Butterflies in 1Q84

The Unforgettable Japanese Book

By Haruki Murakami

Translated by: J. Rubin and P. Gabriel
Japanese, 2009  
World Lit, Magical Realism 


Main Attractions

1. Haunting characters.
2. Crafted, woven plot line.
3. Surreal descriptions.
4. Example of writing craft.
5. Mysterious how it'll end.
6. Metaphysics: Pop Culture.
7. Unforgettable quotes.
8. 1100 page turner.
9. It’s actually 3 novels!
10. Great dialogue and action scenes. 



Video Postcard:

The quotes for this were easy to choose.  I hope these postcards inspire you to read this modern masterpiece.


Note: Possibly a tiny bit 'spoilery.' There's no, mammoth-esque 'I'm your father' spoilers here.



Travel Advisory:

This destination will dominate your reading life. It brings a high risk of abandoning everything else you find dear.  Once the story cracks, your family will rarely see you until you are finished reading it.  Once the book invites you, you will desperately wish for things to happen.  It can entice people who did not enjoy 1984 and people who did.  You don't have to read 1984 to understand it.  But it will add an extra layer of 'OMG,' he didn't! If you like dreamy books meaning; surreal SciFi, hoity toity romances, or alternate reality; it's written for you.



Cuisine & Delicacies

Ranked as Steak

This book is a tied-togther single feast for the senses.  It's a bit spicy that lingers and always a joy to soak up. 



Destination Summary 


"The taxi's radio was tuned to classical FM broadcast. Janacek's Sinfonietta-probably not the ideal music to hear in a taxi caught in traffic." 

This 1st video, what Aeomeme must have loved:








This 2nd video, what Haruki must have heard at one time while writing 1Q84:






Packing List




Recommended resources:

Alternate Book
The Master and Margarita By Mikhail Bulgakov.  It has nothing in common with 1Q84, but it's wacky-ness just might help ease you out of the inevitable book hangover.  A lead character is a comical, talking cat.



Modern Movie Retelling
Please, make an adaptation! Anime, live action, at this point, it doesn't even matter!



Check back often for updates and in-depth discussion posts.

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