin to a disposition made famous by Portuguese poets and lyricists—saudade. Like Portuguese writer Manuel de Melo’s description of saudade, Norwegian Wood is “a pleasure you suffer, an ailment you enjoy.” You can read the full review here.