Am I fated this year to read heavy tomes of over 700 or 800 pages? It appears so!
This book, 1Q84 parts 1 and 2 by Haruki Murakami is 805 pages long ( in my edition), in small print. . I haven’t yet picked up the third part. It took me an entire month and more to read, but let me tell you, this is one writer who takes you by your throat and makes you turn the pages. It’s riveting, robust, relentless.
At its heart is a love story- between the main characters Aomame and Tengo. But there’s more to it- a sinister cult, some crazy, unforgettable characters ( the editor, the insurance collector) and a big chunk of magic as well as sex thrown into the mixture.
I’ve never read anything like this before, and it’s hard to classify this book. Is it dystopian fiction, magical realism, literary fiction, or all three? But the voice is captivating and makes you read on and on. I’m hooked onto Murakami and look forward to Part 3 of 1Q84. And of course, his other books.
If you want to be challenged and move out of your comfort zone, pick this book.
Padmini Sankar Author 