After Dark by Haruki Murakami
After Dark is a novel that takes place in Tokyo over the course of a single night. The story follows a diverse cast of characters, including models, prostitutes, mobsters, and musicians, whose lives intersect in a world suspended between fantasy and reality. At its core, the book explores the duality and interconnectivity of society, reality, and human nature.
One of the central themes of the book is loneliness and isolation, as many of the characters struggle with feelings of disconnection from others. The novel also delves into the emotions and thoughts of people during the late-night hours, when the city is quiet but the inner lives of individuals are on a rollercoaster.
What I Liked
I really don’t know – I’ve read every book that Murakami has written and I still can’t put my finger on why. There’s something – it’s a weird mix of setting, character, and something that draws me to read all of his books. Same with this one. It’s brilliant, but strange.
What I Did Not Like
Ok. Murakami is weird. Like really, really weird. I don’t think I can recommend any of his books to anyone. So, I don’t like that. But I also don’t think he can be any less weird without losing some of his books’ magic (they do a lot of magical realism anyway).
