After Dark (edit title)

• Rated 5 stars

“A few unresolved conflicts but a hint of positive things to come at the end. May have been the point of the book.”

• Rated 4 stars

“Very odd tale from a wonderful writer. Loved it to bits.”

• Rated 3 stars

“Exquisitely written. Some fascinating ideas. Rather too surreal for me though.
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• Rated 5 stars

“ The story begins at near midnight in a restaurant in Japan. Mari, a nineteen-year-old girl, is reading her book when a young man intrudes on her solitude after recognising her. Unbeknownst to her at the time this meeting of chance would turn her ostensibly quiet night out into one she would no doubt remember for a long time to come. Meanwhile, her beautiful sister Eri is experiencing an unnatural deep sleep, one that her not her sister, parents, nor anyone else can wake her from.
I'm not sure where to began with how I felt about this book. It had this feel to it that intrigued me immensely. The book moved along slowly in the tranquilness of the night. Our darkened world also seems to move slower than the illuminated one, and things can happen at night that wouldn't at day. I like a book that makes me think deeply about certain topics, even if causing the reader to think about those things wasn't particlularly the author's aim. This book had my mind in a flutter with all sorts of thoughts; mainly about the many sorts of relationships we have with various people and how we communicate, how an almost stranger is sometimes the easiest person to talk to, and the so very different lives we lead, especially the vast differences in personality of siblings.
This is definitely one of my favourite reads of this year. While I didn't particularly enjoy Murakami's After the Quake, I will certainly be on the lookout for his other books after my reading this one. ”

• Rated 3 stars

“A strange novel of sleep and sleeplessness, taking place over the course of a single night. It's a modern take on the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale, but it extends the theme to address more existential themes. I found the novel engaging, but beware that not much happens in this story except in the typical Murakami vein. That is, below radar.”

• Rated 4 stars

“It is always such a pleasure to read Murakami! This isn't one of my favorites, but I enjoyed the book a lot anyway. Of the things I liked most about this one are the conversations and how the characters' personalities come through in the dialogue.”

• Rated 4 stars

“amazing work by Murakami.”

• Rated 4 stars

“I love Asian writers (and directors, actors, singers, etc.) so it's no surprise that I found this book very enjoyable. But if it weren't for the names of characters and cities, you might never know this was an Asian novel. The translation is flawless and flows as smoothly as most American written English novels.
Fans of Raymond Carver will eat this book up. Very similar style.
The story takes place over the span of a few hours. From dark till first morning light, and follows Mari, who is the youger sister of Eri. Mari has a hard time sleeping and roams around all night, while Eri is at home, where she has been sleeping for two months.
Mari meets a few very interesting characters on this night, and the story is fun. Filled with humor, darkness and thrills, I will put this one on the shelf to re-read in a few years.”

• Rated 3 stars

“A short story fra Muarakami, well written, but far from the qualities of Kafka on the Shore. ”

• Rated 4 stars

“A good book with some interesting narrative. It's a rather short book and quick read, I just wish the plot developed more. Like all Murakami books you're left with unanswered questions, however this one's quite a far leap from Wind-up Bird. I do agree though that most is probably lost in translation.”