Dierregi answers “i am struggling to finish reading this...”

Joshua Lee asked this question about 1Q84 (1Q84, #1-3):

i am struggling to finish reading this damn book. I can't stop due to the promise I made this year: Once start, finish the book. Haruki is an over valued writer.This is my thinking after reading several works of his. Am I only one thinking as this?

Dierregi Off topic, I gave up "Once start, finish the book" behaviour. Life's too short to punish myself with reading books I dislike :-)

On topic, I read first…moreOff topic, I gave up "Once start, finish the book" behaviour. Life's too short to punish myself with reading books I dislike :-)

On topic, I read first "Norwegian Wood" and then "South of the border...". "Norwegian Wood" was interesting in a gloomy sort of way. The story made sense (kind of). "South of the border..." was more of a missed opportunity for me, but at least it was short.

1Q84 was recommended by my brother, but I am pretty sure it is the last Murakami I am going to read. I finished the first two books and I understand that this is pretty much the whole story, as other readers complained about repetitions and the third book being useless.

It is already pretty repetitive so far, and going in all directions (broken families, ghost-writers, beautiful assassins, gay bodyguards, dyslexic teenagers, religious freaks, weird private investigators, etc...), plus the fantasy, creepy elements (little people, two moons, etc..)

In my opinion, far too much material and half baked. The Tengo-Aoname story should have been the core of the book. The last part of book 2 reminded me a bit of Doctor Zivago, when the two main characters just miss each other. But it is underdevelopped, and the star-crossed lovers theme is weak.

I just found it hard to believe in their deep feelings, both because they did not bother to look for someone they loved in 20 years and because they were sleeping around so much. It is very convenient to be so in love with a ghost, while enjoying casual sex with everybody. Their attitude spoiled the romance angle.(less)

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