Scan barcode
frogreads_'s review against another edition
I was listening to this as an audiobook. It wasn't very capitvating to me....just kind of weird. I felt like i was listening to people's thoughts but they were roundabout and not particularly interesting. The fantasy/strangeness aspect wasnt very well fleshed out.
Seems like more of a commentary of how people interact with society-i generally like that but not here. The descriptions of stuff were good but the dialog was bland. Not sure if this is just a problem with this book or if i wouldn't like more of the authors works.
Seems like more of a commentary of how people interact with society-i generally like that but not here. The descriptions of stuff were good but the dialog was bland. Not sure if this is just a problem with this book or if i wouldn't like more of the authors works.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Death of parent, and Bullying
gilmargirl's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Trafficking, Physical abuse, and Drug abuse
Minor: Cursing, Death of parent, and Cancer
risemini's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Alcohol, Death of parent, Cancer, and Violence
jenna_rren86's review against another edition
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence
Moderate: Addiction, Death of parent, and Cancer
jainabee's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Murakami messing with my mind again. A mystery that isn't a mystery. No clues to unravel, no startling conclusions. He'll bring the reader to a moment that seems momentous, and then slyly let it be mundane. And just to be absolutely clear about that, he'll address what you might think he's getting at and tell you point blank that's not what it is. Or you'll think you see a big plot twist and he'll say, nope, it's really what it appears to be. Somehow he fills this stark series of short chapters with lush cinematic details, complete with a playlist of tunes playing in the background of each scene. Or intense silence.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Trafficking, Abandonment, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Grief, Stalking, and Violence
Minor: Cancer, Classism, Confinement, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, and Xenophobia
eqrvn's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Non Spoiler review - I just finished After Dark by Haruki Murakami after buying it yesterday. It was a quick read, and I did enjoy it, just not enough to rate it higher than 3 stars. For starters, the chapters involving the main character Mari’s sister were boring and hard to follow. At least, until we got insight into her situation—then the chapters about her were more interesting. Still hard to follow, though. My favorite aspect of the book was the dialogue, and there was lots of that. Mari’s exchanges with Tetsuya, Kaoru, etc. were very engaging. The desire to know more about her and her sister, Eri, kept me turning pages as more was revealed through conversation. I had an abundance of annotations characterizing each individual, and most of what I analyzed came from the dialogue. I do have a bit of a bone to pick with Murakami’s relationship with his female characters—for instance, he writes them in horrible, traumatic situations, and yet, both the narrators and the characters only comment on their physical appearances/beauty. Other than that, I have no complaints. This was my first read by Murakami. It wasn’t good enough to inspire a deeper dive into his work, but was concomitant in deterrence. 3 stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse
Moderate: Death of parent
rosesforreading's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Blood
Minor: Death of parent, Trafficking, Suicidal thoughts, Cancer, and Addiction
lupolucas's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Deportation, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Incest, Grief, Death of parent, and Cancer
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
flowerssss's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Trafficking, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Infidelity and Sexual content
Minor: Death of parent and Bullying