After Dark: Book Review
Haruki Murakami Explores the Unknown in 2004 Bestseller
Dec 5, 2008 Todd Christopher Petty
After Dark ( 0-7862-9859-6 / 978-0-7862-9859-4)was first published in 2004 in Japanese; it was then translated by Jay Rubin and published in English in 2007 by Thorndike Press. The novel has since obtained National Bestseller status.
Structure of After Dark
The novel is written as if it was in real time, and the story takes place between the hours 11:56 P.M. and 6:52 A.M in an unnamed city in Tokyo, Japan. The time is indicated at top of each page and as the novel unfolds the time progresses accordingly. The story is written almost as if it were a movie script; parts of the story are perceived through the eyes of an unidentified sinister creature that functions like an omniscient camera. Murakami uses an interesting technique that compliments his writing style; he is able to objectively observe instances of mundane human behavior and analyze them into their most basic parts.
Basic Plot Synopsis: After Dark
The novel shifts between multiple different storylines that are all related. Nineteen-year-old Mari Asai (the protagonist) meets with an old acquaintance Tetsuya Takahashi. They discuss Mari’s sister Eri Asai, who is suffering from hikikomori – a Japanese term that describes an extreme social withdrawal. Meanwhile, a Chinese prostitute is badly beaten at a local “love hotel” called Alphaville; an homage to a 1965 French science fiction film of the same name directed by Jean-Luc Godard. The man who inflicts the savage beating is an enigmatic computer programmer working for an equally enigmatic corporation called Veritech. All of the stories are interrelated, but their connection is unclear.
Haruki Murakami’s Writing Style
Murakami write prose that is simple and easily accessible; his metaphysical and conceptual ideas however, are incredibly complex. He uses short sentences and clear language. His observations of human behavior are incredibly acute and familiar. Murakami’s novel has cultural significance; he touches on growing issues within Japan. During the night, there are gangs, prostitution, and overworked businessmen. He also displays mastery for referencing classical music, philosophy, and myths from outside cultures as well.
Who Should Read After Dark?
This novel will appeal to most readers, with the exception of those who prefer a clear cut and resolute ending. After Dark, provides few answers. Instead, it poses a series of questions that take the shape of abstract events that occur within the book. These abstract events are interspersed among the mundane aspects of human existence in order to accentuate the mystery of the dark: an extended metaphor for the unknown. He is able to create a tale that is a few parts real, a few parts fiction, and a few parts that exist somewhere in-between in the category of “surreal.” The greatest success of Murakami’s After Dark is its diversity: it is literature flawlessly executed, it is well-written, experimental, and through provoking.
Cover Art of After Dark
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