Scan barcode
A review by jerihurd
1Q84 by Haruki Murakami
4.0
I would imagine one of the problems of being Murakami is that editors hesitate to edit as brutally as they might for a less-respected author. There are few novels in the world that actually NEED to be 1200 pages, and this isn't one of them. The last third of the book is quite the slog and needs a severe edit to save the author from his self-indulgent tendencies.
Having said that, the first 2/3 more than make up for that with an intriguing narrative and mostly compelling characters. I generally find alternating chapters annoying, but it wasn't overly so in this book (well, until that last third). Murakami clearly has female issues, and there are a few ewww inducing sex scenes (and others that just evoke an eyeroll from any self-respecting feminist), but I cared deeply about Tengo, if slightly less so about male wish-fulfillment Aomame.
Having said that, the first 2/3 more than make up for that with an intriguing narrative and mostly compelling characters. I generally find alternating chapters annoying, but it wasn't overly so in this book (well, until that last third). Murakami clearly has female issues, and there are a few ewww inducing sex scenes (and others that just evoke an eyeroll from any self-respecting feminist), but I cared deeply about Tengo, if slightly less so about male wish-fulfillment Aomame.