2026 #14 1Q84 (Murakami)

 

1Q84 by Haruki Murakami
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Ok, there's a lot to say here, but I'll try to keep it brief. Really this is 3.75 for me, and in places, a solid 4 stars. But for such a long book, I needed more consistency of those 4 star moments. I'm tenacious, which is why I stuck with it, but there were definite times that threatened a "DNF". This was my first Murakami, and I get the impression that it is probably not the best gateway drug (much in the way that Tristan und Isolde was NOT the best "first opera" for me to analyze in college). It was long in a way that I did not appreciate. I feel this way about Robert Schumann's music sometimes.

The premise is VERY intriguing and I will say, if you are not into magical realism or anything related, don't bother with this. I appreciated the lessons about cults. I loved the characters of the Dowager, as well as Tamaru, and weirdly enough, Ushikawa. Aomame had her moments for me, and Tengo, too, but not enough for me to feel satisfied by the ending (when I got there, after 6 renewals on Libby). I also loved Fuka-Eri's "usual style free of question marks."

I read some reviews because I was a bit mystified. Some extoll Murakami's pacing. I cannot agree. There were places that felt like an endurance test. The intertextual references kept things interesting and nerdy-- I need to put together a 1Q84 playlist (or find one that inevitably already exists). I will be forever indebted to being introduced to Janáček's Sinfonietta because of this book.

There seems to be a weird obsession with pubic hair--sometimes ACTUAL pubic hair, and sometimes used as a comparative for head hair (see: Tengo, Ushikawa). Perhaps there's some deeper significance of which I'm not aware -- if so, please let me know. I found the entire three volumes weird in the sex arena, and in some places downright disturbing. I am not titillated in the least by non-consensual sex, even in the service of acting as a spiritual conduit.

Is it imaginative? YES. There are places that felt like imagination for imagination's sake, but others that took me on a journey. The ending was a disappointment, although I understand the lack of resolution to be understood as "infinite possibilities." Is it a love story? Sort of. It lacks the maudlin sentimentality of "Somewhere in Time," but also didn't make me care enough about the two main protagonists.

It is certainly a down-the-rabbit-hole experience, but I feel I would have been happy with something a third of the total length. I've reached out to friends who are fans of Murakami because, as I said, I have the distinct impression that this may not have been the best choice of a "starter" in terms of his oeuvre. I'm definitely game for reading more of his work, but this was more of a marathon than I wished.

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2025 #11 The Between (Due)

 

The Between by Tananarive Due
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

With excellent voicing by Kevin Kenerly, The Between manages to be chilling, touching, and thought-provoking. Hilton James is a bit of an Everyman figure in that he loves his family deeply, works hard, and is loved in return by friends and family. He survived a drowning accident as a small child, and that survival was both magical and tragic. In adulthood, Hilton's wife, the only elected African American judge in Dade County, Florida, becomes a target as she receives threatening and extremely disturbing hate mail. Hilton's dreams began to blur the line between fantasy and reality, and he is torn between the "shoulds" and the "coulds" of living life on two planes of existence.

Due expertly shapes Hilton's character , and we feel incredible tension between Hilton's lived experiences and how they are perceived by those around him. Hilton is an empathetic character, even at his lowest, but there is plenty of compassion for those in his orbit as well.

It would not be fair to say the ending is predictable, because that implies a sort of easy out, and this is not the kind of book where that matters much. It is very much about the journey, but there were moments when I could feel myself growing impatient (much like Hilton!) and wanted to get moving. That said, while the narrative has its slower moments, there are also times where the plot picks up speed and you can hardly put it down. It is truly a wonderful read and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading about contemporary issues intertwined with a dose of magical realism and even a bit of thriller.

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2023 #37: Other Birds (Allen)

 

Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a really beautiful book, peppered with just enough magical realism to keep things interesting. Zoey, the protagonist, is so very like-able. As is Charlotte. There’s even a Boo Radley type and I’m impressed that this character has one denouement moment, but remains a mystery at the end—she doesn’t change, but the people in her orbit, and how they relate to her, do. That’s nuanced.

These "other birds," joined by Mac and Frasier, create their own flock, and that's ultimately the point of the book. But along the way, there are painful histories, ghosts--real and imagined, and a special "bird" named Pigeon.

There are some artful reveals, and those that should be obvious, but might not be. The book is slightly weakened by an unevenness in narrative--there are times when we aren't quite sure whose story is center stage because there's a bit of stream-of-consciousness jumping from one character to the next. Ultimately, however, the real value is in how Allen doesn't resort to cliché--what typically detonates fizzles out instead, and we are left satisfied with the unanswered questions just as we must be in real life in order to grow and have meaningful relationships.

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2023 #28: The Red Garden (Hoffman)

 

The Red Garden by Alice Hoffman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Red Garden reads like a collection of interconnected short stories that weave together a generational tapestry of the Brady, Partridge, Starr, and Mott families in the small town of Blackwell, Massachusetts in the Berkshires. Each chapter is a treasure, and subtly communicates concepts of generational trauma, generational legacy, and something altogether a bit magical. The scenery isn't just a backdrop but an essential role in this drama, which is peppered with moments of light-heartedness. Hoffman is telling a tale of lives and while the stories of each person are interesting enough, it is the artful way in which she reaches the thread back to an earlier story and loops it in that made this book compelling. There are elements of magical realism: bonds with bears, a garden that turns all plants red, transformations, and ghosts, but it never distracts from the core humanity of the stories. On the contrary, these elements help illuminate the potential magic in our imaginations and maybe even our lives.

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