If you read my review of the excerpt, “Town of Cats“, you’ll remember I was not a fan of it. However, that didn’t stop me from buying 1Q84 and giving it a chance. Excerpts are basically marketing ploys. They don’t work as a stand alone piece very often, but they might introduce a reader to an author or novel, which would otherwise be missed. That’s the reason I picked up Lamb by Bonnie Nadzam. Unfortunately, I picked up 1Q84 at the same time, so Lamb must wait.
Going back to 1Q84, though, it’s wonderful so far. I’m about 140 pages into it and can’t stop reading. Of course, it is trademark Murakami. Reality blends into something not quite right. Characters are outside the mainstream. Music and Americana are often referenced. It’s hard to tell where the story may go. It’s not bad for an author’s style or pattern to stand out so clearly. With Murakami, you know what you’re getting. It’s like going into a restaurant for your favorite meal. There’s an expectation and while each Murakami novel is different, they are all completely recognizable. So if you were on the fence about the book, hop down and read it.
