After Dark

by Haruki Murakami

Hardcover, 191 pages

English language

Published Aug. 8, 2007 by Knopf.

ISBN:: 978-0-307-26583-8
Goodreads:: 17803

(75 reviews)

In After Dark—a gripping novel of late night encounters—Murakami’s trademark humor and psychological insight are distilled with an extraordinary, harmonious mastery.

Nineteen-year-old Mari is waiting out the night in an anonymous Denny’s when she meets a young man who insists he knows her older sister, thus setting her on an odyssey through the sleeping city. In the space of a single night, the lives of a diverse cast of Tokyo residents—models, prostitutes, mobsters, and musicians—collide in a world suspended between fantasy and reality. Utterly enchanting and infused with surrealism, After Dark is a thrilling account of the magical hours separating midnight from dawn.

10 editions

Taru Luojola reviewed Pimeän jälkeen by Haruki Murakami

Vilkaisu Tokion yöpuolen kulkijoihin

4 stars

Erinäisin tavoin hieman erilainen Murakamin romaani. Ensinnäkin tämä on lyhyt, sopii hyvin luettavaksi yhdellä istumalla esimerkiksi yhden yön kuluessa, mikä onkin sopivaa, sillä kirjan tapahtumatkin sijoittuvat yhteen yöhön Tokiossa. Toisekseen päähenkilö ei ole itseään etsivä varhaiskeski-ikäinen jannu, joka löytää menneisyydestään jotain mystistä, vaan kaksi eri syistä kaupungilla yötä valvovaa nuorta kohtaa toisensa sattumalta ja toinen tuppautuu toisen seuraan. Kolmanneksi kertojaratkaisu on erikoinen, joskin tämä sinne tänne zuumaileva me-kertoja on kirjan ontuvimpia elementtejä. Mutta hiukan vinksahtanut ja mystinen tunnelma on silti kohdallaan, kuten Murakamin romaanilta sopii odottaakin.

Konstantin von Weberg reviewed Afterdark by Haruki Murakami

Review of 'Afterdark' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

A lovely book with nice stories. I'm thinking, anybody should read one Murakami - book in the life. But better two

Travis reviewed After Dark by Haruki Murakami

Review of 'After Dark' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

An interesting little surreal slice-of-life story.

I'm a big fan of Mr Murakami and this one has his style; a very visual and quick read, at times coming off more like a treatment for a film complete with camera movements and audience reaction. A handful of interesting characters sharing the stage as their nighttime lives intersect ... my only real complaint is that some (all?) of the character arcs seem to be left to the reader to interpret. Obviously, this could be the whole point -- that people are like ships passing in the night, and we rarely ever find out what happens to the random strangers we come across -- but it's a minor pet peeve of mine when there's so much character development with little true pay off.

That said, I'd still recommend it. Perfect for an airplane ride or passing time during a graveyard shift or otherwise …

gummibunny reviewed After Dark by Haruki Murakami

Review of 'After Dark' on 'Goodreads'

2 stars

Short read. Decent.

lakrispastill reviewed After Dark by Haruki Murakami

Review of 'After Dark' on 'Storygraph'

5 stars

Almost as good as Kafka on the Shore, but oh goood I love it. The atmosphere defined my own writing and this book in particular inspired me in so many ways. Best "love" story I ever read.

Mark Anderson reviewed After Dark by Haruki Murakami

Review of 'After Dark' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

First book of Murakami's that I have read. I like his terse, cinematic style. But this book didn't seem complete to me; Murakami hints at possibilities and darker, deeper threads of narrative, but eventually pulls back for a kind of storybook ending. I enjoyed his characters dialogues, however.