Haruki Murakami’s newest novel, 1Q84, is a science fiction thriller set in Tokyo in the year 1984. Aomame starts noticing odd inconsistencies around her that have no explanation. She names the new world 1Q84 in her head, the ‘q’ being for ‘question mark’. As Aomame is discovering more and more changes in the new 1Q84, she begins to wonder how she entered this new world and how she can go back to the regular 1984.
Tengo, a college math teacher during the day and an aspiring novelist at night, gets an offer from his publisher to ghostwrite a story written by a young seventeen year old girl. The story, written by Fuka-Eri, is original in its structure and plot line but lacks depth and details. As Tengo and Fuka-Eri bond over the story, Tengo begins to notice peculiar things happening all around him.
Aomame and Tengo are both seeking the truth behind this strange, new world they find themselves in. Some of the characters in the novel are living in 1984 while others are in 1Q84 (some are aware of this other world while others are blissfully ignorant that it is any different from the way the world used to function). There are plenty of elements and characters that keep the plot interesting from the rather creepy religious cult, to the phyisically repulsive private detective, to the elderly dowager and her sensitive, yet deadly, bodyguard. As stories overlap and characters cross paths, the reader begins to realize that all natural logic is gone and in the year 1Q84 anything is possible.
Composed of three books, 1Q84 is a long novel. The only major problem I have with the novel is that by the third book, it becomes repetitive. One character will reflect over a conversation they had a few pages back and will recap the entire conversation again. Physical descriptions and daily routines of characters are repeated in great detail. Other than length, the novel was captivating and unique. 1Q84 is definitely worth checking out if you enjoy fiction set in fantasy worlds with a deep love story that brings up the questions of fate and pure, true love.
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