1Q84 Getting Started

[Diane]

Have you read any other books by Haruki Murakami? Which ones and did you like them?

[Pip]

I have read IQ84 and won't reread it, but would like to follow the discussion as it is such a fascinating book. I have also read The Wind-up Bird Chronicles, Kafka on the Shore, (what a great title!) and Sputnik Sweetheart. I loved them all, they are intriguing and frustrating, but above all entertaining.

[Gail]

Just this year (2018) I read Norwegian Wood and Sputnik Sweetheart and like Pip I found them both fascinating and somewhat frustrating. There lack of constraint on one level paired with their very constrained settings, characters and emotions on another has made me wish to read more. I actually want to read Kafka on the Shore before I read IQ84 but I hope to catch up to everyone to join in the IQ84 discussion.

[Kristel]

I’ve read quite a few.
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicles was my first Murakami, others are
Kafka on the Shore
What I Talk About When I Talk About Running
The Strange Library
Takashi Murakami
1Q84

I hope to read After the Quake preferably in January but my list of books I want to read in January is getting longer and longer.

[Kelly_Hunsaker_reads]

I have not read any, but will try to join in on this one.

[Ernesto]

OMG! I'm just getting started with this novel, and as far as I read, i'm deeply involved into Amomane, I'm getting so in love with her.

Just got into the part of her volleyball friend...

[Diane]

Ernesto wrote: "OMG! I'm just getting started with this novel, and as far as I read, i'm deeply involved into Amomane, I'm getting so in love with her.

Just got into the part of her volleyball friend..."

I am glad that you are enjoying it. I haven't started yet but I look forward to discussing the book with you.

[Hilde]

I have just started the book, and so far, so good. This will be my first Murakami, I have wanted to read something by him for a long time.

[Diane]

Hilde wrote: "I have just started the book, and so far, so good. This will be my first Murakami, I have wanted to read something by him for a long time."

I have started too. I hope you like magical realism as Murakami's books are off the beaten path.

[Megan]

I've read 1Q84 and several other Murakami books in the past. I don't plan on re-reading-- mostly because I loaned out my copy and I don't think I'm ever getting it back, lol. I'll still keep tabs on the discussion though, I have many thoughts still about the book. If we have read the book already so we get participation points for the discussion, but not for the reading? Thanks!

[Diane]

Megan wrote: "I've read 1Q84 and several other Murakami books in the past. I don't plan on re-reading-- mostly because I loaned out my copy and I don't think I'm ever getting it back, lol. I'll s..."

Yes you can get one point for commenting on the discussion or just posting your review.

[George P.]

I have read The Windup Bird Chronicle and his short story collection Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman, and enjoyed both. I may read Kafka on the Shore eventually, but have some other Japanese authors I'd like to read also: Kawabata, Yoshimoto and Endo and perhaps another Mishima.

[Paula]

I've read Norwegian Wood and Sputnik Sweetheart, but that was several years ago. I never got around to reading the longer books, even though I really liked the two shorter ones I read. I have wanted to read 1Q84 for a while, but other books have always pushed it aside.

[Diane]

Paula wrote: "I've read Norwegian Wood and Sputnik Sweetheart, but that was several years ago. I never got around to reading the longer books, even though I really liked the two shorter ..."

Paula are you going to join us?

[Tatjana]

I started reading yesterday. So far I read Kafka on the Shore which I loved, but wasn't so excited with Sputnik Sweetheart or Norwegian wood.

[Diane]

I started this today. The only Murakami book I've read previously is After the Quake.

[Gail]

I am almost finished with the first third of IQ84 and I am delighted to be reading this. I had only read Norwegian Wood and Sputnik Sweetheart before and while I liked both of these books, I have to admit that I was dreading reading a longer version of his writing. The first two books I read of Murakami’s uses a concise writing style but very moody tone, vague motivations, emotional exchanges and unexplained emotional obsessions. There are very few events in these books. I am finding IQ84 lush in comparison with an intricate plot as well as interesting characters.

[George P.]

Diane wrote: "I started this today. The only Murakami book I've read previously is After the Quake."

Diane, there are five Murakamis in the all- editions of the 1001 so I'm kind of surprised this is only your second. However, you will have the longest one read after this one, and be about half-way though Murakami's five by number of pages.
I do recommend his collection of short stories, Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman- you get to see him tell a story rather quickly for a change there.