jainabee's review
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
koberreads's review
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I read this book twice. This is my secone time. My First read felt calm and reflective and might even annoyed the mysteries or magical realism of Murakami’s stories are yet again, surprise surprise, unanswered or simply stayed a mystery. A calm moderately dark novel that you can finish reading in 3 hr flight and after reading it, you would mostly like satisfied you read it rather than just buying on flight wifi and browisng social media again as if you cant do that on the ground or played your nitendo switch.
I read it again the 2nd time because I want something that would make me feel reflective about life especially regarding our dark side and how we all have such dark side but our darksidw is mixed with our more kinder tendicies so no one in real life is purely/mostly good or purely/most evil. We are in the middle, the gray area. We should just know how to manage it
Also read it because it is one of Murakamis writing that I can tolerate compared to his other books that are too sexual or has incest in it. Damn I know Murakmi and the writer of game of thrones like too much Sigmund Freud writings but come on.. no need to expound or put that in every book or explained in so much gross detail. Glad this one is not like that. No graphic sex here even if the setting is partly in a love hotel hahhahahah compared to other Murkamis books where the characters are not even near such a hotel but act like they are filming for “p*rnhub” hahahaha. I am okay with sex. Just dont like it if Murakami either makes it too graphic (rather watch porn than read porn if that happens) or makes it about incest again or both. Be glad that “After Dark” short novel is nothing like that
Read it if you want to know about the darkside of Human Nature and just be prepared to indulge in mysterious magical realism of Murakami that he will never explain to you. He always leaves it to you to interpret such things
I read it again the 2nd time because I want something that would make me feel reflective about life especially regarding our dark side and how we all have such dark side but our darksidw is mixed with our more kinder tendicies so no one in real life is purely/mostly good or purely/most evil. We are in the middle, the gray area. We should just know how to manage it
Also read it because it is one of Murakamis writing that I can tolerate compared to his other books that are too sexual or has incest in it. Damn I know Murakmi and the writer of game of thrones like too much Sigmund Freud writings but come on.. no need to expound or put that in every book or explained in so much gross detail. Glad this one is not like that. No graphic sex here even if the setting is partly in a love hotel hahhahahah compared to other Murkamis books where the characters are not even near such a hotel but act like they are filming for “p*rnhub” hahahaha. I am okay with sex. Just dont like it if Murakami either makes it too graphic (rather watch porn than read porn if that happens) or makes it about incest again or both. Be glad that “After Dark” short novel is nothing like that
Read it if you want to know about the darkside of Human Nature and just be prepared to indulge in mysterious magical realism of Murakami that he will never explain to you. He always leaves it to you to interpret such things
Content Warnings
Moderate: Trafficking, Misogyny, and Abandonment
Minor: Violence and Sexual content
rosesforreading's review
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
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
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
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
ashleyend's review
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Trafficking, Physical abuse, and Blood
Moderate: Eating disorder
lissybeth91's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This is a very strange read, teetering just on the edge of total realism, and with no real explanation of the bizarre incidents. But it's an enjoyable story, in spite of (or perhaps because of) this. I enjoyed the tone, and the main characters were all likeable.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Trafficking, Blood, Misogyny, and Slavery
carolinethilde's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Intimate, soft, and touching, Haruki Murakami’s After Dark is an exploration of vulnerability. What tender, shameful things happen in the dark of the night when everything else is quiet? Who do we become? When we think no one else is watching, Murakami is.
This novel traces the night of a young girl, her older sister, a trombone player, a prostitute, her abuser, and a hotel manager. This book examines them all without judgement and what we receive is a beautiful story of a young girl afraid of opening up to the world, only for it to open itself up to her.
It is a novel beautifully and uniquely written. It is not elaborate. It isn’t long. After Dark is a breathing creature that is rare and requires studying or a strong relatability or its delicate sensibilities will be lost on the reader, but look where Murakami’s camera points and look closely. All will be revealed.
This novel traces the night of a young girl, her older sister, a trombone player, a prostitute, her abuser, and a hotel manager. This book examines them all without judgement and what we receive is a beautiful story of a young girl afraid of opening up to the world, only for it to open itself up to her.
It is a novel beautifully and uniquely written. It is not elaborate. It isn’t long. After Dark is a breathing creature that is rare and requires studying or a strong relatability or its delicate sensibilities will be lost on the reader, but look where Murakami’s camera points and look closely. All will be revealed.
Content Warnings
Minor: Blood, Trafficking, Death of parent, and Violence
caitlinderocker's review
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, Death of parent, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Blood, Hate crime, Trafficking, Alcohol, Kidnapping, Abandonment, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, and Terminal illness