I’m looking for novels that evoke the same emotional atmosphere as Daughter or ex:re’s music, but still with a plot I can follow (not purely experimental or fragmentary).
I think their music points to themes I'm drawn to such as reflection on the passage of time, love and lost love, relationships that almost happen, or happen too late, memory, distance, etc.
Two books I enjoyed that nail this type of genre are Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro, and Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami.
I really enjoy strong atmosphere and melancholy tone, but I’m not looking for plotless mood pieces, overly abstract or fragmented writing, or trauma-driven and melodramatic stories.
Some songs for inspiration:
Where the time went by ex:re
Wish I could cross the sea by Daughter
The dazzler by ex:re
Youth by Daughter
by twio____