The novel 1Q84 is the longest novel I read by Haruki Murakami.

Nine is pronounced like the letter Q in the Japanese language, so it’s an alternate title for 1984. The novel runs in multiple realities (or parallel times), one in the normal year 1984 and the other is in year 1Q84.

The two parallel timelines seemed to start to split when Aomame and Tengo were kids at school, then as if the time (and space) splat.

“Life is not like water. Things in life don't necessarily flow over the shortest possible route.”

“What we call the present is given shape by an accumulation of the past.”

I really like the writing style of Murakami. Reading Murakami flow easily, not sure how he does that exactly.

In one interview, he said he tries to write as if he is playing or composing music. So to make writing good, it has to flow easily like music, especially like Jazz.

Murakami also is careful with creating memorable scenes. Even you don’t remember everything after finishing his books; certain scenes will stay in your memory once you remember the book. Not every book does the same.

I wouldn’t consider 1Q84 my favorite. I would rate it 3/5. I think it could have been shorter.