1Q84 - Haruki Murakami

[TheFifthElement]

So my copy of books 1 & 2 arrived today. Very excited :D I'm hanging on until book 3 is released in a couple of weeks then plan to read it all through.

Is anyone else reading?

[Charles Darnay]

I've heard goo things. I haven't read any Murakami yet (an embarrassing gap in my reading) and I don't think this one is the best to start with. At some point this year I intend to read "Kafka on the Shore" or...."Norwegian Wood".

[Gregory Samsa]

Have read the two first parts in Swedish and it was good but I was kind of disappointed.

[Laszlo Jamf]

I just finished reading Kafka on the Shore. It was a good book but i felt sort of let down because of how much the book had been hyped up. But I'm looking forward to reading his new works as well as finishing up Norwegian Wood.

[Scheherazade]

I just finished reading Kafka on the Shore. It was a good book but i felt sort of let down because of how much the book had been hyped up. But I'm looking forward to reading his new works as well as finishing up Norwegian Wood.I absolutely love Norwegian Wood. One of my all-time favorites.

Have a look at this thread when you finish:

http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36919&highlight=norwegian

And welcome to the Forum :)

[TheFifthElement]

It's interesting how polarizing an author Murakami is. People seem to love him or hate him. I err on the side of love, of course, but I'm not a great fan of all his works. For example, I wasn't impressed with Norwegian Wood, despite that being one of his best loved works. Then again, I haven't read it for a while. I think I'll put it on my re-read list for next year, especially since the movie has been released it's tempting me to pick it up again. After 1Q84 of course.

Of course Murakami's popularity doesn't help him in the sense that it builds peoples expectations and I think that his work is quite subtle and, whilst with Western influences, it is still very Japanese.

I've heard goo things. I haven't read any Murakami yet (an embarrassing gap in my reading) and I don't think this one is the best to start with. At some point this year I intend to read "Kafka on the Shore" or...."Norwegian Wood".

I'd be interested to hear what you think. My personal favourite is Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World but I still concede that The Wind Up Bird Chronicle is most surely his best novel.

[Laszlo Jamf]

I definitely will check out that thread when I finish the book. i'm actually in the middle of a couple of books but soon i'll finish it. What's the general consensus of Murakami? My brother says Kafka on the Shore is his best work and one of the best works ever but I'm not sure I agree because I'm really loving Norwegian Wood.


The only thing I've read by him that was anything less than great was After Dark but luckily it was short enough that it didn't stretch to terrible.

[Helga]

I hope to read it when school is over, I have read a few books by Murakami and I really loved the first one I read the short stories in 'after the quake' . I really like his style, I haven't read his biggest Norwegian Wood but I will some day.

[Page Turner]

Really looking forward to his new book. I've read almost all of Murakami's works and love his dream-like style. Rereading The Elephant Vanishes now.

[grechzoo]

the 1+2 hardback is beautiful, but i dont want to buy it and then a third on the end.

when the third releases will there be a complete hardback version?

[TheFifthElement]

I can't see that it's being advertised at the moment but it wouldn't surprise me if they released it in one volume eventually.

[tonywalt]

Also received 1 and 2 today. I have read After Dark and Norwegian Wood, brilliant writer. I recommend Murakami who are looking for something very different in terms of style-very cutting edge.

[YW1990]

I am definitely going to buy this book. He's been nothing short of great for me.

[GioGraphIck]

I just got the 1Q84 today, I'll be digging into it tonight. Norwegian Wood is the book that got me back into reading.

[TheFifthElement]

My copy of Book 3 has arrived and I've started reading. To be honest, it's a bit slow but at around 200 pages in it's just become more interesting.

Anyone else reading?

[Gregory Samsa]

Just started reading on Book 3 right now and I like it more and more.

[TheFifthElement]

Just started reading on Book 3 right now and I like it more and more.
That's good to hear Gregory. I always think that Murakami is a bit of a grower. I'm about 2/3rds of the way through book one. I'm still not quite sure where its going. The appearance of the second moon was the first point that really intrigued me. Otherwise it's easy reading but a bit on the slow side to develop. I'm not sure I like any of the characters yet, other than Fuka-Eri.

I can see how much Murakami has been influenced by the research he did for Underground. If you haven't read it, it's a scarily interesting read.

[sickboy]

my first post here and it will be on murakami! i've yet to get my hands on 1Q84 because of the release date here but im very excited on reading it. was wondering if it would be more alluring and interesting to buy and read the book chapter by chapter instead of as a trilogy. either way, i hope it won't disappoint.

also, for those who have yet to read it, here's an interesting article on how murakami's love for jazz actually influences his writing.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/08/books/review/Murakami-t.html

[TheFifthElement]

my first post here and it will be on murakami! i've yet to get my hands on 1Q84 because of the release date here but im very excited on reading it. was wondering if it would be more alluring and interesting to buy and read the book chapter by chapter instead of as a trilogy. either way, i hope it won't disappoint.

also, for those who have yet to read it, here's an interesting article on how murakami's love for jazz actually influences his writing.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/08/books/review/Murakami-t.html
Hi sickboy, welcome to the forums.

I think reading 1Q84 in a serial chapter by chapter would be good. I'm in to book 3 and flagging a bit, primarily because of the sudden introduction of a new character (or rather the focus on a new character). I'm not sure it was necessary but perhaps the reason for it will unravel as I read on.

Which is your favourite Murakami novel? Have you read What I talk about when I talk about running? That's quite an interesting insight into Murakami the man.

[sickboy]

Hi sickboy, welcome to the forums.

I think reading 1Q84 in a serial chapter by chapter would be good. I'm in to book 3 and flagging a bit, primarily because of the sudden introduction of a new character (or rather the focus on a new character). I'm not sure it was necessary but perhaps the reason for it will unravel as I read on.

Which is your favourite Murakami novel? Have you read What I talk about when I talk about running? That's quite an interesting insight into Murakami the man.

ah then i would work towards that.

i can't quite decide if it would be kafka or norwegian though. and i've ran across what i talk when i talk about running but never actually picked it up. would it be more advisable to read that as an introduction towards all his other books or after having read all the others?

[TheFifthElement]

i've ran across what i talk when i talk about running but never actually picked it up. would it be more advisable to read that as an introduction towards all his other books or after having read all the others?
I think it's a good read if you want to know more about Murakami the man. It's a kind of autobiography, although it only covers a short period of time specifically related to his running a particular marathon (I think it's the New York). It's a interesting read, though not one of his fiction books.

I've finally finished 1Q84. I have to say, I'm a little disappointed. He had a great idea, and a great way of telling it, but he could have done it in about 2/3rds of the length. It was overdone and a little repetitive in parts, and he really needs to curb his desire to 'tell'. A shame, really, because more concisely edited it would make an absolutely fantastic book.

3.5/5 from me. But that might be generous. Not one of his best.

[Sally Brown]

I have just read the third volume of 1Q84 and really enjoyed the whole novel. I find the text's extension functional for a narrative atmosphere's effective creation. I was so impressed by the 1st and 2nd volumes that I can't manage to wait for the next in my language (Italian). I bought an english edition of the 3rd and went on reading. I loved especially the oniric romantic history evolution, that doesn't give you a definitive explanation, but let you empathyze the characters' feelings..