Book Review: 1Q84

In today's video I'll be reviewing 1Q84 by, Haruki Murakami.
1Q84 Written Review: www.instagram....
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IG: / alana_estelle

[@aIparica]

I think you're the first person I heard call it Q-teen-84 which makes a lot of sense!

[@iamhere9805]

I just watched the live and this review! I can't wait for you to get around to Wind up Bird Chronicle!(10/10 masterpiece) If you liked 1Q84 then you'll pretty much like anything else he writes. The more of him you read you'll probably pick up on his pattern with similar themes and characters. This is just my theory, but I like to think that all his stories exist inside the same world but are like parallel universes to each other. I read Murakami's "Killing Commendatore" after "Wind up Bird" and It's pretty much the same set up and theme's. But at the same time different characters and plot changes that makes it a refreshing new story. 🥰

[@alanaestelle2076]

Thanks!! I really need to dive into some others. So much to read, so little time lol.

[@iamhere9805]

Nah dont say it like that like you only got 6 months to live. That'd be one helluva reading list😅​@@alanaestelle2076

[@Marscandy1]

I’m about 10% in. I just started it, and I’m not gonna lie I’m a little uncomfortable about his depiction of women. I had major side eye on our male protagonist checking out a teenagers breast. Then going on about how he dated his students after they left the school, and only stopped because he started a relationship with a married woman. He has not endeared himself to me that’s for damn sure. Especially since he has PTSD flashbacks about his mother’s infidelity. How hypocritical can you be? But like I said I’m 10% in and I’ll continue to read in hopes that the character will grow.

[@valmentajat8267]

Murakami is a genuis, he creates characters that are memorable and stay with you long after reading. Wind up Bird Chronicle is a masterpeiece for anyone looking for a new read

[@alanaestelle2076]

Wind Up Bird will be my next Murakami!

[@valmentajat8267]

@@alanaestelle2076 I'll look forward to your review

[@Bugtortoise]

Just a minute into your video but wanted to thank you for pronouncing the title the way I thought it was pronounced once I started thinking about it. Didn't start thinking about it until around the end of Part 1 and didn't check the internet until the end of Part 2. I was sure it was going to be Q-Teen, but the concensus was One-Q Eighty Four. I think we are right. I just finished it last week and I was consumed by it for about a month, stressed and depressed a little bit over the welfare of Aomame and Tengo. I was kind of relieved when it was over which means it was having an effect on me, the reader. So I think overall it was an excellent piece of fiction.

[@alanaestelle2076]

Yes! I also think it’s supposed to be pronounced this way. That’s a great way to describe this book!

[@sophiepeterson4805]

For me my difficulty now that I have read 3.5 Murakami books is that so far the majority of the female characters (in what I have read) have been sexually assaulted/raped or uncomfortable age gaps between his characters. I understand this unfortunately happens in our society but why is he using this over and over again in his character’s story arcs. Also I did read and really enjoy 1Q84.

[@alanaestelle2076]

That's a fair point! This is something that Diana Gabaldon has also bene critiqued for in her Outlander series.

[@apex_prey]

Cope.

[@amandasousa5094]

At a first moment, I liked this book, especially the volume 1… but in my opinion the volume 3 could be better… this volume was the review of volume 1 and 2… Murakami could explain more about little people, Ebisuno, the leader… Anyway.. It was just my opinion, probably I need to reed again to give another chance for this book By the way, congratulations for this channel!!

[@alanaestelle2076]

He definitely let a lot in volume 3 opened ended. I liked the ambiguity, myself. And thank you! :)

[@hayleyd6366]

I read part 1 and 2 and thought the book was bizarre but in good way. I did get a bit lost with the story at the end but....as soon as I started reading this book I was instantly seduced by Murakami's writing and couldn't put it down. I also loved his cast of vivid and very unique characters. Would recommend!

[@alanaestelle2076]

It's definitely a bizarre story, but worth it!

[@choco1199]

Wow this sounds so good!😃

[@alanaestelle2076]

It's a wild ride of a book!

[@janethansen9612]

Nope, can’t do Murakami but I appreciate your perspective.

[@alanaestelle2076]

I understand that - I can see how he's not for everyone!

[@mrbooboohead157]

I think you should look up mieko kawakami's interview with haruki she asks him about his portrayal of women

[@alanaestelle2076]

I’ve seen it.

[@LawyerPapa]

I want to borrow "Q-teen-84." The Japanese word for "nine" is "kyuu." So, you calling it "Q-teen-84" brings back what was lost in translation! Brilliant! Crows are so common in Japan, I didn't think much of it. But now that you mentioned it, the crow did tell Fuka-Eri some stuff. Was she looking at an invisible crow when she was looking up at the powerlines? (Crows pop up when bad guys questioned stuff, but I didn't feel like they knew more because of the crow. Tengo only saw the crow once a day. I thought the crow visited Fuka-Eri more often, but she did look at powerlines for no reason, so maybe it was invisible like the moon.) I loved Kafka-ish surrealism. But yeah, I'm afraid he did objectify women. Half way through the book, I realized "Maza" and "Dohta" were mother and daughter. Which may explain why only women could be "maza." Why did Leader become so big? Not having a womb, Leader's "dohta" couldn't leave his body so his body became massive? He was the Receiver, after all. Was that the source of his pain? Did that lead to his demise? Did Murakami write women as objects in the world and men being destroyed in the process too? (I'm not defending objectification; him ending doesn't make other things okay.) I liked that people were ordinary looking. Tengo looking like a wrestler but being a math genius/writer. Aomame is also ordinary looking. Why was Aomame called by her last name which she never liked, but Tengo was called by his first name? Did that signify how much she disliked 1Q84 (or maybe herself)? Why didn't Tengo remember the teacher's name? She seemed to have played a very vital part, yet he couldn't remember? Not having a mother, maybe he was destined not to remember a motherly figure? I was initially disappointed about the story of 3 strangled women. But now, I think they link Aomame and Tengo and the Cat Town. The Cat town seemed like a purgatory where people are deceased and not-deceased at the same time, like the Schrodinger's Cat. (Ooh, I didn't think of Schrodinger's cat until this moment!) A lot of stuff was left unexplained, but I enjoyed the trip to the mirror-world. It was different.

[@asemicwriter]

Thanks for the insightful review. I admire that you put some thought into your review instead of tearing it a new one. I will pick up a copy soon. I haven't read him yet, but I have been curious about his writing for a long time. I mainly read poetry and classic novels. There are so many books being published today, it is hard to decide whether to pick up a first edition, or wait till a dirty used copy shows up in some back alley next to a previous lifetimes adventure. Anyway, thanks for being interested in books. I'm a writer too but don't know how to write monetarily viable books. I suppose novels are where the money is at, but you can also spend 10 years on something that has worse sales than parchment paper at the grocery store.

[@alanaestelle2076]

Thank you! Yes, there are a lot of books being churned out now and it can be overwhelming because so many are hyped up with great marketing.

[@OnefortheBooks]

"The Matrix meets 1984, but still feels like an original story." Umm...yes please. 🤩 TBH this book has been on my TBR for several years but I just kept putting it off because it was intimidating. I'm now going to make it a priority read for 2024. So excited! 😊

[@alanaestelle2076]

Yay! I hope you enjoy it! It's a wild ride.

[@feiyunslopebulletinboard7217]

Funny thing but 1Q84 is pronounced Ichi-Kyū-Hachi-Yon in Japanese. which is heard as One Nine Eight Four, 1984

[@apex_prey]

It is so so good. Everything Murakami is just spectacular.

[@officialmkamzeemwatela]

It doesn’t bother me either because it doesn’t read as him revelling in it, just seeing through less explored eyes

[@alanaestelle2076]

I love this take! Yes, exactly!

[@iaidohawk]

Love Murakami. Haven’t read this one but added to my shopping cart. Your channel is underrated and phenomenal.

[@elizabethaliteraryprincess]

"That ain't right, pass the chicken." 🤣🤣 I haven't tried Murakami yet, but Norwegian Wood is on my tbr. Great review, as always!

[@alanaestelle2076]

LOL!! I've heard so many things about Norwegian Wood! And thank you!

[@bookspin]

Great review! I'm glad you loved this book. It's also one of my favourites. Murakami has a great talent for creating characteristically strange and mesmerising fiction. I like the way he incorporates cultural references from music and literature, such as Orwell and Proust.

[@alanaestelle2076]

Same! While I was reading, I was making a playlist with all the songs he was referencing.

[@ss-gr8lt]

that part about objectification of men LMAO apart from that, great video with great insight. i think you made the right choice focusing on a few of the aspects of the book rather than trying to summarize the entire work, it made your review unique compared to a lot of others I've seen. keep up the good work, you've earned a new subscriber :)

[@alanaestelle2076]

I appreciate that!

[@kurtfox4944]

I think we should have a contest in each new video to see who can spot the "burping" parts. LOL! I'll chime in first and say it's at 10:06.

[@alanaestelle2076]

LOOOOOL! At this point, I might as well put it on a shirt 🤣

[@monejade8589]

New subscriber here. Love your commentary. I keep seeing the "objectifying women" reviews about his works. I'm currently reading "First Person Singular", and nothing has bothered me yet (someone was mad that he called a woman ugly/plain looking). I read tons of romance and men are totally getting objectified, so the hypocrisy is hypocrisy-ing. lmao Also, I am getting so tired of seeing the Taylor Swift references in these new books. That is cringy lol Going to order 1Q84 now 🤣

[@alanaestelle2076]

Thank you so much! LOOOOOL RIGHT?! The hypocrisy and hypocrisy-ing 🤣. Eeeeew are there really that many Swift references in new books?! WHY?! 😩 Hope you enjoy 1Q84!

[@zlee001]

fav murakami book. second is kafka, third is wonderland.

[@TH3F4LC0Nx]

Glad to hear your thoughts on this one. I've had this book on my shelf for a while now, and I really need to get around to reading it. I have heard some rather poor things about it (mainly pertaining to what you addressed), so I found your commentary enlightening. My only experience so far with Murakami was Kafka on the Shore, which I did like, although I admit the sex scenes in that book were kind of...odd. Very raw and not really artful, so I can understand why a lot of people are offput. Fun fact about 1Q84 though, if I'm not mistaken, the Japanese word for 9 is "kyu", pronounced Q. So the title of the book is actually 1984. I think. XD

[@alanaestelle2076]

That's a good description - those scenes are not artful. haha yep, you're right - the book is still technical "1984".

[@alishacampbell9491]

So I just purchased this! I was always intimidated but I just watched a couple mins and stopped the video to purchase. Thank you!!!

[@alanaestelle2076]

Aw yay! I hope you enjoy!

[@alishacampbell9491]

@@alanaestelle2076 I don’t know when I’ll get to it but when I do I’ll be sure to check back ;) thanks again for your amazing content!

[@alanaestelle2076]

@@alishacampbell9491 🤗

[@juliaroth9739]

this was such a weird book for me. i really liked the dreamlike atmosphere and the how wild everything was--almost like an lsd trip or something. i just feel like he uses his characters as automatons (at least in this book) to explore that world, which isn't something i love in a novel. i also really didn't like the way he wrote about women. i know you said you don't mind it but a certain line sticks out in my mind and it was something like "she mourned most of all that the breasts of her friend weren't in the world anymore". i just......cmon man. i can understand objectification of women from the perspective of a man or woman to characterize them, but it was out of character for a character that didn't have much characterization to begin with. i'm about to start killing commendatore because i did enjoy his writing/the atmosphere, and i'm hoping that one of his books that seems to focus more on a single character will be stronger for me.

[@alanaestelle2076]

Describing this book as a trip is soooooo fitting!! His portrayal of women is definitely weird - I totally get why many readers cant get on with that aspect of his writing. I hope you enjoy it! Haven't read that one.

[@mandyc1280]

Well, just bumped it up on my list. There are so many mixed reviews but I think I am willing to give it a go. 😂 "That ain't right, pass the chicken"!!! You are too much! 🤣

[@alanaestelle2076]

yaaay! I'm excited that you're going to give this one a go - it's wild hahaha. LOL!!!

[@jeromedvs]

Isn't the guy knocking on the door the passed conscious of Tango's father? This book is haunting so much so that it took 7 months for it to really bloom in my subconscious, I find myself thinking of it randomly a year after I read it. Wind Up Bird Chronicle, After Dark and Kafka on the Shore are also haunting....

[@alanaestelle2076]

Yes, it's his father!! That also haunted me i the story and was one of my favorite elements. Wind Up Bird will be my next Murakami when I get around to it.

[@ok-xb1ig]

ive only read norwegian wood by murakami and I also didn't mind the portrayal of women. there was one woman character that I despised but the others weren't anything crazy. I think I didn't mind because I've met women that act the way those characters did in the book. I personally felt he portrays the men in Norwegian wood the same way.

[@alanaestelle2076]

Yes good point! I also noticed in 1Q84 the way he writes about men is also similar.

[@charlesbarrowbooks]

Great review. I've read, and enjoyed, a couple of Murakami novels (Kafka being my favourite so far), he is a great writer and the translations are fantastic. 1Q84 parts1-3 are unread on my bedside table at the moment, and your video was the spur I needed to pick up the first book. Thank you.

[@alanaestelle2076]

Thank you! I hope you enjoy this one! I also look forward to reading more of him.

[@ianp9086]

You made me want to read this just because of the lack of errors! 😂 I have read most of his earlier novels but stopped after Kafka - maybe I should go for it. I can imagine you might like Hard-boiled wonderland or the Wind-up bird chronicle if you want to try more Murakami.

[@alanaestelle2076]

LOL lack of errors is important haha. Wind-Up Bird Chronicle is plan to read next year, hopefully!

[@apex_prey]

I haven't read a single Murakami work I did not absolutely adore.

[@elisagario5503]

I loved 1Q84, because of the themes and because there’s something about the way Murakami writes that just transport you in his world. I love that plot wise not a lot is happening sometimes but just the routine of the characters make them feel so real. But he is problematic when he writes about women. In this book he focuses on Tengo’s member a LOT, but in all of his other books the female characters are usually sexualised to the max. It doesn’t bother me that much cause he is a solid writer and I am still gonna enjoy his books but I do find sometimes disturbing how he talks about women and what he imagines them being like (I really hated the part where Aomame is almost going to kill herself and apparently she thinks about her best friend tits, cause that’s not really realistic honestly). Btw amazing review

[@alanaestelle2076]

I hope to read another Murakami soon, so I’m curious to see his portrayals of women in those novels! Thank you so much for watching!

[@pamelatarajcak5634]

I just discovered this video. I love 1Q84. I read some more Murakami and I loved every one of them. I consider him the David Lynch of literature. Lynch, too, has been accused of misogyny in his films. I just think both Murakami writes books and Lynch directs films that show strong women ground down by unjust systems.

[@alanaestelle2076]

I really like your point about women in this context and their works. Makes perfect sense!!

[@hollyfrisch40]

Thank you for the review! Totally going to purchase this now 🤩

[@alanaestelle2076]

Hope you like it!

[@aldovergara9035]

I have a copy of 1Q84 waiting for me to get around to it, but I can't because I just started the Brothers K. so I don't want to dip my toes in that water just yet. Now I've watched your review and I know it's gonna have me circling 1Q84 like a shark. Terrific review, I'm digging your channel.

[@alanaestelle2076]

I hope you enjoy the Brothers K! One of my favorite novels. And I hope that you enjoy 1Q84 when you get around to reading it. Thank you so much! :)

[@mikegseclecticreads]

Glad to hear you found it well worth the read. I figured it would be, but I've also heard a lot of these negative comments about it, which usually don't deter me either but do make me wonder. I haven't read any Murakami yet though, so this probably still won't be where I start, given the length.

[@alanaestelle2076]

I was unsure about this one for a while until one of my close friends recommended it to me! Yea this is definitely a chunky one to start with 😅

[@antoninima9007]

Please review this with spoilers.🤣 I need to hear more discussions about it because I've read this twice, and I love it more and more in reflection. I'd also be interested in hearing your review of Kafka on the Shore. There's a lot of ambiguity in that one as well that sits with you after reading.

[@alanaestelle2076]

Discussion some some friends and spoilers coming at some point this year ;)

[@ryerye3147]

It’s next on my tbr, I appreciate the video

[@alanaestelle2076]

Thank you for watching!

[@martasoltys9091]

I know this is a weird thing to notice, but I wondered if the title was meant to make people think IQ84, meaning, like every highly intelligent people have days when they feel like nothing else can go in. I wonder if it's a comment on our society that even smart people are so stressed that they can't retain anything and feel like their IQ is below 100. I wonder if we'd be smarter if we used more meditative techniques. Also, a good Japanese novel I liked was A Personal Matter, if you ever have the time. It was excellent. I still have it and might reread it. This was a great review.

[@alanaestelle2076]

OOOOOH I like this idea LOL! I haven't heard of A Personal Matter! and thank you!

[@martasoltys9091]

@@alanaestelle2076 Yeah, I always notice details about IQ because I feel our society is obsessed with genius meanwhile real genius is available to everyone! Michael Angelo said, "Genius is infinite patience." I have always believed that. I have always believed that sphere of mastery is available to all if one has enough patience to carry it out and carry it through.

[@DaZlehrerin1980]

This was my first Murskami book and I felt spellbound.

[@alanaestelle2076]

That is the perfect way to describe it!

[@sherribugd3799]

I haven’t read Murakami before, but I look forward to reading this book.

[@alanaestelle2076]

I hope you enjoy it! It’s a wild ride haha

[@Antparty]

Love the video! I just finished it too I also loved it and agreed a lot of what you said 😂 can’t wait to post my review

[@alanaestelle2076]

This book is such a ride and it’s such a good ride 🤣🤌🏼

[@Antparty]

@@alanaestelle2076 if you haven’t yet I recommend reading Kafka on The Shore by Haruki Murakami! Very similar narrative structure to 1q84! My personal number 1 murakami! 1q84 is number 2 😁

[@sarahcohen2688]

BEYONCE DOES NOT MAKE GOOD MUSIC!! SAY IT LOUDER FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE BACK Also I'm so mad this book was written in Japanese so I can't read it 😭😭😭 I refuse to read translated works on principle

[@alanaestelle2076]

LOL YES! and don't get me started on Swift. This translation though ... immaculate! I forgot I was reading a translated work.

[@sarahcohen2688]

@@alanaestelle2076 That’s crazy! Kudos to the translator. Also it’s funny you say that because I agree a lot of her music is garbage but I’m listening to I Knew You Were Trouble on repeat right now and it’s a bop…

[@alanaestelle2076]

@@sarahcohen2688 Oooh she has a couple bangers. I’ll give her that 🤣

[@jonclaudeparker7669]

In my opinion you shouldn’t listen to Swift on principle. lol. And should read translated books, because they have some bops. No hate, just trying to educate lol

[@jonclaudeparker7669]

P.s. love my guy Murakami. Yes he is a genius. Loved the review.

[@Scr3675]

You’ve convinced me to read it! Great review

[@alanaestelle2076]

Hope you enjoy it and thank you!

[@ja_jauma]

I love you lady

[@alanaestelle2076]

Thanks lol.