1Q84

By: Haruki Murakami, Jay Rubin - translator, Philip Gabriel - translator

Narrated by: Allison Hiroto, Marc Vietor, Mark Boyett

Length: 46 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's summary

Earphones Award Winner (AudioFile Magazine)

The year is 1984 and the city is Tokyo.

A young woman named Aomame follows a taxi driver's enigmatic suggestion and begins to notice puzzling discrepancies in the world around her. She has entered, she realizes, a parallel existence, which she calls 1Q84 - "Q" is for "question mark". A world that bears a question.

Meanwhile, an aspiring writer named Tengo takes on a suspect ghostwriting project. He becomes so wrapped up with the work and its unusual author that, soon, his previously placid life begins to come unraveled.

As Aomame's and Tengo's narratives converge over the course of this single year, we learn of the profound and tangled connections that bind them ever closer: a beautiful, dyslexic teenage girl with a unique vision; a mysterious religious cult that instigated a shoot-out with the metropolitan police; a reclusive, wealthy dowager who runs a shelter for abused women; a hideously ugly private investigator; a mild-mannered yet ruthlessly efficient bodyguard; and a peculiarly insistent television-fee collector.

A love story, a mystery, a fantasy, a novel of self-discovery, a dystopia to rival George Orwell's, 1Q84 is Haruki Murakami's most ambitious undertaking yet: an instant best seller in his native Japan, and a tremendous feat of imagination from one of our most revered contemporary writers.

BONUS AUDIO: Audible interviews the translators of 1Q84, Jay Rubin and Philip Gabriel.

©2011 Haruki Murakami (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"This imaginative, lengthy novel satisfies as a mystery, fantasy, and humorous coming-of-age tale—all blended with the vagaries of love and loss in a dystopia mired in strange cults and mathematical/musical dreamscapes. One surmises that it's no accident that the book's enigmatic title relates to George Orwell's 1984." (AudioFile)

“Profound . . . A multilayered narrative of loyalty and loss . . . A fully articulated vision of a not-quite-nightmare world . . . A big sprawling novel [that] achieves what is perhaps the primary function of literature: to reimagine, to reframe, the world . . . At the center of [1Q84’s] reality . . . is the question of love, of how we find it and how we hold it, and the small fragile connections that sustain us, even (or especially) despite the odds . . . This is a major development in Murakami’s writing . . . A vision, and an act of the imagination.” (David L. Ulin, Los Angeles Times)

“1Q84 is one of those books that disappear in your hands, pulling you into its mysteries with such speed and skill that you don’t even notice as the hours tick by and the mountain of pages quietly shrinks . . . I finished 1Q84 one fall evening, and when I set it down, baffled and in awe, I couldn’t help looking out the window to see if just the usual moon hung there or if a second orb had somehow joined it. It turned out that this magical novel did not actually alter reality. Even so, its enigmatic glow makes the world seem a little strange long after you turn the last page. Grade: A.” (Rob Brunner, Entertainment Weekly)

Nicely written, perfectly narrated

Great story, wonderfully written, perfectly narrated. This was my first excursion into the world of Haruki Murakami and what a trip it was. Almost 1000 pages / 50 hours it was not short but that was good. The tension of the story builds throughout till nearly the end and it does not get boring anywhere along the way.

I’m a hopeless romantic and sucker for a good love story but had I known this was that, I possibly would have avoided it. I find so few really good stories of that genre. This one, however, was good. The romantic connection between the two protagonists is one from across time and space; we care about these characters and the tension builds and our hope that their reunion will eventually come about.

The story is a bit of a complex, suspenseful, fantasy that is very simply written. In fact, its simplicity was one of its best attributes and what draws the reader/listener in. There were elements of the story that sometimes seemed silly (the little people) but were easily dismissed by all the positives. The author seemed to have an obsession with female breasts and not only as a plot device. There was a fair amount of sex particularly in the beginning and some really, seemingly, strange sex at that. For one who is seldom shocked by anything, I thought, “holy s#!t, batman, where the hell is THIS going?” This was way beyond kink.

Was this a great book? I think for many it was. I don’t read a lot of modern, best-selling, fiction. I don’t usually find reading that particular ilk very rewarding. This, however, was a great read and well worth the temporal investment. All of the characters and plot were fully developed. The narration was impeccable. In fact, it seemed like the book was written in such a way and with a mind that it would be narrated and listened to as well as read.

I do not believe this is a book for everyone. While I would be hard-pressed to classify those for whom I would not recommend it, the sexual aspects are pretty much over the top.

Oddly Mesmerizing

What did you like about this audiobook?

I wouldn't listen to this again as it is very long. However, 1Q84 is an oddly mesmerizing tale of two people who find themselves in a parallel world where things are slightly askew.

Set in Japan, the book was imaginative and I found that I was fully immersed in the interesting world and Japanese culture that Murakami created.

While the book could have been shorter and left me with a lot of unanswered questions, I find that I'm still thinking about it even a week later.

Narrated by three people, at first I found the female voice a little irritating; but I came to think that she was ideal for the character.

Very Original and keeps you seated

A Great listen, narration is really good especially Almomi (sp)! The story is very good, probably one of the most original books I have listened to in a long while. Worth the credit for sure!

Haruki books are so special, this one is the same.

If you could sum up 1Q84 in three words, what would they be?

Complex, enchanting, and fresh.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I think my favorite character was Tengo, he had wonderful morals which I think is great!

Which character – as performed by the narrators – was your favorite?

I think my favorite was Aomame.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Yes, I did, it made me cry and laugh and I was worried alot as well.

Any additional comments?

Listen to this audio book, you will not be disappointed.

1Q+ Q + Q = ????

Would you consider the audio edition of 1Q84 to be better than the print version?

Yes, the audio edition is marvelously read.

Would you recommend 1Q84 to your friends? Why or why not?

No, not to many. Unlike 1984, which is a bad good book, this book is a good bad book. Also unlike 1984, it is a fantasy that is brain candy without much point. There is no question that Murakami is an artist (unlike Orwell, who was so passionate about an idea that his terminology survives despite his lack of style). For example, take this description of the heroine's frown:

"Whenever something caused her to frown or grimace, however, her features underwent dramatic changes. The muscles of her face tightened, pulling in several directions at once and emphasizing the lack of symmetry in the overall structure. Deep wrinkles formed in her skin, her eyes suddenly drew inward, her nose and mouth became violently distorted, her jaw twisted to the side, and her lips curled back, exposing Aomame's large white teeth. Instantly, she became a wholly different person, as if a cord had broken, dropping the mask that normally covered her face. The shocking transformation terrified anyone who saw it, so she was careful never to frown in the presence of a stranger. She would contort her face only when she was alone or when she was threatening a man who displeased her."


Now, that is a frown that tells you loads about the heroine, who means business, even though her name means green bean. And while some people have no patience for that kind of description, the rest of us love it, which is why Murakami is a best selling author in Japan.What fascinates me with this book is the constant Western references -- typical Asian books do not have this, so it is interesting that a Japanese author who was so heavily influenced by the West is such a big seller in Japan. I even think the ending draws largely from a famous children's book. Throughout the book I kept wondering how much of the Western feel was from the translation, verses from the author, so I loved that the audio version includes translator interviews.

Frankly, I liked the book. But the US publisher made two HUGE mistakes. First, I hated the graphic love scenes. Was it because I was listening to the book that it felt like erotica? If I had been reading, I would have just thumbed through to get back to the story, except that it eventually became a part of the story. That aspect almost ruined the book for me -- I almost quit -- so I warn you not to "read" the book if graphic sex scenes bother you in the least. The US publishers should have diluted this, with the author's permission of course, which they may or may not have been able to get. In that case, they should have given some kind of warning us about it -- it's pretty easy to say a book is a "sexy fantasy" in the summary. I am not the least frumpy about this sort of thing and have never complained about it before, just give me an idea it's in there, please.

The second mistake was that this book should have been published in series, instead of all together, just like it was in Japan. The thickness of the book turns off even the most ardent reader and makes it hard to digest the story. I know that would be more costly to the public, but in this case publishing in a series would have probably helped its reception.

So, that leaves the "Little People" verses "Big Brother" [1984]. Murakami really could have done something with that brilliant idea. What an imagination to come up with something that truly does contrast so well with Big Brother! Current days have more to do with Little People than the true year 1984 did -- with the internet I believe we are in a "Little People" age. But even in 1984 there were little people cults that were controlling, so it still could have worked. But he doesn't really develop the idea, so don't expect it, even though the book occasionally evokes 1984, making you expect some kind of dystopian diatribe. In the end, it's just a big little fantasy that has an enticing heroine and hero, who have a problem that needs solving, in a world of two moons that the little people control.

40+ hours of listening

All in all it's a long story that goes nowhere. But while doing so, it keeps you busy listening. I liked to writing. Everything was described extra, extra well. While listening, you feel that you not only learn how to cook what the characters made for dinner but also, what it tasted like.
If you have to paint the walls and ceiling to a whole house, or a coast-to-coast drive back 'n forth, this would be a great book to listen to on the way.
All in all, I enjoyed the book, thou it left a lot of unanswered questions…. But, having said that, maybe, that is what Japanese literature is like?!?

it's a tome

starts slow, gets really interesting and creative, and ends too simplistically. It's a HUGE time investment, but I was determined to finish the thing.

Genius!

I did not know what to expect from this monster book, as I just dove in without any background! It is an amazing feat of fiction, and the performances by the various artists are amazing!

I love exploring new authors and this is my first experience with Haruki Murakami--could not be more impressed!

The sci-fi overtures are limited, as this book is more about human beings and what drives them. The older I get, the more I can relate to many of these complex human themes.

Do not doubt the value of this purchase for a second! Excellent Book!

Not what you might be expecting

If you are looking for a quick paced story, an ingenious magical world or even a good action/adventure that will keep you flipping pages, you need to look elsewhere. This book is a psuedo literary book, meaning that it offers almost none of the traits of modern best sellers with the exception of one item --there is lots of sexual activity with all of the details spelled out.

The book is intentionally slow paced. As you proceed through chapter after chapter of thinly vielled social commentary, the mental/emotional architecture of the two primary characters are revealed. There is little action in the book, but if you like to walk through psycological character development in a literary style (in most chapters), i.e., you have the patiences for it, then you will not be disappointed in the content. Otherwise, you will run out of patience.

The book is a little inconsistent or I would have much higher praise for it. At times, the flow is much like a much lessor work in the style and content of the writing, and the logic falls apart. While its clear the author goes to painful lengths to create realism, at times the twists in the plot seems a bit to convient to be realistic. But then there are times when the writing is exquisite, nearing the style of literary greats that are so often mentioned in the book. I found the language in some passages artfully descriptive and enjoyable, even masterful.

Again, many listeners/readers will loose interest in the book because the pace can be torturously slow. But if you stay focused eventually you will wade through the all of the social commentary and psycological incubation and then you will begin to see something extraordinary beginning to emerge.

As mentioned above, the author has included every twist and turn of the characters sexual activity in great detail. It will seem overdone to many readers. Others may find that it is actually a vital part of understanding the behavior of the characters and the course their actions take as the plot unfolds. Frankly, it all seems a bit uber Freudian regardless of how you measure and access its literary role in the story. One is led to concluded that either the author felt it was necessary to hold the attention of a modern reader (as they pace through an otherwise largely dry intellectual/psycological analysis) i.e., the author thinks we are all obsessed with graphic sex in a 50 shades sort of way, or the author has some interesting interpretaions of his own with respect to how deep psycological issues are manifest in sexual behavior. This aspect of the writing reminds me of Lev Grossman a bit, except that Grossman is much more charming.

Some have referred to the book as belonging to the scify/fantasy genre, but that is very misleading. True, what some refer to as "magical realism" is present in the story, it seem almost hidden under the heavy clouds of psycological development.

Some would say the tale is a complex romance, and while the essencial elements are there, its very understated through out most of the book.

I think the listeners who are comforable with the dryness of complex literary works probably will at least find the story and characters mildly fasinating, and at time the writing well worth the time. At other times, they will be tempted to set it down and wait for it to rippen a bit more like a piece of fruit picked a bit early (if only that worked with books).

Other listeners will through in the towel after a few chapters unless they find the descriptons of the sexual scenes tasty enough to keep them flipping pages. Nah-- most adults will probably not even find the sex that titalating because of the matter of fact descriptions.

Clearly, the author is brilliant and has deeply considered great writing and the human experience, and that comes through in his character development. He does not shy away from exploring some of the darker aspects of the human experience.

A quick note on the performance. While the actors (male and female) are interesting to listen to, they both seem to interpret the charcters and project the voice inflections much different than what seems intuitive to me. They are both a bit flat at times, especially the male voice. I picture Tango as a bit more dimentional and certainly with a broader emotional range than what comes through in the actor's interpretation in many chapters.

Best wishes and peaceful listening.

Imaginative, somehow mixed with literary Realism

I... have struggled for about 5 minutes trying to figure out how to start a review for this book. From a purely imaginative point of view, this is a really nice story. And the narration is pretty good. The translation holds steady, even though two different translators worked on the 3 sub-books that comprise the story.

But... I have no idea what 1984 has to do with any of this. It could have been set in any year at all, provided some contextual details were altered. The tie into 1984's name adds nothing to this story. I don't even really know what the book is about, having finished it. First and foremost, I suppose it's just a love story from the characters' childhoods, told through some distorted reality. I loved the insane pieces of the 1Q84 world, but they lead nowhere. As if to reinforce this point, the last we hear of 1Q84 is the same old events happening all over again, while the characters return home and the story ends.

The author, even withstanding translation, has a superb talent with similes. Some of them get a little fluffy, but most are so accurate at making you feel the correct way about a subject that you really do see something from the character's perspective. It's a building appreciation that makes the characters worthy of your sympathy.

However, a lot of effort seems to have gone into making the story just go on and on for the sake of having just one more "close one". I think I was pretty tolerant and willing to go along with it, but there were some points near the end where I was unsure what the author was trying to accomplish anymore. Again, I'm really open minded and willing, but I just don't know what the point was before it was clear the author just decided to wrap things up.

In the end, this story doesn't make me want to look into the author's other works. I'm just as neutral about them before as I am now. It was an interesting experience. I guess I just wanted some more substance to the larger story. The storyline was practical enough, just not backed by any undeniably clear purpose. In that way, this story has more roots in Realism as a genre, providing that the story actually takes place in a fantasy-enhanced setting. There is romance and danger, but the larger story is traditional and unwavering in its goal to shadow the characters and have you witness their extreme caution, before it finally just unites them and sends them off into a sunrise.