After Dark
It took me a month before I started reading After Dark and I finished it within a day, which is surprising, considering the amount of time I spend reading Murakami’s books.
I think reading After Dark is like a breath of fresh air for me because even though the usual things that I see in most of Murakami’s works are also present in this book, I think I like the way the story was narrated here. For me, the way the narration was written reminds the readers that we are passive readers and witnesses to everything that we see in the book. Yet in some way we are not “passive” because our minds are at work — our heads are screaming what the characters should and shouldn’t do, and we react to the things that they say or do. Sabi nga nila, post-modern daw.
For my favorite parts (I’ll put a couple, since there are so many nice things in this book):
“It’s not as if our lives are divided simply into light and dark. There’s a shadowy middle ground. Recognizing and understanding the shadows is what a healthy intelligence does. And to acquire a healthy intelligence takes a certain amount of time and effort.” (p. 177)
And probably one of the best romantic lines I’ve read so far (minus the cheese):
“But why should you be interested in me?”
“Good question. I can’t explain it myself right this second. But maybe — just maybe — if we start getting together and talking, after a while something like Francis Lai’s soundtrack music will start playing in the background, and a whole slew of concrete reasons why I’m interested in you will line up out of nowhere. With luck, it might even snow for us.” (p. 178-179)
After Dark is a relatively short novel, but I enjoyed reading every minute of it. Again, it also left me hanging with questions. What happened to Eri and Mari? What happened to the young Chinese prostitute? And Korogi? What’s with Shirakawa and the cellphone that he left at 7-11? Is Takahashi really going to wait for Mari? So many questions that I think was intentionally left that way in order for us to do the exploration ourselves.
Actually, I was a bit upset about buying this book. I got my hardbound copy at the University Bookstore for around $29. And then a week after, the bookstore put After Dark on their recommended list, and the price was reduced in half — it was sold for around $17-$19. Meh. But anyway, I enjoyed reading it, and I have the feeling that I am going to re-read this again. It’s a rare occasion for me to re-read books, but when I do, consider it as a sign that I really, really love the book.
Angela Solis grew up in the Philippines before moving in to Canada in 2003. She became a Canadian in 2006. Angela is 22 years old and an alumna of University of Manitoba with a degree in Psychology. She has been blogging since 2002. She maintains a 
July 11th, 2007 at 3:02 am
i am really glad you liked this book, Angela. I considered this a total indulgence on my part.
you’re right, we’re left with so many questions after reading it, but i reckon, having these questions in mind makes this piece of literature (all the more) interesting (for me at least). ang ganda kase nung pagkakahabi ng kuwento, napakatotoo ng dating. character-based naman kase siya so, sa umpisa pa lang i never expected Murakami to fill me up with the gaps in the story.
sabi nga ng isang nabasa kong review, this book, you’ll either like it or hate it no middle ground. i believe so. and fortunately, i really liked it. not his best, but one of Murakami’s best works.
July 11th, 2007 at 8:59 pm
Magaling talaga si Murakami (at magaling talaga ang translator niya :P).