1Q84: Books 1 and 2
A surreal journey through love, fate, and alternate realities
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Vintage Publishing
Published:2nd Aug '12
Should be back in stock very soon
In a parallel Tokyo, 1Q84: Books 1 and 2 follows Aomame and Tengo as their destinies intertwine amidst surreal occurrences and personal quests.
Set in a parallel Tokyo in the year 1Q84, this novel explores the lives of two individuals, Tengo and Aomame, whose paths become inexplicably intertwined. Aomame, a fitness instructor and assassin, finds herself in a peculiar situation when she must abandon a taxi on the expressway to complete a covert mission. This decision leads her to a world that feels increasingly surreal, marked by the presence of two moons in the sky. As she navigates her dangerous assignment, she encounters a cult leader whose influence may alter the course of her life forever.
On the other hand, Tengo is an aspiring writer who becomes embroiled in a mysterious literary contest involving a gifted young girl named Fuka-Eri. Her novel, which draws from her own harrowing experiences, captivates readers and raises questions about truth and fiction. As Tengo grapples with the implications of the story, he too begins to sense the strange forces at play in his life.
Throughout 1Q84: Books 1 and 2, the fates of Aomame and Tengo converge in unexpected ways, revealing the profound connections that exist between their lives. The novel delves into themes of love, reality, and the power of storytelling, ultimately leading both characters on a journey that challenges their understanding of the world and each other.
A surreal and fractured dose of storytelling that only Murakami cold write. -- Graham Morrison, five stars * Linux Voice *
A surreal and fractured dose of storytelling that only Murakami cold write. -- Graham Morrison, five stars * Linux Voice *
It’s pure, uncut Murakami. * Business Insider *
Murakami's magnum opus * Japan Times *
1Q84 has a range and sophistication that surpasses anything else in his oeuvre. It is his most achieved novel; an epic in which form and content are neatly aligned... So like Murakami himself, I'll borrow from Orwell: 1Q84 is quite simply doubleplusgood * Independent on Sunday *
1Q84 reads like a cross between Stieg Larsson and Roberto Bolaño... In its bones, this novel is a thriller * Daily Telegraph *
A surreal twist on the formula of David Nicholl's One Day; fate preventing two soulmates from getting together from getting together for decades... Stieg Larsson enthusiasts may enjoy the novel too as Aomame could be Lisbeth Salander's Japanese cousin... What makes Murakami cool as well as popular is has metaphysical mischievousness, his playing around with the idea of alternate realities... Every time you open 1Q84, you get the sensation of falling down the rabbit hole, into a unique and addictive world * Sunday Express *
1Q84 is an extraordinary feat of sustained imagination * Evening Standard *
[One of].. the best books to really get your teeth into this winter... Part thriller, part love story, the first print run sold out in one day in the author's native Japan * Grazia *
A whole host of Murakami icons from talking cats to one-way portals all contribute to this rich and often perplexing mix. But ultimately, 1Q84 is a simple love story that ends on a metaphysical cliff-hanger... a delicious paranormal stew * Independent on Sunday *
- Short-listed for I.M.P.A.C. Dublin Award 2013 (Ireland)
ISBN: 9780099549062
Dimensions: 197mm x 129mm x 42mm
Weight: 592g
816 pages