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henrikv's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
livvvvh777's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
ssulpiride's review against another edition
4.0
Por suerte, este no ha sido el primer libro con el que me enfrento a Murakami. Digo esto porque, a pesar de que me parece una obra maravillosamente construida, me ha dejado un regusto amargo en la boca; un sabor diferente al que siempre me deja Murakami al acabar sus novelas. En 1Q84 me he encontrado con un Murakami diferente: quizás más maduro en su prosa, más centrado en la estructura. La narrativa, como siempre, me ha atrapado. Es innegable que tiene una capacidad increíble para describir lo cotidiano de un modo poético. Sin embargo, me ha fallado la historia en sí. Todas sus obras contienen elementos fantásticos y surrealistas -aunque siempre en el seno de un ambiente de cotidianeidad-, con eso ya contaba, pero en esta todo está envuelto en una especie de aura excesivamente romántica, bajo mi punto de vista. No me convence el modo de justificar las acciones finales de los personajes, aunque considero que estos están brillantemente construidos.
No se encuentra entre mis favoritos dentro de su bibliografía, y sin duda no lo recomendaría para iniciarse en su literatura, pero sí para aquellos que, como yo, disfrutamos intensamente de las obras de Murakami. Aun con todo, me gustaría leer la tercera parte para poder tener una opinión al completo de la obra.
No se encuentra entre mis favoritos dentro de su bibliografía, y sin duda no lo recomendaría para iniciarse en su literatura, pero sí para aquellos que, como yo, disfrutamos intensamente de las obras de Murakami. Aun con todo, me gustaría leer la tercera parte para poder tener una opinión al completo de la obra.
kalliste's review against another edition
3.0
This was a long ride. I can't believe it took me 5 weeks to get through it all. I can imagine being disappointed if I only had book 1 as it cuts off suddenly at the 50% mark.
I'm not really sure how I feel about this book, it's quite unusual and there is a whole lot more sex and boobs than I expect. I probably didn't need to know that Aomame's morning routine involved checking that her breasts and pubic hair remained much the same as always.
As other reviews have said it seemed much too long and nothing much really seemed to be resolved over the 2 books. I'm not sure if I can push through the 3rd or not but I definitely won't be doing it straight away.
I'm not really sure how I feel about this book, it's quite unusual and there is a whole lot more sex and boobs than I expect. I probably didn't need to know that Aomame's morning routine involved checking that her breasts and pubic hair remained much the same as always.
As other reviews have said it seemed much too long and nothing much really seemed to be resolved over the 2 books. I'm not sure if I can push through the 3rd or not but I definitely won't be doing it straight away.
pkamara's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
rachelcdm's review against another edition
4.0
So.
Wow.
This book took me an embarrassingly long amount of time to read, and not because I didn’t enjoy it! There were two things hindering my progress reading this novel. 1) the slow and repetitive nature of the book. And 2) uni deadlines did put this on the back burner for the better part of a month.
Let’s get stuck in.
This is the second Murakami book I’ve read and I think I am kind of in love with his twisted style of storytelling and the strange messages that are portrayed through a combination of magical realism, mundanity and batshit craziness.
It’s a really odd mixture, one scene our protagonist is chopping up vegetables for dinner musing about his relationship with his father, next chapter our other protagonist deals with serial rapists and little people crawling out from the mouths of sleeping girls.
It’s trippy.
So, what is 1Q84 about? Well… I’m not entirely sure, (I’ve yet to read the third instalment.) But my own interpretation is that it’s about the power of storytelling - ‘Air Chrysalis,’ ‘The Town of Cats’ and Tengo’s conversations with Komatsu and his father respectively illustrate that. It’s about what we perceive to be morally acceptable - what is good and evil, right and wrong? Aomome is a murderer but she kills bad people, does that make her a hero or villain or both? Tengo’s relationship with the young Fuki-Eri is described in such detail to make the reader uncomfortable but then seems to be excused/justified by the author. Is this intentional? It’s about religion and free thinking. Cults and religion are described in not the holiest of lights.
1Q84 is a slow burner and it’s repetitive in places, it’s also wildly imaginative and creepy and introspective and did I mention unsettling? Murakami’s fascination with young girls and balding men is quite something.
I enjoyed it but didn’t love it as much as ‘After Dark’ but I’m definitely going to read more of his works. 3.5 stars.
Wow.
This book took me an embarrassingly long amount of time to read, and not because I didn’t enjoy it! There were two things hindering my progress reading this novel. 1) the slow and repetitive nature of the book. And 2) uni deadlines did put this on the back burner for the better part of a month.
Let’s get stuck in.
This is the second Murakami book I’ve read and I think I am kind of in love with his twisted style of storytelling and the strange messages that are portrayed through a combination of magical realism, mundanity and batshit craziness.
It’s a really odd mixture, one scene our protagonist is chopping up vegetables for dinner musing about his relationship with his father, next chapter our other protagonist deals with serial rapists and little people crawling out from the mouths of sleeping girls.
It’s trippy.
So, what is 1Q84 about? Well… I’m not entirely sure, (I’ve yet to read the third instalment.) But my own interpretation is that it’s about the power of storytelling - ‘Air Chrysalis,’ ‘The Town of Cats’ and Tengo’s conversations with Komatsu and his father respectively illustrate that. It’s about what we perceive to be morally acceptable - what is good and evil, right and wrong? Aomome is a murderer but she kills bad people, does that make her a hero or villain or both? Tengo’s relationship with the young Fuki-Eri is described in such detail to make the reader uncomfortable but then seems to be excused/justified by the author. Is this intentional? It’s about religion and free thinking. Cults and religion are described in not the holiest of lights.
1Q84 is a slow burner and it’s repetitive in places, it’s also wildly imaginative and creepy and introspective and did I mention unsettling? Murakami’s fascination with young girls and balding men is quite something.
I enjoyed it but didn’t love it as much as ‘After Dark’ but I’m definitely going to read more of his works. 3.5 stars.
chicokc's review against another edition
2.0
La historia no es muy alejada a algunas novelas de Murakami. Dos historias totalmente distintas, separadas, que se van uniendo por algún evento extraordinario. Es un tipo de realismo mágico, pero los personajes se dan cuenta de la magia y se preocupan por ella.
samstillreading's review against another edition
5.0
I finished reading 1Q84 (surely the blockbuster novel of 2011) almost a week ago, but I wanted to collect my thoughts before I put fingers to keyboard. This is a novel (sounds trite, perhaps epic would be a better word) that remains with you for a long, long time after reading it. I’ve kept thinking about the story and how each event fits in the overall structure of the book, how clever and intricate the world created is and how I can picture in my head a world that doesn’t exist…or does it?
The ARC copy I read comprised of Books 1 and 2 (Book 3 will be published in the UK on 25th October 2011, I’m uncertain of an Australian release date). The sheer weight of the first two books (nearly 600 pages) will come as a delight to Murakami fans. For readers new to Murakami, it may take a little while to warm up to the picture that is being painted lovingly before you but persevere, the puzzle pieces soon fall into place. The book opens with Aomame (whose name means ‘green pea’, we never know her by any other name) in a taxi, stuck in a traffic jam in Tokyo in 1984. She is going to be late for her appointment when the taxi driver informs her of an emergency exit that will take her off the expressway back to ground level. He says a few odd things, but Aomame is not concerned about that. She takes his advice, goes down the stairs and off to her appointment – killing a man.
Meanwhile, Tengo is a young writer who is struggling to make a name for himself while teaching mathematics at a cram school. At a meeting with his somewhat mentor, he is asked to rewrite a novel written by a seventeen year old girl that has been submitted for a new writers’ prize. The novel, Air Chrysalis, is nothing like he’s ever read before. Neither is its author, Fuka-Eri, a strange girl who never uses a question mark in her speech.
Can you see the Murakami originality coming through? The cover pictured gives quite an insight into the main symbols of this book.
I don’t want to spoil the story for others – it’s highly original and will keep you reading all through the night but be prepared for almost anything to happen: religious cults, strange sightings of the moon, an older woman out for revenge, missing persons, murder, love, sex and all sorts of people – from big to small.
Murakami must be lauded for his ability to think of such an intricate plot – almost every detail is leading you further into the story and almost nothing is there by chance. It all combines together later in the second book with exquisite tension before the explosion of the bittersweet ending. Be aware that there is a fair bit of sex in this book but I felt it was needed to show where the characters were coming from and where they were heading.
On finishing this book, I hardly dared to look up at the moon in case I was in 1Q84! Everything else I’ve read since has paled in comparison to 1Q84. I simply can’t recommend this book more highly – it’s a beautiful masterpiece.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
The ARC copy I read comprised of Books 1 and 2 (Book 3 will be published in the UK on 25th October 2011, I’m uncertain of an Australian release date). The sheer weight of the first two books (nearly 600 pages) will come as a delight to Murakami fans. For readers new to Murakami, it may take a little while to warm up to the picture that is being painted lovingly before you but persevere, the puzzle pieces soon fall into place. The book opens with Aomame (whose name means ‘green pea’, we never know her by any other name) in a taxi, stuck in a traffic jam in Tokyo in 1984. She is going to be late for her appointment when the taxi driver informs her of an emergency exit that will take her off the expressway back to ground level. He says a few odd things, but Aomame is not concerned about that. She takes his advice, goes down the stairs and off to her appointment – killing a man.
Meanwhile, Tengo is a young writer who is struggling to make a name for himself while teaching mathematics at a cram school. At a meeting with his somewhat mentor, he is asked to rewrite a novel written by a seventeen year old girl that has been submitted for a new writers’ prize. The novel, Air Chrysalis, is nothing like he’s ever read before. Neither is its author, Fuka-Eri, a strange girl who never uses a question mark in her speech.
Can you see the Murakami originality coming through? The cover pictured gives quite an insight into the main symbols of this book.
I don’t want to spoil the story for others – it’s highly original and will keep you reading all through the night but be prepared for almost anything to happen: religious cults, strange sightings of the moon, an older woman out for revenge, missing persons, murder, love, sex and all sorts of people – from big to small.
Murakami must be lauded for his ability to think of such an intricate plot – almost every detail is leading you further into the story and almost nothing is there by chance. It all combines together later in the second book with exquisite tension before the explosion of the bittersweet ending. Be aware that there is a fair bit of sex in this book but I felt it was needed to show where the characters were coming from and where they were heading.
On finishing this book, I hardly dared to look up at the moon in case I was in 1Q84! Everything else I’ve read since has paled in comparison to 1Q84. I simply can’t recommend this book more highly – it’s a beautiful masterpiece.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
poloniumblood's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
2.25