Published: 2004 (Kodansha)
Setting: Tokyo
Summary: A dark night full of mystery, love hotels, and Denny’s brings an entangled web of insomniacs together in this short novel by Haruki Murakami. Mari is a college student about to go to Beijing as a foreign exchange student, who runs into a young man named Takahashi who she has met once before when she was on a double date with her sister, Eri. Eri, who has been sleeping for two straight months, is connected in a parallel world to a Faceless Man who seems to have a hold in her. Takahashi and Mari exchange pleasantries, and shortly after their chat Takahashi tips the manager of the Alphaville love hotel to her skills in Chinese. Mari is asked to assist a Chinese prostitute who was attacked by a customer named Shirakawa. Mari finds out that she has handlers who Mari calls to pick the girl up. Mari talks to the manager, Kaoru, who is a former wrestler with a rough and tumble attitude. Mari then meets with Takahashi again, we learn that Shirakawa eats yogurt, has a wife, and is skilled at the disposal of evidence. Mari has a final conversation with Takahashi where he asks her on a date. Mari tells him that she will consider it when she comes back, but that her return is too far away to know for certain if it will work out.
This novel is short and sweet, a bit longer than a novella but not a fully developed world with dynamic characters beyond Mari and Takahashi. The novel’s title, After Dark, sets this novel up as a dissection of a biome, the dark underworld of Tokyo. This novel describes events more than layering deep meaning within the interactions of complex characters, a hallmark of Murakami’s work. There are rays of that metaphysical and deeply emotional sunlight peeking through the dark clouds but they are often hiding behind rapid dialogue. This novel is not one of his best efforts, but it is a nice brisk walk through Tokyo after dark.
Quote of the book: “In this world, there are things you can only do alone and things you can only do with somebody else. It’s important to combine the two in just the right amount” (204).
This quote helps explain the relationship between Mari and Eri, and Mari and the outside world.
Favorite character: Takahashi, he is earnest and thoughtful. He choice to pursue law is at once practical and inspired.
Favorite setting: Denny’s, the Alphaville hotel is interesting enough but the Denny’s is where action occurs.
Favorite pop culture reference: Five Spot After Dark, a great song.
Please Stay for: The exploration of a time and place, using Tokyo as a character.
Please Question: This novel is economical but sparse in ways that are unlike other Murakami novels.
Will Reviews Things 