1Q84

While it isn’t a book that I would recommend to everyone, there is a lot to love about 1Q84. The ethereal world Murakami created and the way its narratives intertwine is both fascinating and complex, with many whimsical touches. With its rich imagery and character development, I will remember 1Q84 as something approximating a Hayao Miyazaki story for adults (for my lack of a better comparison). Even with it being quite lengthy and at times repetitive, I was surprised that I found myself unable to abandon reading 1Q84. (I went in having accepted the possibility that I might give up reading due to its page count) Yes, the plot can be difficult to wrap your head around at a few points, but I would recommend 1Q84 to anyone craving a weird world and deep dives into the brains of a diverse set of characters. For me, it ended up being a good introduction to Murakami, and I very much look forward to exploring his other works.