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A review by studyinroses
1Q84 - Livre 1, Avril-Juin by Haruki Murakami
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I'm not sure what I think about this book.
The plot behind the characters seems quite interesting, with this whole religion/sect thing, but I'm not sure I am strong enough to handle the main male character for two other volumes. The thing is, I don't hate to follow unlikeable characters, but I hate it when the author seems to think they're not pathetic, and that they're even sympathetic. This man is annoying, he whines all the time, and he is "in love" with a little girl, he is sexually attracted to her, and it is never depicted as wrong.
The main female character is way more enjoyable to follow, but I can't help but sometimes feel like I am following a woman written by a man, and it keeps distracting me. Overall, Murakami doesn't know how to write women without being sexist, little girls without being weird about it (to put it nicely), and men without making them annoying.
Not a complete disaster at all, Murakami knows how to build a world, and knows how to tell a story, and if I'm still hesistant to read the volume 2, it's because there are qualities to 1Q84 vol.1.
The plot behind the characters seems quite interesting, with this whole religion/sect thing, but I'm not sure I am strong enough to handle the main male character for two other volumes. The thing is, I don't hate to follow unlikeable characters, but I hate it when the author seems to think they're not pathetic, and that they're even sympathetic. This man is annoying, he whines all the time, and he is "in love" with a little girl, he is sexually attracted to her, and it is never depicted as wrong.
The main female character is way more enjoyable to follow, but I can't help but sometimes feel like I am following a woman written by a man, and it keeps distracting me. Overall, Murakami doesn't know how to write women without being sexist, little girls without being weird about it (to put it nicely), and men without making them annoying.
Not a complete disaster at all, Murakami knows how to build a world, and knows how to tell a story, and if I'm still hesistant to read the volume 2, it's because there are qualities to 1Q84 vol.1.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Religious bigotry