Murakami sparkles as ever

The publicity surrounding this novel has attracted listeners and readers who have not read Murakami's work before and the negative reviews that some of them have posted here are to be expected. He is not going to be everyone's idea of mesmerizing. But to me and others with whom his writings resonate he is long overdue a Nobel prize for literature.

1Q84 is rather orderly and less fantastical that his other novels but no less gripping. It works on a number of levels - his characters are still social misfits trying to fit in or trying to figure out if they even should, the plot weaves the mundane and dream-like fantasy into a single confused strand of narrative, and violence and sex create their endless ambiguities and problems for the participants.

The sex, whilst often graphic, makes an important point about the the hero and heroine that becomes clearer as the novel progresses. Indeed, the novel displays the triumph of true love over physical loving in a world where the latter has by and large eclipsed the former.

Morality is expertly examined as the novel continues to pose the question as to how to assign right and wrong to any given action, the means or the end; and, like anyone else who has engaged with ethics, never really finds it possible to make a final judgement.

Whilst the book is hardly fast-paced, it is a surprisingly good page-turner and the narration is just fine. It's rather flat in places, failing to deliver the right inflections, but Allison, Marc and Mark are suited to the characters they depict and the shortcomings are easily forgiven.

Every time I finish Murakami novel I can't wait to listen to another. Given how weird they can be, I do wonder what that might say about me! Whenever I try to explain his books to my wife she says, "you're not selling it to me." Perhaps his novels are best consumed by restless, inquiring souls. But I would urge everyone to at least try one. If you like it, then it will open up a whole library of joy.

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124 people found this helpful

Strange insight into the Japanese way of life

If you could sum up 1Q84 in three words, what would they be?

Different, interesting, engaging

What was one of the most memorable moments of 1Q84?

Aomame on the Expressway, about to contemplate suicide.

What about the narrators’s performance did you like?

Allison Hiroto totoally convinced me that she knew Aomame inside out.
Mark Vietor showed the personal struggles that Tengo faced, and Mark Boyett's baddie was great.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No as it was way too long.

Any additional comments?

It made me Google places, recipes, and the Tokyo expressway on Streetview!

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18 people found this helpful

just go with it

it is long, dauntingly so. don't rush it. just go with it. there were aspects that annoyed me, yes. but I am glad I listened to this book.

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Disappointing

overlong, repetative to the point of insanity, but with some interesting ideas, albeit ones that often don't get properly explored. But I really find the way he writes female characters creepy and patronising at best., and it was hard to get around that. I kept hoping it would go somewhere interesting after the almost glacial plotting, especially in the third book, but it didn't! The narrators do a good job given what they have to work with.

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Slow starter

I made several attempts to start this book. The story feels slow to get going but once it had I loved it. Its strange and unusual but builds some really interesting characters.

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compelling

a long slow story but fascinating and unusual. I had to find out how it resolved.

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So clinically written and performed.

Amazing. So clinical and factual in the way it is wrighten, even though the story is fantastical. Feels very grounded. I am 10 hours from the end, and can't wait to see where it goes, but this feels like the correct time to wright a review. A beautiful story, with characters that I love. I hope it turns out great for them all, but not sure it will. This is why I wanted to wright this now, rather than at the end, because with such a long story, that is the majority of how you feel with this book. It is a marathon, but wonderful every step. even if the end doesn't please me then the journey has been some of the most pleasant hours of my life, and I thank the author for that. Right.... back to find out what happens.

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Ho Ho said the keeper of the beat!

Wonderful Murakami as usual. Simple yet moving, an epic tale that I felt full submerged In.

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Overly descriptive for me

Very well written, however too long and the story was lost on me.

Narrative by female was a little odd, the voices sounded half asleep. Got used to it but took a while.

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Stick at it

Overly soft and child-like voices almost ruined certain characters and nearly had me prematurely putting down this book, but do press on. Like 100 push ups a day you will eventually feel the endorphins from its story.

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