We can see the main character focusing on a book, but the title is hidden to us. I think it also does a great job at introducing and capturing the main theme of After Dark. She finds it more stimulating than the people around her, which is true for After Dark too. In the scene I posted above, it’s described that the main character is much more interested in reading her books than her surroundings. There’s a supernatural element in After Dark, that really gives off some Twin Peaks-y vibes. Murakami has a gift at making the most seemingly mundane of tasks, interesting. Even though After Dark is a short novel, you’ll want to take your time. You’ll find yourself captivated, devouring the book word by word. Far from skimming, she seems to be biting off and chewing it one line at a time.” Judging from her intent expression, the book might contain challenging subject matter.

A bookstore wrapper hides the title from us. Her eyes rarely move from the pages of the book- a thick hardback. I think this quote from the book itself best describes the experience: The book is haunting in the best way possible.

It’s been awhile since my first read of After Dark, but even months later I still find myself thinking about it. It’s so hard to describe what exactly the book is about, but the whole experience- the book itself is surreal and it’s quickly become one of my favourite novels. Set in a Metropolitan Tokyo, the book follows the journey of 19-year-old Mari Asai over the course of one night. As the night grows longer, it grows stranger. After Dark is a short novel by the Japanese writer, Murakami, where not everything is as it seems.

After dark haruki murakami reviews