Norwegian wood

This is the first Japanese book (translated into English) I've read, and what strikes me as surprising is the sexual openness of the Japanese culture - the detachment of love from sex. As much as I cannot relate with the pain or dilemma the protagonist go through, and fully grasp the complication in the love story, I guess there are some tragedies in life that simply triggers the introspective side of oneself. And when that happens, one starts seeking answers to questions that are unanswerable and everything appears more complex then they actually are.

Memorable quotes from the book -
"Only the dead stay seventeen forever."
"Better to be a first-class matchbox than a second-class match."