Having read a couple of other books by Murakami that I liked (The Wind Up Bird Chronicle. and After Dark) I had expectations that this well-known novel would be interesting. I was rather disappointed as it proved to be long (not necessarily a problem in itself) and boring. The novel uses twin narratives to follow the two main characters, Aomame (a young fitness trainer/assassin) and Tengo Kanawa (drop-out math genius who teaches in a cram school). There is a link between the two, of course, which is revealed half way through the book. The plot, such as it is, revolves around Tengo ghost-writing a book called Air Chysalis, which relates to a kind of parallel universe (not exactly parallel, but something like that). Both protagonists find themselves drawn into this universe. Well, nothing much happens after that... I have a high tolerance for books that are not plot driven and that have confusing elements, but this just goes nowhere, and takes a long time to do so.
For a review of the book from the NY Times, click here: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/10/books/1q84-by-haruki-murakami-review.html?_r=0
For a review of the book from the NY Times, click here: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/10/books/1q84-by-haruki-murakami-review.html?_r=0
