1Q84

1Q84 is Haruki Murakami’s most extensive novel to date. The plot is simple, it is a love story between the two main characters – the unraveling of the numerous life-changing events, incidents and complications on the other hand is much more complex. The genre defining attributes are plentiful, it is a fantasy, a work of fiction, yet a contemporary crime novel, mystery and a romance - all in the world of magical realism. Both of the protagonists, Aomame and Tengo, live a somewhat trivial and solitary life under the charming spell of familiar simplicity. A vivid, inspiring memory of a brief mutual contact some 20 years ago lies deep within the two, an encouraging reminiscence which by a series of both indirect and explicit events converges the two parallel narratives into a greater whole. 

However, as enchanting as it may sound, the book may not appeal to everyone. Characteristic for the author, the narrative is filled with long, some may say redundant and perfunctory descriptions of not only the characters but even the most common objects and everyday chores. A critique of this overly delineated narrative can be agitated for by the principle of Chekov’s gun, a principle Murakami himself covers in the book. I believe the contrary – the widespread and thorough descriptions add greatly to the immersion in the text, thus making the story that much more personal and alive. With the right mindset one gets the impression of being at the core of the story and in complete coherence with the main characters. The unordinary and unreal seems just as unordinary and unreal is it would in the real life – it does not feel as a mere work of fiction and imagination in a setting so trite, casually well-known and thus so identifiable.
   

The novel addresses some of the great and universal themes in literature and in the humankind as a whole including love, death, hope and personal development. It portrays a life of solitude fueled by the yearning for another human being as a means of a psychical, but also quite literal physical survival. The great theme of love is depicted on a personal and intimately deep level which may serve as a lesson or an inspiration for many. A fierce struggle between hope, dreams and reality comes to life in the different characters and their development throughout the narrative. Family, relatives, friends, acquaintances and complete strangers all play a role in an epic so close and true to our own life, yet at times so far away that it makes one think of the uncomprehending in the grand scheme of things and events which, directly and indirectly control our lives.

So who would I recommend this book to? A person that likes to read and is not frightened by the sight of a refrigerator sneakily disguised as a book. It is big, it is heavy, and unless you are hungry and ready to devour the entire supply you should probably not read it.  
Aylulu