1Q84
by Haruki Murakami

1184 pages
Publisher: Vintage Books

Writers, assassins, kinky sex, cults, and an alternative analysis of Chekov's assertion: 'If you introduce a gun in the first act, it must be used by the final act.'  In 1984, a woman named Aomame shifts the very nature of reality after taking an unconventional shortcut to avoid being late for a meeting. Subtle changes in the world around her become more frequent, as she is pulled into a conspiracy that involves her childhood crush and a dangerous religious cult. Acclaimed author Haruki Murakami dives deeply into everything from Japanese society to religion to classical composers, in a novel that stands out among Japanese literature. Murakami's imagination takes you to a different - but recognizable - planet, beautifully translated.