[jamses]

I wouldn't worry that it's your failure, you're just not into it.

I loved Windup Bird Chronicle. I struggled with 1Q84. I find the same thing in every creative field (art, film, lit, games); a favourite author/artist/director/company will release something I think is a real stinker while everyone else praises it, and vice versa.

Of course it can help to build up a vocab/grammar/approach to appreciate particular works or what something is referencing, but there are too many fish you'll never even see to be worrying about one author. Just hunt down the stuff you like and don't be afraid to give up halfway through if you're not enjoying it. It sounds like you've already figured that part out.

[hinkley]

Interesting. That's the second one I read, but I put it down 5 chapters in and never picked it back up. So it sits in my 'to read' pile. I even confiscated the bookmark the last time I rearranged my books, because I'd have to start over at this point.

[booleandilemma]

1Q84 was several hundred pages too long.