1Q84

by Haruki Murakami
1Q84 cover
Good Books rating 3.42
Literary Fiction
Technical:
  • ID: 425
  • Added: 2025-09-11
  • Updated: 2025-09-11
  • ISBN: 9781846556692
  • Publisher: Random House
  • Published: 2011-01-01
  • Formats: 7
  • Reviews: 3
Buy online
Waterstones
Paperback • £16.99

1Q84 is a complex novel set in an alternate version of 1984 Tokyo, where Aomame, an assassin for a secret organization, and Tengo, a mathematics lecturer and aspiring writer, navigate a world marked by two moons and a mysterious religious cult called Sakigake. The story unfolds through alternating perspectives, exploring themes of reality, identity, and the collision between fiction and truth. Aomame discovers she has been transported to this parallel reality, while Tengo becomes involved by rewriting a strange manuscript titled Air Chrysalis, which draws him deeper into the cult's shadowy influence. As the narrative progresses, Aomame and Tengo’s paths converge amid a backdrop of danger and supernatural elements, including the enigmatic Little People and a secretive organization pursuing them. The novel blends magical realism with a suspenseful plot, reflecting on balance and duality, and evokes George Orwell's 1984 as a thematic touchstone. Despite mixed international reviews, 1Q84 is recognized for its ambitious scope and intricate storytelling, weaving romance, mystery, and dystopian motifs into a unique literary experience.

Reviews
Thoughts on Papyrus · 2020-09-04
disappointing 2.00

The novel is criticized for being repetitive, overwritten, and contrived, with an overblown narrative that ultimately feels empty despite its ambitious scope.

The reviewer offers a candid and critical perspective on 1Q84, describing it as an overly long and repetitive work that fails to deliver on its ambitious premise. While acknowledging the novel's blend of whimsical romance and magical realism, the review highlights significant flaws in pacing and style, suggesting that the story feels like an 'overblown cocoon filled with nothingness.' This perspective suggests the novel's complexity may not translate into a satisfying reading experience for everyone.

Quick quotes

    Unforgivingly contrived, repetitive and overwritten.

    1Q84 is like an overblown cocoon filled with nothingness.

    A whimsical romance epic with elements of magical realism.

Readers' High Tea · 2018-03-04
captivating 4.25

The book is warmly recommended for its suspenseful and bizarre narrative that captivates readers through its unique blend of reality and fantasy.

This review warmly endorses 1Q84, highlighting its ability to captivate with a suspenseful and bizarre story that blends elements of fantasy and reality. The reviewer appreciates how Murakami creates an immersive world that challenges readers' perceptions and keeps them engaged throughout the novel. The recommendation suggests that readers who enjoy complex narratives with mysterious and surreal elements will find much to appreciate in this novel.

Quick quotes

    I warmly recommend reading 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami.

    It is a suspenseful and bizarre book which will surely captivate.

    The world with a question mark.

The Book Habit · 2013-08-15
intriguing 4.00

The novel skillfully balances dual narratives and explores themes of reality and fiction, emphasizing the concept of balance throughout its structure and story.

This review appreciates how 1Q84 intertwines the lives of Tengo and Aomame, creating a unique structure that alternates chapters between the two protagonists, symbolizing a thematic balance. The novel is praised for its exploration of the collision between reality and fiction, invoking Orwell's 1984 to discuss totalitarianism and moral ambiguity, which enriches the narrative's depth and complexity. The reviewer views the story as a thoughtful meditation on perception and duality, with the characters representing complementary forces within the novel's surreal world.

Quick quotes

    1Q84 is a world with two moons in the sky, where Air Chrysalis...

    Murakami’s emphasis on balance permeates 1Q84 to a unique degree.

    The two central characters are set up as presenting some kind of balance to one another.

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