Author: Haruki Murakami (translated by Jay Rubin and Philip Gabriel)
Published: Vintage International Oct 2011 in USA
Genre: Alternate Reality, Fantasy, Parallel Worlds
Rating: 5/5
My first venture into reading Japanese literature was Haruki Murakami's novel Norwegian Wood. Since then I have the works of Natsuo Kirino, Yoko Ogawa, Koushun Takami, Yukio Mishima and parts of historical texts including, "The Hojoki" and "Essays in Idleness". Murakami's tantalizing writing style brought me into a part of Japan's creative culture beyond the manga of my childhood. My copy of 1Q84 was purchased from the Kinokuniya store in Shinjuku. Whenever I feel nostalgic, I pull out one of the books I bought in Japan and begin reading.
The year is 1984 in Tokyo. Tengo is an aspiring writer who spends his time teaching at a cram school and writing. He leads a solitary life except for a few professional contacts. When he takes on the task of rewriting a manuscript his tranquil life begins to unravel. What if what you were writing had taken place in another reality? As Tengo's world changes he constantly thinks of the young girl he loved in elementary school.
Aomame has outcasted herself from her strict religious family. She spends her days working as a personal fitness trainer and completing tasks for one of her clients. Her world converges into another realm when she steps down the emergency ladder to the street below. She is no longer in 1984.
As their narratives intertwine between the parallel worlds, Murakami created an elegant portrayal of a romance connected through time, space and human emotions. Simply by taking the human feeling of "connectedness" and molding it Murakami has created an ambitious work of literature. His narrative and character development is exquisite and readers will become more invested with each page.
This novel is a must read for those who enjoy books with a mystical element. For those who enjoy the reading realms of both high fantasy and realistic fiction, this book maintains a balance you will surely enjoy.
No comments:
Post a Comment