“We’re both looking at the same moon, in the same world. We’re connected to reality by the same line. All I have to do is quietly draw it towards me.”
1Q84 by Haruki Murakami
Published by Shinchosha Publishing Co (originally in Japan as 3 separate books), Published in the United States by Alfred A. Knopf, A division of Random House
Genre: Dystopian Fiction
Pages: 928
Book Discovery
I find the discovery of this book to be comical. It initially starts with me reading an article about the author. In the article, Haruki Murakami lists the 3 essential skills for serious novelists (and runners). I found the introduction about him to be interesting. He started writing at 30 and running at 33. A reminder that it’s never to late to start following your dreams. I decided to save the article to show my husband because he’s a runner too (I’m a person that has too many browser pages open (my current number is 27)). Anyways, I went on with my life.
Weeks later I find myself at the library hoping to pick up a couple books to read (I mostly read cookbooks because I love food). As I was walking to the new book section, a title on display caught my attention. It was a book on CD copy of 1Q84. What’s that? I wondered. I read the back of the case and it said it’s two lovers trying to reunite…definitely my type of story. So I went to search for the actually book (I have not given audio books a try yet. I mean if I’m listening to a story, I’m not actually reading it). The actually book looked bigger than the bible. I carried it around briefly before I knew it my heart that I’m not going to read it. I instead decided to see if the library has the online version of the story. They did. So I return the book.
After reading the first few pages, I lost interest. I think the main reason is because I have been recently reading nonfiction and mangas. So I needed to get back into the rhythm of reading a novel. But I decided not to read it anymore. That is until I found this Rolling Stones article about a day in the life of BTS. The author of the article mentioned that RM reads authors like Haruki Murakami. And it was at that moment as a silly fangirl that I decided that I will also read the same author as RM. And so I did. Hahaha! Don’t judge me!
Synopsis
Set in 1984. The story is told from the points of view of the two main characters Tengo and Aomame. The two characters find themselves in a parallel world and they eventually meet up to find their way back home (hopefully). While Aomame was in a hurry to a job she climbed down an emergency staircase from the highway. She noticed something amiss immediately after she walks down the street. Once she sees two moons in the sky, she realizes that the 1984 she once knew isn’t where she is and so she called the new world 1Q84.
Review
The author is a very wordy author. He describes everything so you can visualize the story in your mind. He even describes the past and present lives of the characters that matter so that readers aren’t questioning who they are. The story made me somewhat obsessive (which is what I tend to be with a good engaging story). It is written to have just enough questions that I have to continue to find the answers just to discover new questions. If you’re wondering, I did end up losing sleep over this book.
My only question is what about the Little People? Where did they come from? What is their purpose? Why did the story end with the Little People clearly up to something? Ugh! Will I ever know the answers to these questions? I wonder if he is writing another book.
The Best
I really enjoy seeing the multiple perspectives when switching from one character’s point of view to another. I can’t even imagine what the story would be like if it was only one person’s point of view. When I read that this book was a dystopian novel, I got scared. But the novel isn’t too frightening (or useless) unlike the last dytopian novel I read (The Handmaid’s Tale). But there are some parts that did frightened me, mainly because characters forewarned of something or another happening (but luckily the characters actually listened to the warning, so trouble was avoided).
The Worst
I am left with so many questions about the Little People and their goals. I think it comes from being spoiled by Murakami. He tells us everything about all the characters–everything!! The Little People are the only ones we know nothing about and that makes me crazy. Sometimes wonder really can get to me.
Afterthoughts/Recommedations
It felt like fate reading this book. I’m one to like to look for patterns and signals from the world and interesting enough the female main character, Aomame, did too. That is how she knew she wasn’t in the same world anymore. I think this book isn’t as frightening or disturbing as maybe some of the other dytopian novels, but it’s definitely in the genre. I honestly don’t have very many recommendations and that comes from me probably not reading enough fiction as I should.
Also, the two moons in the sky reminds me of this song:
Quotes
“If you love someone with your whole heart, even one person, then there’s salvation in life. Even if you can’t get together with that person.”-Aomame
“Nothing cost more and yields less benefit than revenge.”-Aomame quoting Winston Churchill
“Shakespeare said it best…If we die today, we do not have to die tomorrow, so let us look to the best of each other.”–Tamaru
Book-to-Life Connection
Whenever I read books, I like to write about things I learn, do, or things I would like to try. The following is a list of things I found in this book that I plan to write more about:
Books Listed (the author referenced a lot of books I never read)
Movie List (movies mentioned)
Culture
Book Soundtrack
Food
Oyakodan
Green Pea Soup
Have you read any Murakami books? What’s your favorite dystopian tale?
Facebook / Instagram / Twitter/ Pinterest