Book review: 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami

Here is a closer look at Haruki Murakami's magnum opus 1Q84. For the English/American edition, in October 2011 Knopf will publish all 3 books in one big volume, the UK volume will come in 2 volumes. I use the Dutch edition (published by Atlas) for my review. Various details (but no real spoilers except for a very high level story outline) are in the review, suffice here to say that it's an intricate yet readable book that should appeal to all Murakami fans, and in general to everyone who wants to read something unique.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• book
• review
• Haruki
• Murakami
• 1Q84
• 1984
• novel
• Knopf
• Atlas
• MrDagon007
• Dagon
• japan
• books
• tokyo
• reading
• collection

[Yupiyeahs]

As an interpreter, I must admit that your on-the-fly translation was quite impressive. Cheers.

[MrDagon007]

@Yupiyeahs Thanks for the kind words. Looking back, I should have prepared a translation, as I think it should have been more fluent.

[84paratize]

Mr Dagon! Great, in-depth (without being too spoilerific) review! Really this is one of the best discussions of Murakami's work I've ever seen, particularly on YouTube! I can't thank you enough for your interesting discussion. Even though you have a bit of a strong accent, I was able to understand everything you said and you said it better than more native English speakers could have. I must say I'm a bit disappointed in the English translators, though, that they couldn't get this out quicker

[MrDagon007]

@84paratize Thanks for the kind words !

[maczuka]

i had a false start with hard boiled wonderland..and got in after reading wild sheep chase, love the books...but I do recommend the audio editions, helps get through the long parts.

[MrDagon007]

@MrDanbloom I've read all his books that are available in English or Dutch, and that includes Norwegian wood, of which I have that nice early Kodansha edition in two volumes, translated by Alfred Birnbaum who's in my opinion Murakami's best translator.

I though that NW was pretty good, really, but it is not my favorite.

[gs547]

Thank you for your review. I liked it very much. I found it by surfing for Janacek's Sinfonietta. I happened to receive 2 copies of the American version for Christmas from people who know I enjoy reading Murakami.

gms

[Rissykinns]

Just finished 1Q84 in its English one-giant-novel form. It was absolutely addicting, and the writing was just superb! Murakami is simply a fantastic writer and story-teller. I finished all 925 pages of it in just two weeks. Not bad for a sixteen-year old. ;D

Anyway, this novel makes me want read more of Murakami's work. You're explanation was lovely by the way (and your accent is great, too)!

[loveislikemusic]

I found your review very very helpful, and very interesting to hear, thank you.

[vigil]

Awesome video! I hope you do more that are similar!

[louisejbjb]

Okay I must admit that I am addicted to Haruki Murikami novels. I've listened in the past. 1984 will be my first text.