Book Review: Murakami’s ‘1Q84’

It took three years for Haruki Murakami‘s trilogy 1Q84 to be translated from Japanese to English. But the compelling adventure and incredible sensory brainfuck that I’ve had the pleasure to read is worth the wait.

It’s 1984. You’re living in Tokyo the city you’ve always lived in, but the world as you know it will never be the same again. We begin in the world in which exist the main characters – the meticulous and emotionless perfectionist Aomame (not to be confused with sushi menu item Edamame) and the academic and wannabe fiction writer Tengo.

Tengo discovers “Air Chrysalis” – a strange but compelling novella that has been entered into competition for the first writer’s prize in a national competition. Tengo’s colleague, respected fiction editor, Komatsu, presents him with the ethically poleaxing proposition to secretly re-write the raw story and in doing so guaranteeing it will win.

“Air Chrysalis” is special for two reasons. Firstly, the extraordinarily imaginative narrative (which I won’t reveal for fear of spoilers); but also the writer behind the work: a strikingly beautiful 17-year-old school girl named Fuka-Eri.

Once Tengo’s life becomes intertwined with Fuka-Eri’s, shit starts going Murakami-style crazy: sacred goats, mysterious ‘little people’, ninja-like assassinations, weird group sex, interruptions of the time-space continuum…

Inspired by George Orwell’s 1984, Murakami’s trilogy is a sci-fi thriller set in a fully formed alternate universe. That may sounds like something from a bad episode of Qantam Leap but 1Q84 is genuinely transportive to the age in which it’s set.

1Q84 is, ultimately, a bizarre love story, a case of not-quite-star-crossed lovers, but close. The world Murakami creates is strange and unfamiliar – not the world we live in – but his world is a strangely authentic, down to the detail of how Aomame makes a sandwich. The writer’s extraordinarily visual writing style transports you directly into the world his words create.

The world of 1Q84 is impossible to forget or ignore and it’s in stores now.

We have 5 copies of the book to giveaway. All you need to do is tell us your favourite pop culture moment, set in the future, in the comment section.

More info at Random House and Murakami Facebook page including the chance to win an extremely exclusive, deluxe, signed 3 volume set of 1Q84.

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