The concept of time is often perceived as linear, where moments move sequentially from past to future. However, the quote from Murakami's "1Q84" suggests that time is not inherently straight or shaped. Instead, it is formless and cannot be easily visualized, which leads us to adopt a linear perspective for clarity and ease of understanding.

This conceptual substitution reflects human cognition, highlighting our unique ability to impose structure on abstract concepts. By framing time as a straight line, we allow ourselves to navigate our experiences and memories within a familiar framework, despite the true nature of time being more complex and less defined.