Books I have read - 1Q84
Recently I have finished the surreal and brilliant '1Q84' by Haruki Murakami. This isn't really one book but rather one story told in a trilogy. It is based on George Orwell's '1984' but it is more complex than that.
The story follows two main characters, Tengo and Aomame, as they navigate towards each other in a parallel world to 1984 called 1Q84. They have both made their way into this world which is a world ruled over by 'little people' who create the 'air chrysalis' and one with two moons in the sky. There are strange religious cults, mentions of philosophers, classical musicians and so much more. Tengo and Aomame haven't seen each other since they were 10 but in this world they are drawn to one another for the first time in 20 years. Tengo seems to be an ordinary cram school teacher and writer while Aomame has a secret second career behind her usual one of a fitness instructor. Both become privy to a secret from a religious cult, one that the cult would rather the world not know about.
The work is surreal as one would expect from Murakami such as two moons and 'little people'. There are supernatural elements at work too such as the suggestion of projected spirits. This may appear to be a long work when read as one piece, but it is so gripping and so full of plot twists that one cannot put it down.
No prior knowledge of Orwell's '1984' is required, but that is such a classic in itself that I would recommend reading it either before or after '1Q84'. As a quirky aside, it is claimed that a 1/3 or so of people who claim to have read '1984' actually haven't! I am amazed by this as it is not a long book and is so engaging that anyone could read it in a day or so. In fact, I was so inspired by '1Q84' that I went out and purchased my own copy of '1984' to read again (when I was 16 - 12 years ago at the time of writing this blog - my father set me a challenge to read all of '1984' in a week while he was on a training course and then we would discuss the book on his return).
The inspiration of '1984' is there in '1Q84' such as the surveillance and constant fear of being watched by a far stronger thing than yourself. It uses paranoia and the idea of forbidden manuscripts to the same extent as '1984'. However, '1984' was written in 1948 at the start of the Cold War and published in 1949. It was a commentary on nationalism, censorship and surveillance. The book is also a warning to our future. From 1948 it must have seemed to some that a totalitarian state was possible and that all aspects of your life could be controlled by a select few from the top. This was already present in the Fascism of Nazi Germany through the war and was becoming apparent under Stalin's version of Communism in the USSR. '1Q84' presents some of these ideas on a seemingly smaller scale. The controlling state is now the religious cult at Sakigake and the secret manuscripts are the information about the 'little people' and the 'air chrysalis'.
'1Q84' also has people as conduits for information and truth. Tengo and Aomame become these as well and yet it is also clear they represent Winston and Julia in this story. They are joined by the mysterious and beautiful girl, Fuka-Eri, who is the true author of the book that binds Tengo and Aomame. Fuka-Eri is also the daughter of the leader at Sakigake. Aomame has many dealings with a wealthy dowager who looks after abused women and her body guard/servant Tamaru. Other characters are Komatsu (publisher who encourages Tengo to re-write Fuka-Eri's novel), Ushikawa (an under cover agent for the Sakigake religion), The Leader (founder of the Sakigake religion and father to Fuka-Eri) and Professor Ebusino (who is Fuka-Eri's legal guardian and also desperate to expose the truth behind Sakigake. History appears to be re-written and it would seem that not everyone is living in the world of 1Q84 despite there being interaction between characters.
This story will draw you in and although it will take a while to read through the three novels that make up the whole it will be worth it. I don't ever like to go into too much plot with Murakami for two reasons. The first is a simple case of not wanting to spoil it for you. The second is that you can see your own things in the themes and read what you want to in his works.
I would recommend any works by Murakami but my other favourites are 'Sputnik Sweetheart', 'Colourless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage', 'Norwegian Wood' and 'Kafka on the Shore'.
Personally, my next one is 'The Wind Up Bird Chronicles'.
The story follows two main characters, Tengo and Aomame, as they navigate towards each other in a parallel world to 1984 called 1Q84. They have both made their way into this world which is a world ruled over by 'little people' who create the 'air chrysalis' and one with two moons in the sky. There are strange religious cults, mentions of philosophers, classical musicians and so much more. Tengo and Aomame haven't seen each other since they were 10 but in this world they are drawn to one another for the first time in 20 years. Tengo seems to be an ordinary cram school teacher and writer while Aomame has a secret second career behind her usual one of a fitness instructor. Both become privy to a secret from a religious cult, one that the cult would rather the world not know about.
The work is surreal as one would expect from Murakami such as two moons and 'little people'. There are supernatural elements at work too such as the suggestion of projected spirits. This may appear to be a long work when read as one piece, but it is so gripping and so full of plot twists that one cannot put it down.
No prior knowledge of Orwell's '1984' is required, but that is such a classic in itself that I would recommend reading it either before or after '1Q84'. As a quirky aside, it is claimed that a 1/3 or so of people who claim to have read '1984' actually haven't! I am amazed by this as it is not a long book and is so engaging that anyone could read it in a day or so. In fact, I was so inspired by '1Q84' that I went out and purchased my own copy of '1984' to read again (when I was 16 - 12 years ago at the time of writing this blog - my father set me a challenge to read all of '1984' in a week while he was on a training course and then we would discuss the book on his return).
The inspiration of '1984' is there in '1Q84' such as the surveillance and constant fear of being watched by a far stronger thing than yourself. It uses paranoia and the idea of forbidden manuscripts to the same extent as '1984'. However, '1984' was written in 1948 at the start of the Cold War and published in 1949. It was a commentary on nationalism, censorship and surveillance. The book is also a warning to our future. From 1948 it must have seemed to some that a totalitarian state was possible and that all aspects of your life could be controlled by a select few from the top. This was already present in the Fascism of Nazi Germany through the war and was becoming apparent under Stalin's version of Communism in the USSR. '1Q84' presents some of these ideas on a seemingly smaller scale. The controlling state is now the religious cult at Sakigake and the secret manuscripts are the information about the 'little people' and the 'air chrysalis'.
'1Q84' also has people as conduits for information and truth. Tengo and Aomame become these as well and yet it is also clear they represent Winston and Julia in this story. They are joined by the mysterious and beautiful girl, Fuka-Eri, who is the true author of the book that binds Tengo and Aomame. Fuka-Eri is also the daughter of the leader at Sakigake. Aomame has many dealings with a wealthy dowager who looks after abused women and her body guard/servant Tamaru. Other characters are Komatsu (publisher who encourages Tengo to re-write Fuka-Eri's novel), Ushikawa (an under cover agent for the Sakigake religion), The Leader (founder of the Sakigake religion and father to Fuka-Eri) and Professor Ebusino (who is Fuka-Eri's legal guardian and also desperate to expose the truth behind Sakigake. History appears to be re-written and it would seem that not everyone is living in the world of 1Q84 despite there being interaction between characters.
This story will draw you in and although it will take a while to read through the three novels that make up the whole it will be worth it. I don't ever like to go into too much plot with Murakami for two reasons. The first is a simple case of not wanting to spoil it for you. The second is that you can see your own things in the themes and read what you want to in his works.
I would recommend any works by Murakami but my other favourites are 'Sputnik Sweetheart', 'Colourless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage', 'Norwegian Wood' and 'Kafka on the Shore'.
Personally, my next one is 'The Wind Up Bird Chronicles'.
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