Adult

1Q84 by Haruki Murakami – Book Review

Dystopia, Fantasy Fiction

Rating

Goodreads:

3.92

Novel Fables:

5/5

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Book Review

1Q84

Haruki Murakami

5/5

Dystopia, Fantasy Fiction

(The above links for Amazon and Kobo are affiliate links & I earn a small commission if you purchase a book through them)

1Q84

Haruki Murakami

5/5

Buy a copy:

The above link(s) for Amazon and/or Kobo are affiliate links & I earn a small commission if you purchase a book through them at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support.

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“I can bear any pain as long as it has meaning.”

Synopsis

The year is 1984 and the city is Tokyo. A young woman named Aomame follows a taxi driver’s enigmatic suggestion and begins to notice puzzling discrepancies in the world around her. She has entered, she realizes, a parallel existence, which she calls 1Q84 —“Q is for ‘question mark.’ A world that bears a question.” Meanwhile, an aspiring writer named Tengo takes on a suspect ghostwriting project. He becomes so wrapped up with the work and its unusual author that, soon, his previously placid life begins to come unraveled. As Aomame’s and Tengo’s narratives converge over the course of this single year, we learn of the profound and tangled connections that bind them ever closer: a beautiful, dyslexic teenage girl with a unique vision; a mysterious religious cult that instigated a shoot-out with the metropolitan police; a reclusive, wealthy dowager who runs a shelter for abused women; a hideously ugly private investigator; a mild-mannered yet ruthlessly efficient bodyguard; and a peculiarly insistent television-fee collector. A love story, a mystery, a fantasy, a novel of self-discovery, a dystopia to rival George Orwell’s — 1Q84 is Haruki Murakami’s most ambitious undertaking yet: an instant best seller in his native Japan, and a tremendous feat of imagination from one of our most revered contemporary writers.

Review

As someone who has lived in North America her entire life, the cultural divide from western norms to this piece of Japanese literature were quite bizarre. The fantasy elements of the story were quite peculiar in their own respects. All that said, I loved this book so much in all of its uniqueness in contrast to the world as I know it.

This is the first I’ve read from this author, and I cannot wait to pick up more. Murakami is a master at character development; Their presence felt so real, like I could reach out and touch them. On that same note, the development of the characters coupled with the detailed surroundings and the ominously driven plot all came together into an atmospheric masterpiece.

Like a snowball rolling down a hill, the plot built up, perfectly aware of itself, until finally, it concluded that it was the perfect shape and size and came to a rolling stop. The ending is one that I loved, but I loved the journey more.

The story’s fantasy elements, coupled with the cultish religion, read to me, almost like American folk horror. The characters and the tale of worlds as we know them will leave a lasting impression. I can’t recommend this book enough, though, I’m fully aware that it won’t be to everyone’s tastes. Still, I’d encourage you to give it a try.

Best,

Ashley

From novelfables.com

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(The above link(s) are affiliate links & I earn a small commission if you purchase a book through them on Amazon or Kobo's websites.)​

“I can bear any pain as long as it has meaning.”

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