I'm still not sure what I think about 1Q84. It is the first book I've read by the celebrated Murakami, who has a large and devoted following.The book is so very long that even though I read with interest, when I'd put it down, I felt no great longing to return to it. I ended up reading several books even as I kept plugging away at this one.
The plot is strangely uncompelling, especially given the weird details like a dead goat that functions as conduit for...something, but still not clear what, an air chrysalis that produces...a doppleganger?, a weird cult, and a parallel world with two moons.
Curiosity about how all the strange events hung together and about a possible solution brought me back to the book.
Some disjointed thoughts about style and content:
-filler...paragraph after paragraph, detail after detail
-repetitions--characters repeat themselves, the author repeats himself; literally and in paraphrase
-lots of allusions to popular culture, music, and literature; mostly Western
-loose ends: his father, his mother/the nurse in cat town/the girl friend, the professor, Fuka-Eri, Janacek's Sinfonietta, Sagikake-its strange perverse rituals and its purpose
-such a strange landscape of a novel; vague, amorphous; dream-like
In the end, I found that loose ends remained. My curiosity--unsatisfied.
The novel is purported to be a love story, and I suppose it was. My final opinion hasn't gelled on any aspect of the novel. I didn't hate it. I didn't particularly like it. But I suspect that images from this novel will remain with me which, considering the books I've read that have totally evaporated from my mind whether I enjoyed them or not, is saying something.
Who else has read this? What do you think?
Fiction. I don't know how to classify this one. Alternate history? Dystopian? Magical Realism? 2011. 944 pages.
I usually like Murakami but didn't feel tempted by this one. The length is only one reason. I've read a few mixed reviews here and there. Some of the things you mention are typically Murakami. It's dream like, lots of references to Western culture, strange things happen.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read this one yet but I generally like Murakami and all his strangeness so I suspect I will be reading this eventually.
ReplyDeleteCaroline - It is such a long book. I probably should have begun with one of his other, shorter novels. Reading it slowly, however, is probably the best way to approach 1Q84--letting it digest a little along the way. I don't think I'll forget it (or at least I'll retain strong imagery), but a bit more resolution would have improved it for me.
ReplyDeleteStefanie -- I really do need to read something else by Murakami just to get a reference point, but not anytime soon. :)
I'll be eager to here your opinion when you get around to reading it as you have more experience with his style and subject matter.
I had trouble getting into Murakami till I read some of his short stories and his book about running. His shorter works are equally quirky but a little easier to digest. I think maybe now that I've read some of his shorter work, I might feel like I can cope with his novels (but I'm not eager to read 1Q84, to be honest). I recommend After the Quake, if you want to give his short stories a try.
ReplyDeleteNancy - Maybe I'll try some of his short stories eventually. Right now, I feel a bit overwhelmed with the TBR pile--especially since I'm not reading as much as usual!
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