Barnes & Noble Nook discussion

We had a photo-finish in the poll for our July 2012 book! It was neck and neck all the way through! A coin was flipped, and won.

But here's what I think we should do. Clash of Kings is 761 pages; 1Q84 is 925 pages. These are long books!

Let's read them both, and start both discussion threads concurrently, and these will be our July AND August Nook Book of the Month Group Reads! If you choose to read only one, go right ahead, and be sure to jump into the discussion for that book.

But please, try and make comments in the thread of the book(s) you are reading, because we will be spreading out our "energy" across the two threads.

THIS IS THE DISCUSSION THREAD FOR 1Q84.

So pull out those hammocks, and let the reading begin!

I loved this book! I ready it earlier this year. It's divided into three parts and I read the first book, took about a month long break and then read the second and third books back to back cause I couldn't wait to see what happened. There's definitely some slow parts but its so good and it's such an interesting world to be in for such a long period of time. Good luck! Can't wait to discuss it with y'all?

There's such a split between people who love or hate this book, and some have suggested that having read something else by Murakami helps. What do you think, Tyler, or anyone?

I haven't read any other Murakami, so I didn't find it a hindrance and I've since added some of his other books to my to-read shelf. I didn't find the reading itself difficult, the language is easy but the content is not light. It's very dense and thick- sometimes after reading it I would look at my husband and tell him "my head just feels thick" cause there are lots of little side-stories and back stories so there's kinda a lot to keep track of, but to me the densest part is the 1st book the 2nd and 3rd are much easier. But I needed the break after the first book cause if I'd gone straight through it might have driven me a little crazy.

Sounds interesting. Does anyone have it lendable? I wouldn't mind reading it and would like to join in as much as I can. If so, you can nookFriend me at downstairsup@gmail.com

Thanks!

I found this reading guide on the B&N site. READ THROUGH THIS CAUTIOUSLY; SOME OF THE LATER QUESTIONS CAN BE SPOILERS! I stopped reading after about the 10th question, but it looks like it can be a nice set of questions to refer back to as you read through the book. It also got me more interested in it!

Reading Group Guide
1. 1Q84 is a vast and intricate novel. What are the pleasures of reading such a long work, of staying with the same characters over such a long period of time?

2. Murakami has said he is a fan of the mystery writer Elmore Leonard. What elements of the mystery genre does 1Q84 employ? How does Murakami keep readers guessing about what will happen next? What are some of the book’s most surprising moments?

3. Why would Murakami choose to set his story in 1984, the year that would serve as the title for George Orwell’s famous novel about the dangers of Big Brother?

4. The taxi driver in Chapter 1 warns Aomame that things are not what they seem, but he also tells her: “Don’t let appearances fool you. There’s always only one reality” (p. 9). Does this statement hold true throughout the novel? Is there only one reality, despite what appears to be a second reality that Aomame and Tengo enter?

5. Aomame tells Ayumi: “We think we’re choosing things for ourselves, but in fact we may not be choosing anything. It could be that everything's decided in advance and we pretend we’re making choices. Free will may be an illusion” (p. 192). Do the events in the novel seem fated or do the characters have free will?

6. When Tamaru bids goodbye to Aomame, he says: “If you do go somewhere far away and I never see you again, I know I’ll feel a little sad. You’re a rare sort of character, a type I’ve seldom come across before” (p. 885). What type of person is Aomame? What qualities make her extraordinary?

7. The dowager insists, and Aomame agrees, that the killing they do is completely justified, that the men whom they kill deserve to die, that the legal system can’t touch them, and that more women will be victims if these men aren’t stopped. Is it true that Aomame and the dowager have done nothing wrong? Or are they simply rationalizing their anger and the desire for vengeance that arises from their own personal histories?

8. Tengo realizes that rewriting Air Chrysalis is highly unethical and that Komatsu is asking him to participate in a scam that will very likely cause them both a great deal of trouble. Why does he agree to do it?

9. How does rewriting Air Chrysalis change Tengo as a writer? How does it affect the course of his life?

10. How do the events that occur on the night of the huge thunderstorm alter the fates of Aomame, Tengo, Fuka-Eri, and the dowager? Why do Aomame and the dowager let go of their anger after the storm?

11. At first, Ushikawa is a creepy, totally unlikable character. How does Murakami make him more sympathetic as the novel progresses? How do you respond to his death?

12. Near the end of the novel, Aomame declares: “From now on, things will be different. Nobody else’s will is going to control me anymore. From now on, I’m going to do things based on one principle alone: my own will” (p. 885). How does Aomame arrive at such a firm resolve? In what ways is the novel about overcoming the feeling of powerlessness that at various times paralyzes Aomame, Ayumi, Tengo, Fuka-Eri, and all the women who are abused by their husbands? What enables Aomame to come into her own power?

13. What does the novel as a whole seem to say about fringe religious groups? How does growing up in the Society of Witnesses affect Aomame? How does growing up in Sakigake cult affect Fuka-Eri? Does Leader appear to be a true spiritual master?

14. What is the appeal of the fantastic elements in the novel—the little people, maza and dohta, the air chrysalis, two moons in the sky, alternate worlds, etc.? What do they add to the story? In what ways does the novel question the nature of reality and the boundaries between what is possible and not possible?

15. What makes the love story of Tengo and Aomame so compelling? What obstacles must they overcome to be together? Why was the moment when Aomame grasped Tengo’s hand in grade school so significant?

16. In what ways does 1Q84 question and complicate conventional ideas of authorship? How does it blur the line between fictional reality and ordinary reality?

17. References to the song “Paper Moon” appear several times in the novel. How do those lyrics relate to 1Q84?

18. What role does belief play in the novel? Why does Murakami end the book with the image of Tengo and Aomame gazing at the moon until it becomes “nothing more than a gray paper moon, hanging in the sky” (p. 925)?

I'm totally gonna be a cheerleader for people to start and finish this book. I read it on my nook and I didn't even glance at the page number till I finished the first chapter and then I realized oh crap it's a super long book. So it put me off it for a little while but then I got sucked back in cause I wanted to know what's going on. I promise if you stop and start this book it'll totally haunt you till you finish. It was like a never ending surprise of story, info and cool ideas. I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I did! Good luck!

Angela2932 wrote: "What are the pleasures of reading such a long work, of staying with the same characters over such a long period of time?"

To me it was really getting to know the characters- you feel stronger bonds with them and I totally knew I was going to miss them when I finished the book- and therefore delayed that for as long as possible. I read this book over a few months and so that built the bond too. But you start to know the characters and anticipate their thoughts and actions. WIth Aomame the connection was difficult at first because her character isn't necessarily easy to relate to. Then with Fuka Eri like Tengo I wanted to protect her, she did seem vulnerable and like she needed protection.

I hope more people are reading this book so we can discuss it more- those other questions look great and I can't wait to get into them.