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A review by april98
After Dark by Haruki Murakami
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-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
3.5
3.5
This book started as a strong five... so what went wrong?
(Admittedly, I rushed to the end which might have impacted my enjoyment.)
Murakami maintains a strange and slow rhythm for the majority of the novel and we are then thrust towards the end without any real preparation. I'm choosing to believe the pacing reflects the time of night. For those awake, the night feels long and once morning arrives, the after-hours adventure is done - without any real warning.
While the story focuses on Mari and, by extension, Eri, I wanted more chapters exploring surrealism and the strange happenings of side characters.
As readers, so many tantalising threads are dangled in front of us. If only Murakami allowed us to catch more of them.
This book started as a strong five... so what went wrong?
(Admittedly, I rushed to the end which might have impacted my enjoyment.)
Murakami maintains a strange and slow rhythm for the majority of the novel and we are then thrust towards the end without any real preparation. I'm choosing to believe the pacing reflects the time of night. For those awake, the night feels long and once morning arrives, the after-hours adventure is done - without any real warning.
While the story focuses on Mari and, by extension, Eri, I wanted more chapters exploring surrealism and the strange happenings of side characters.
As readers, so many tantalising threads are dangled in front of us. If only Murakami allowed us to catch more of them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Trafficking
Moderate: Violence and Blood
Minor: Bullying