It all seemed like a dream—until it didn't. The journey you go on throughout this novel is one to remember, especially when it includes loners, prostitutes, mobsters, lady wrestlers, basement musicians, and much more.
"After Dark" was written by Japanese author Haruki Murakami, a winner of many awards including the Gunzo Award for New Writers back in 1979, the Tanizaki Junichiro Prize, and the Franz Kafka Award. Thanks to Jay Rubin, Murakami's novel was translated to English for many readers across the world to indulge in and enjoy.
Mari is a nineteen year old girl who had planned to spend her night at Denny's reading her nameless book and sip on countless cups of coffee. As she is doing so, a man who is just a couple years older than her, walks into Denny's and joins her. He insists he knows her older sister, Eri, and from this moment on, Mari's night long journey through the city will begin.
From the first sentence of the novel to the last, the reader is completely invested in the events taking place throughout the night. Murakami's use of dialogue was close to perfection, making sure there was enough to keep the reader entertained while not having too much to the point where you feel as if you're reading a movie script.
If Murakami knows how to do anything, it's entertaining his readers. Although "After Dark" took on a theme of loneliness and isolation, the continuous events taking place kept his readers intrigued and dialed in. Mari was a relatable character to many people reading this novel; she is content being alone with a book in hand. In a conversation with Kaoru, Kaoru asks Mari what she plans on doing for the rest of the night and Mari replied saying she would "kill time reading a book somewhere."
This novel is just as depressing as it is entertaining. What a nice combination, right? The heaviness of the characters being so isolated and lonely really weighs on the reader. Throughout the novel, the characters are interacting with one another as Mari goes on her journey to find her "perfect" sister, but Murakami shows the readers how you can be surrounded by many people and still be so lonely.
Let's talk about prostitutes. As weird as it may seem, adding the severeness of prostitution within "After Dark" is one of the main reasons why this novel is so addicting. Why? Because it's real. For a fictional novel, Murakami does an amazing job of giving the readers an idea of how difficult and threatening the life of a prostitute is truly like. He doesn't sugar coat anything but for a book that is as intense as it is, he really couldn't.
"After Dark" jumps back and forth from plot to plot like a kid playing double dutch—it's exciting yet difficult to understand. One chapter is focused around Mari and her late night adventures then the next is switched to Eri sleeping in the dullest room imaginable. As annoying as this may sound, this tactic also keeps the reader interested in what may happen next.
The mixture of adventure and tranquility leads the book to hold a fast-paced yet controlled prose. Once you get past the confusion of the book, Murakami grasps your attention so much that is seems as if you are alongside Mari on her journey to find her sister. With his ability to engage readers, Murakami executed this novel from start to finish.
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