From the Bookshelf of Josei and Seinen Readers…

1Q84 (1Q84, #1-3)

Haruki Murakami,

Jay Rubin (Translator)

Start date: December 1, 2013

Finish date: December 28, 2013

Discussion: Novel/Light Novel Discussions

Why we're reading this: 1Q84 was chosen in a poll by the members for Winter 2013.
[close] 1Q84 was chosen in a poll by the members for Winter 2013.

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Novel/Light Novel Discussions

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Book Girl and the Wayfarer's Lamentation
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What Members Thought

Oct 02, 2025 Vini rated it it was ok

Shelves: adult, mystery, depressing, contemporary, dropped, disappointing-climax, twisted-fuck, frustrating, japanese, literature

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. read 2 out the 3 books. took me years to finish the first 2, will probably take me years to take it upon myself to finish the last one, but for now, reading it is the furthest thing from my literary objectives.

book number 1: it was okay, nothing major, some things peaked my interest, others disgusted me.

book number 2: my interest diminished and my disgust increased tenfold. i think that people that enjoy this book aren't familiar with japanese pop culture, because the narrative isn't quirky, str read 2 out the 3 books. took me years to finish the first 2, will probably take me years to take it upon myself to finish the last one, but for now, reading it is the furthest thing from my literary objectives.

book number 1: it was okay, nothing major, some things peaked my interest, others disgusted me.

book number 2: my interest diminished and my disgust increased tenfold. i think that people that enjoy this book aren't familiar with japanese pop culture, because the narrative isn't quirky, strange or mysterious, it's just an amassment of the worst japanese narrative clichés (female character feeling insecure about small breasts, pedophilia, awkward sex scenes, expressionless female character, etc). it's uninventive, lacks creativity and downright criminal. rape of children only happens as a concept, not in reality. characters are in love (romantic love, mind you) with each other and, although they only met as kids, continue in love (even as adults) with the kid they used to know. one of the main characters (30+ years of age) has sex with a 17 year old and finishes inside her (in great detail, thanks murakami!) and goes on to remark about it several other times in passing, like he was commenting about the weather ("ah yes, and I ejaculated inside this beautiful 17 year old" - Murakami, Haruki).

so yeah, i tried to give murakami the benefit of the doubt here. i really enjoyed a few of his short stories and loved south of the border, west of the sun, but i couldn't stomach this pile of steaming shit. there is no substance whatsoever to 1q84. the style is there, but it seems like a self-parody.

to give credit where credit is due, there are a few parts that hold some significance and literary beauty, specially the relationship of tengo and his father. if you took out everything else and just left that there, it would've been a great read (that's why i'm giving it 2 stars, instead of 1). but no, you couldn't help being a fucking creep, now, could you, murakami? ugh. i need to wash my brain. ...more

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