Scan barcode
stavoosh's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Okay, so I picked this up knowing absolutely nothing about it except that Murakami's work is highly regarded. Maybe that is why it felt boring to me (perhaps my imagination is just a bit over-the-top). It's a short read, yet I felt bored for most of it the characters are just sitting and talking. This, however, made way for lots of philosophical ideas to arise in the ordinariness and rawness of a life in the city. The book discusses difficult subject matter in a simplified matter and investigates existential questions that we all have. I enjoyed the way I had to digest every word, but I would've liked a bit more action. I would've loved if the surrealism was more intwined in the story besides the one character. I think it was a good introduction to his work and I look forward to another read.
Basically, after finishing the book and actually reading the summary, I feel like the book sounds extremely interesting rather than the quite interesting it is.
Basically, after finishing the book and actually reading the summary, I feel like the book sounds extremely interesting rather than the quite interesting it is.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Trafficking
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Death of parent
jcapati's review against another edition
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
whosjessanyway's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
I am struggling to rate this book. The atmosphere is fantastic. The night life, the loneliness of some characters was depicted perfectly. However, I kind of felt the need to get some answers that never came. Why did that man did what he did to the Chinese girl? What actually happened to Mari’s sister? Who was the man without face? The story felt a little bit disconnected at times but I don’t think I will forget this reading experience any time soon, and there’s also a lot of value in the ability to make a story stick with the reader.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Violence
Moderate: Blood
frog8716b's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
exocbx's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment
caitlinderocker's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
eisenbuns's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
It feels appropriate to finish this after sunset. This was my first Murakami and while I’m not sure exactly how to analyze it right now, I’m definitely going to be sitting with it for a long time. Atmospherically, it really captured the strange liminal spaces that can only be accessed in the middle of the night. I loved how experimental the writing was— it read more like a screenplay than a novel, complete with a fly-on-the-wall narrator which broke the fourth wall, making the audience complicit in its voyeurism.
Reading this, I had no idea how I’d end up rating it. I think I have to give it five stars. The more I think about it, the more I love it.
Reading this, I had no idea how I’d end up rating it. I think I have to give it five stars. The more I think about it, the more I love it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Violence
stormking7's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I really like reading this again and again to dive deeper into the world; hoping to grasp answers to all questions I have yet to get an explanation for.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence
Minor: Grief and Injury/Injury detail
aspenpastore's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
"After Dark," is a haunting reflection on the ephemeral fleeting nature of who we are in relation to others. We follow characters Mari -- a University student fluent in Chinese aspiring to be a translator, and Takahashi -- a law student stealing away at night to practice Jazz trombone. We meet Mari and Takahashi in a Denny's, and Mari is soon needed to translate for a Chinese prostitute in a love hotel. After the incident, Mari shares that her sister Eri has grown distant over the years and they have grown apart due to Eri's modeling career. Eri has recently entered a deep unending sleep, and Mari realizes how much she misses her sister.
This book is dark, covers some challenging topics, and is mysterious. The prose is excellent and immersive. I enjoyed it immensely save for certain sexist passages.
This book is dark, covers some challenging topics, and is mysterious. The prose is excellent and immersive. I enjoyed it immensely save for certain sexist passages.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
aishablue's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Fatphobia