1Q84

complex, surreal and very very long

I am a huge Murakami fan. I think his style is very suited to the audiobook format, especially as music features as almost another character. In addition to listening to the audiobook I also ended up downloading several songs, and searching for albums that the characters were listening to.

This is a vast novel, and if you have not encountered Murakami before, perhaps try something like the windup bird or a shorter story to begin with. For me, IQ84 is a wonderful story, that turns in on itself and was the perfect companion on a long hour long compute back and forward to the office.

It is a story about murder, history, cult religion, violence, family ties but at its heart it is about love. It is wonderful.

5 people found this helpful

Imagine if you were a character within a book...

Imagine how it would feel if you were a character within a narrative world - and knew it. To top it off the pesky author of the novel you live in keeps changing his mind. There are subtle differences in the way your world is articulated - mirroring the editing process.

There is a sense of melancholy in that some characters, such as the Leader, are unable to be something other than how they are figured in the narrative. He is restricted by this story world. His communiaction with the little people suggests his constructedness - he is aware of his fictionality - he knows he is merely a figment of an author's imagination, and is bound to do what the little people tell him to do.

I don't think I could get through this book by reading the print version. I've read a lot of Murakami's novels before, but this one is particularly long. In addition, there is a lot of layering to this novel, where there is the slightly nuanced repetition of story lines. It was nice listening to them- they are like the receding and returning tides of the ocean (yes, a weird simile, but you'll get what I mean if you listen long enough).

I highly recommend this to people who enjoy fantasy,science fiction, magic realism, narrative studies, Eng Lit majors, people who love Japan, Murakami, etc. etc.

3 people found this helpful

Blown away by this

OK this is not for Murakami virgins.
We have three voices. Same alternate world of two moons.Girl, Boy and a mystery.
I think the music is important, and I think Art is important. Intentional or not I see Jeffrey Smart in the freeway and steps and "Tiger in your Tank' signs.
A kind of shared dreamscape. A shared reality that does shift.While each voice connects, the shared experience of sitting on top of the slippery dip and looking at the two moon is an image I will not forget.
I put this, 1Q84 alongside James Joyce 's Ulysses, each explores the limitations of the spoken or written word and deliver human experience of this world.

3 people found this helpful

How many loose ends can one book have???

Would you try another book from the authors and/or the narrators?

The story sets up so many intriguing scenarios that you want to keep reading, the female role was completely repetitive and annoying at times but it was still enough to keep on. It was on the verge of becoming an intricately bound novel with multiple layers, instead it fell flat in almost all plot lines, Characters appear & disappear,they suggest a larger story which is then left mostly untouched, yes there are 2 moons we get it!.I got to the end and went back through the book again to see if I missed any chapters?????

Has 1Q84 turned you off from other books in this genre?

no

What does the narrators bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The ability to finish, far to long and repetitive in the main points.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

no

2 people found this helpful

Frustratingly long, disappointed.

This book is not for the faint of heart, and I knew going in that it was polarising - people seem to either love it or really dislike it.

I tend to only review books that disappoint me, which this did. It’s not bad, just disappointing.

I will be a little vague here to try to avoid spoilers but I may not succeed so please proceed with caution.

My biggest disappointment is that the author is obviously a talented writer and the book has just enough in it to keep you going, but not enough to justify the length. I kept waiting for the story to build up beyond the basic plot outlined in the earlier parts and that didn’t really happen.

An additional character comes into the story later that adds much needed tension but it felt like a bit of an afterthought - so it helped keep things moving but then than sort of went nowhere.

Other reviews mention the many unanswered questions but I’m ok with that generally in stories like this, I like using my imagination and reflecting on the meaning of something even after I have finished a story. However in this story there are things introduced that both go unexplained and also aren’t really referenced or important to the storyline. These also feel like an afterthought, added to add spice, but it falls a flat.

Full marks to all three narrators, though I listened at slightly different playback speeds for different sections for my own comfort (1.25x for the two male narrators and 1.5x for the female narrator). And I listened to the last 10 hours or so at 2x speed just to get it done, which is a story issue not a narration issue.

Wonderful weirdness

I enjoyed being enthralled in this quirky, suspenseful story of a bizarre journey between the year 1984 and 1Q84. All the characters are totally unique, and constantly in danger of meeting or in danger of not meeting. It left me wondering what if, and what about... So it was great value all round.

Long........

It seems to me like the book is a take on the modern version of 'Alice in the Wonderland' The story itself is rather absurd and one keeps waiting for it to develop. It takes so long to get there, that it becomes a little painfull at times.
The performance is excellent and for all the characters.
Somehow mesmerising in its simplicity and purity of form. Poetic and full of symbolism and allegories.
Unnecessarily long, but cannot say I did not enjoy listening to it.

Revisiting this novel was a real pleasure.

What made the experience of listening to 1Q84 the most enjoyable?

The magnitude of Murakami's work and his attention to detail made this a pleasurable experience. I first read the novel - Books 1 to 3 - when it was released as one volume in 2010. To revisit it now as an audio novel was like hearing an old friend's voice once more.

What did you like best about this story?

The complexity of the story, its story-within-a-story concept and the wonderful way the two protagonists were narrated by Alison and Marc, were the highlights for me rather than one specific point. The subtle references and repeated themes were cleverly woven into the story and you couldn't help but become filled with hope for Tengo and Aomame as they seek out one another.

What about the narrators’s performance did you like?

The narrators were magnificent and the use, towards of end, of both protagonists' 'voices' made their final union all the more special.

Any additional comments?

Long, complex, unforgettable and real value for money. This is an excellent audio book and I highly recommend '1Q84' to the Audible audience.

Fascinating story, excellent narrators

What did you love best about 1Q84?

The magical world of Murakami pulls you in. I found myself looking up at the sky, searching for that second moon.

What does the narrators bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The narrators gave life and depth to each of the characters in a way that made the story come to life.

1Q84 - Romantic sci-fi saga by Murakami

phew. One has to say as great of an author as Murakami is this story is a little long winded and probably slightly over indulgent on the author's behalf. It's essentially a beatiful love story and worth reading of you have weeks to spare. it's not one of Murakami's best works but I'd be stunned if it wasn't the longest.

Anyone familiar with the author will recognise some of themes and characters that have been rehashed (somewhat aimlessly) here. Some of the story's subplots are a little tangient and never conclude (again somewhat typical of the author's spiritualistic stightly endulgent style. sometimes working in his favor).

Great translation I'm sure. A lot of skill and effort was out in by the team who made the audio production. Beautifully read. if it wasn't for this I would have given up after book one. Thank you.