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After Dark
After Dark | Haruki Murakami
A short, sleek novel of encounters set in the witching hours of Tokyo between midnight and dawn, and every bit as gripping as Haruki Murakamis masterworks The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle and Kafka on the Shore.At its center are two sisters: Yuri, a fashion model sleeping her way into oblivion; and Mari, a young student soon led from solitary reading at an anonymous Dennys into lives radically alien to her own: those of a jazz trombonist who claims theyve met before; a burly female love hotel manager and her maidstaff; and a Chinese prostitute savagely brutalized by a businessman. These night people are haunted by secrets and needs that draw them together more powerfully than the differing circumstances that might keep them apart, and it soon becomes clear that Yuris slumbermysteriously tied to the businessman plagued by the mark of his crime will either restore or annihilate her.After Dark moves from mesmerizing drama to metaphysical speculation, interweaving time and space as well as memory and perspective into a seamless exploration of human agency the interplay between self-expression and understanding, between the power of observation and the scope of compassion and love. Murakamis trademark humor, psychological insight, and grasp of spirit and morality are here distilled with an extraordinary, harmonious mastery.Eyes mark the shape of the city. Through the eyes of a high-flying night bird, we take in the scene from midair. In our broad sweep, the city looks like a single gigantic creatureor more, like a single collective entity created by many intertwining organisms. Countless arteries stretch to the ends of its elusive body, circulating a continuous supply of fresh blood cells, sending out new data and collecting the old, sending out new consumables and collecting the old, sending out new contradictions and collecting the old. To the rhythm of its pulsing, all parts of the body flicker and flare up and squirm. Midnight is approaching, and while the peak of activity has indeed passed, the basal metabolism that maintains life continues undiminished, producing the basso continuo of the citys moan, a monotonous sound that neither rises nor falls but is pregnant with foreboding.from After Dark
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Yuki_Onna
After Dark | Haruki Murakami
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Eggs Excellent 👌🏼 3mo
18 likes1 comment
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Yuki_Onna
After Dark | Haruki Murakami
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Eggs Excellent 👌🏼 13mo
BookwormAHN I see a nice pink theme here 🐈‍⬛ 13mo
15 likes3 comments
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Jojo13222
After Dark | Haruki Murakami
Pickpick

Was interesting, just didn‘t know what happened to everybody, but makes sense

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itsyvetperez
After Dark | Haruki Murakami
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Mehso-so

"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."

-- 3.5 ⭐️

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Yuki_Onna
After Dark | Haruki Murakami
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1. Every now and then, you're lucky and life gives you a second chance.

2. I know it technically begins in September, but September is still a summer month to me.
For me, autumn begins October 1st.😉

3. Tagged. It would be my third reread then, but I'm so in the mood for that violent dreamlike trip again... 🌃🏩🌙

#thoughtfulthursday #summer #autumn
Rae: I haven't forgotten about the WondrousWednesday tag, it just doesn't seem to work here.. ⤵️

Yuki_Onna ... I'll play it next week, when I'm back from the island, ok? 🧡 3y
MoonWitch94 Thanks for playing 🌻📖🍁 3y
RaeLovesToRead Just seen this! No worries 😊 Agree September should be summery... but it's feeling quite autumnal this year 🍂 3y
17 likes3 comments
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alibookcorner
After Dark | Haruki Murakami
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do I buy new books even though I have a long list of tbr ?....yes

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writeropolis
After Dark | Haruki Murakami
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Pickpick

I came away thinking of it as a quick peek into people‘s lives when the sun goes down. And how our natures change in the dark. Full review here: https://wp.me/p9KtkP-kq #amreading #bookworm #bibliophile #bookish #booknerdigans #bookblogger #tsundoku #greatreads #readmorebooks #coolgirlsread

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JoeMo
After Dark | Haruki Murakami
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Pickpick

This was an atmospheric and mysterious read that covers the events that happen over the course of one night. I found this interesting but somewhat lacking...I can‘t help but feel it could have been more meaningful, more beautiful, more something. It was a needed break from more typical fare...stories with faster paces, overbearing characters, and messages that get beaten into the reader‘s head. 3.5/5 stars.

31 likes2 comments
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Eggs
After Dark | Haruki Murakami
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Klou Awesome!! 4y
Eggs @Klou 🤗 4y
49 likes2 comments
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Eggs
After Dark | Haruki Murakami
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1* Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 France 🇫🇷 Italy 🇮🇹 Denmark 🇩🇰
None at the moment

2* freedom

3* @marleed @MoonWitch94 @Reviewsbylola @TheSpineView @Cathythoughts

#thankfulthursday @Cosmos_Moon

Cosmos_Moon_River Thanks for playing along 🤗 have a great week! 4y
Eggs @Cosmos_Moon You as well! 4y
TheSpineView Thanks for the tag Sherri! 😘💜🏷😊 4y
See All 9 Comments
Reviewsbylola Thanks for the tag! ❤️ 4y
OnlyYoo I visited Scotland last year and it was beautiful! I don‘t think I‘ve ever been to a more beautiful place. Not a fan of haggis though haha 4y
Eggs You‘re welcome 🥰 @Reviewsbylola @TheSpineView 4y
Eggs @OnlyYoo How wonderful! 4y
Cathythoughts Thankyou for the tag 👍🏻❤️ 4y
Eggs @Cathythoughts you‘re most welcome 🙏🏻 4y
58 likes1 stack add9 comments
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Mtroiano
After Dark | Haruki Murakami
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Outdoor video games for the husband and books for me!

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Mtroiano
After Dark | Haruki Murakami
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Book mail!

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dariazeoli
After Dark | Haruki Murakami
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Pickpick

#AuthorAMonth

This was my first proper novel by Murakami, and I love how vividly he writes. The story takes place over one night, and while nothing is truly solved in the end, I found the journey satisfying.

Curiouser_and_curiouser This cover is amazing! I can't stop looking at it 5y
dariazeoli @Curiouser_and_curiouser It is pretty cool! 😎 5y
Soubhiville Logged, that‘s 6📚 5y
58 likes1 stack add3 comments
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dariazeoli
After Dark | Haruki Murakami
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Ventured out for a quick #audiowalk this morning. I hadn‘t been off my porch since Tuesday. It seems Spring showed up while I was inside! My favorite season - I love it when the trees bloom.

Cortg Gorgeous! I‘m out every day walking or tooting around on my bike. I love springtime! 5y
JackOBotts I‘ve been trying to do a pre-sunrise walk every morning. The quiet is nice, and social distancing is easy. Enjoy! (edited) 5y
AmyG Beautiful. Hello NJ! 5y
See All 8 Comments
ShyBookOwl 😍 I can't wait to see colours on the still bare branches again! 5y
Reviewsbylola Me too! Our cherry blossom tree is budding but it got super cold again last night. 😭 5y
Librariana Hope your walk was lovely and that you enjoyed the fresh air 😊 5y
tracey38 Yep, spring has sprung here and pollen is out in full force. I have the worst allergies to pollenbor I would be out enjoying the weather. 5y
tracey38 ☝️ that should say * pollen or and not pollenbor* 😊😂 5y
65 likes8 comments
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dariazeoli
After Dark | Haruki Murakami
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Trying to get my #AuthorAMonth reads in. I‘ve been mostly reading graphic novels this month. Hard to focus with the world going on out there.

I started listening to After Dark last night. I‘m loving it so far, so there‘s that! A great, short read that I should be able to finish quickly.

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Eggs
After Dark | Haruki Murakami
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Pickpick

The world of darkness, suspense and the characters‘ interconnections yields a mysterious dream-like story that is eerie at times, but captivating. 4/5 ⭐️

#authoramonth2020
@Soubhiville

Soubhiville Logged, 27📚 5y
72 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Skygoddess1
After Dark | Haruki Murakami
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Pickpick

What an interesting and unique story. I found this story, which takes place over the course of a single evening, highly engaging and unique story. I loved following Mari as she moved around Tokyo after most of the city had gone to sleep. Learning of Mari and her sister Eri was interesting and I could relate to Mari‘s sense of not knowing her sister. I would love to see Murakami revisit these characters at some point. #AuthorAMonth

Soubhiville Logged, Ive got you at 9📚 5y
19 likes1 comment
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naeyma
After Dark | Haruki Murakami
Pickpick

I read this book and really enjoyed it. It's spanned out in one night but has so much to offer in terms of feelings, veiws etc. It's very different to other books I've read but a good one.

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BookishRedhead
After Dark | Haruki Murakami
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Pickpick

Takes place during the night.
Not as weird as his other stuff but still enjoyable.
We follow Mari and a few others around.
Nice little one sitting read

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RachelS89
After Dark | Haruki Murakami
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- After Dark
- Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland
- Dream a Little Dream Of Me

#manicmonday @JoScho

JoScho Thanks for playing 💙 5y
10 likes1 comment
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Bibliogeekery
After Dark | Haruki Murakami
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Cute!

Heideschrampf @scripturient sound familiar? 5y
scripturient @Heideschrampf Hahaha, that would be me. 😂😁 5y
51 likes2 comments
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DePaepe
After Dark | Haruki Murakami
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This has immediately become one my favorites by #Murakami. I can't put it down. I've read over 3/4 of this novel in two bus rides.

8 likes1 stack add
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ReadingEnvy
After Dark | Haruki Murakami
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Pickpick

This was a short novel so I just decided to read the entire thing after trying it as part of my project to explode my TBR. It's not super memorable as a whole but has a lot of the known Murakami tropes - cats, jazz music, slight elements of surreality or fantasy. I Ioved how it started in a Denny's, and the commentary about how time moves differently at night.

Centique I read this recently and loved the Denny‘s opening too. I need more nighttime in the city atmospheric books if you have any suggestions? 6y
ReadingEnvy @Centique ooh fun question. Does it have to be Japan and does it have to be fiction? 6y
Centique @ReadingEnvy nope. Open to anything! 6y
See All 7 Comments
ReadingEnvy @Centique this one is a good wandering the streets at all times of day book 6y
ReadingEnvy @Centique this one has a magical other realm attached to a foggy European city 6y
ReadingEnvy This one had more Japanese atmospheric stuff 6y
Centique @ReadingEnvy thank you so much! I have 1Q84 so will read it soon and have stacked the other two. Much appreciated! 6y
62 likes7 comments
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cathysaid
After Dark | Haruki Murakami
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I would love to see your favorites!

#2018Fiction #2018

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cathysaid
After Dark | Haruki Murakami
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Pickpick

Once again, Murakami combines the normal with the surreal...the mundane with the metaphorical...and creates a bizarre masterpiece. During one night, these characters enter each other‘s lives through oddly interconnected events; and while nothing seemingly significant comes of these random meetings, we‘re left with the impression that after each finally sleeps, the new day will bring life changing realizations for all. 4 ⭐️

54 likes1 stack add
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cathysaid
After Dark | Haruki Murakami
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“...she seems to be biting off and chewing it one line at a time.”

❤️ Murikami

JamieArc I think one of my reading goals next year needs to be to finally read some Murakami... 6y
cathysaid @JamieArc I think that‘s a fine idea! 6y
44 likes2 comments
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broughtyoubooks
After Dark | Haruki Murakami
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Mehso-so

A little less easy to follow compared to some of his other stuff. Or more, that the story seemed to encompass too many parts, while trying to establish that they were all actually connected. It's not an awful book, worth reading, but just not one that stands against his other works.

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Aaronlisa
After Dark | Haruki Murakami
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Pickpick

I read this one slowly. It‘s not your traditional novel with a defined plot and whatnot but it has that dreamy, surreal feeling of being awake all night. Of killing time before you can get home and sleep. It‘s a haunting story.

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Centique
After Dark | Haruki Murakami
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Pickpick

I‘ve gone AWOL from my official TBR and am following my book cravings at the moment! Had a craving to read about Tokyo and this was great. My second Murakami and I‘m a fan of the beautiful weirdness. A couple of teens meet in a Denny‘s late at night, before the night ends they will have crossed paths with a bunch of nocturnal characters and had a glimpse of other worlds and lives not lived.

Reggie Oooooh, sounds good!!! 6y
Cathythoughts Sounds great ! and sounds great to go AWOL ! You go girl 😉❤️ 6y
Centique Thanks @Reggie and thanks @Cathythoughts I‘m a loose cannon at the moment - six library books out at once 😱😱😱 (my owned unread books are glaring at me) 6y
See All 13 Comments
Cinfhen They have Denny‘s in Tokyo @shawnmooney !?!?! 6y
Centique @Cinfhen we have them here too #ubiquitous I haven‘t been there for years but this book reminded me of how I used to frequent them as a uni student and now I‘m having cravings for their Super Bird turkey sandwich 😂😂 6y
Cinfhen Hahaha! Nothing beats their French fries at 3:30 in the morning....extra salty & crispy with lots of ketchup!!!! 🍟😋 6y
Centique @Cinfhen too right! 6y
BarbaraBB Great review! 6y
Robothugs I have never read any of his books but I see them all the time in the bookstore and I see good reviews. What would you recommend starting with? 6y
Centique @Robothugs I‘ve only read 2 so far! Kafka on the Shore was my first one and it was awesome. He‘s so easy to read too. Only thing is there is a depiction of animal cruelty in it if that‘s a trigger for you? It‘s just one page and could be skipped over I think. 6y
Robothugs It‘s not, but still good to know! I may try that one first! 6y
Centique @Robothugs yay! Hope you enjoy it. Tag me when you‘ve finished! ( time zones mean I miss a lot of US Littens posts unless I go searching 🙂🙃) 6y
Robothugs I will! I‘ll write a note to remind myself to. I miss some of my favorite Littens because of timezones, too! 6y
92 likes2 stack adds13 comments
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rachelk
After Dark | Haruki Murakami
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Pickpick

My first Haruki Murakami read — and certainly won‘t be my last. It is a simple story with very little in the way of plot but with such a haunting, surreal quality that it slowly burned an impression on my psyche unlike anything else.

52 likes3 stack adds
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ShannonOffDuty
After Dark | Haruki Murakami
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Pickpick

Murakami is such a good conceptual writer. Never insults his readers with predictable trash but also never tries too hard. #murakami

8 likes3 stack adds
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cathysaid
After Dark | Haruki Murakami
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Thank god #bookmail awaited me when I came home from a supremely shitty Monday starting when the AC died at my office this morning (FYI I live in Hotlanta) and ending with dental work this afternoon. I shall now drink wine and lovingly (perhaps inappropriately) stroke "my pretties" (books, I swear I mean books ?). But first, I must check the employee handbook to see how little clothing I can wear tomorrow and still keep my job. #itssofrigginghot

rmaclean4 Sorry to hear you had a rotten day. 6y
Zelma Ugh, I feel your pain. Our ac went out at work (south Louisiana) a few years ago and it was miserable. 6y
cathysaid @rmaclean4 Aw, thanks. I realized how spoiled we are here in the south with AC! @Zelma I'm completely unproductive. My brain is mush! 6y
Suet624 😂😂😂💕 6y
59 likes4 comments
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RealLifeReading
After Dark | Haruki Murakami
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Pickpick

Just before midnight at a Denny‘s somewhere in Tokyo, a young woman named Mari sits reading a book.

Before dawn breaks she will have met a young man who plays a trombone, a Chinese prostitute who has been beaten by her client, and a former wrestler turned love hotel manager.

As always, a good read from Murakami.

117 likes10 stack adds
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RealLifeReading
After Dark | Haruki Murakami
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Good morning Littens! How‘s your weekend going?
I started this book last night and am already halfway through it. It‘s been ages since I‘ve read Murakami so I‘m enjoying sinking into his world.
My in-laws arrived from Singapore yesterday evening bringing lots of treats and homemade cookies (pineapple tarts and cashew cookies) and books for the boys. So we will be out and about today trying to help them get over jet lag!
What are you up to?

JacqMac My dad is in town, so our day will be similar to yours. 7y
CaitlinR Love Murakami, but haven‘t read this one. Thanks! 7y
ephemeralwaltz Yes!! One of my favorites. Very seductive. 7y
kayceecruz Greek Festival with my mother today! 7y
125 likes4 stack adds4 comments
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radhikeey
After Dark | Haruki Murakami
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Pickpick

This is one nice read, very beautifully written. The writer takes you inside the minds of the main characters and describes the various life changing incidents of all the characters which is also very beautifully described. After reading I found myself at peace because of the way the author ended the book. This is surely a pick 😇✌️👌❤️#litsy #litzyAtoZ #Murakami

BookwormAHN Welcome to Litsy 😸 7y
radhikeey @BookwormAHN Thank you 😀 7y
35 likes1 stack add2 comments
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radhikeey
After Dark | Haruki Murakami
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My bookshelf is kind of getting messy and is now out of space. Am half way through this amazing book and just couldn't wait for what comes next.

Rosy_Glinda I love After Dark! 7y
radhikeey @Rosy_Glinda I loved it too! Ending specially 😍 7y
Rosy_Glinda I just really really like Murakami as an author. The writing feels especially relevant right now. 7y
radhikeey @Rosy_Glinda I totally agree with you. His writing style is really beautiful. 7y
24 likes4 comments
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iporto
After Dark | Haruki Murakami
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"Memory is so crazy! It's like we've got these drawers crammed with tons of useless stuff. Meanwhile, all the really important things we just keep forgetting, one after the other."

Graywacke Well, this strikes close to home 7y
iporto @Graywacke It does! 7y
10 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Jamesmelvinmitchell
After Dark | Haruki Murakami
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Pickpick

An absolutely beautiful book, something marvelous happens as you are drawn into this world of people after dark. Just beautiful writing.

EllieDottie I just finished this book in January and I really liked it!! 7y
Jamesmelvinmitchell @EllieDottie have you read any others? 7y
42 likes2 comments
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Quasifesto
After Dark | Haruki Murakami
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Build Your Dream Library And We'll Recommend You A Book To Read https://www.buzzfeed.com/jamiejones/build-a-library-get-a-book?utm_term=.ykl5lpL...

callielafleur I got this same book, which I've already read 😂😂 7y
readordierachel I got The Blind Assassin by Atwood. Legit! 7y
booksandsympathy I got The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood 7y
See All 13 Comments
AshleyHoss820 This is what I got: 7y
Lcsmcat I got The Blind Assassin, which I read years ago. 7y
Thndrstd I also got The Blind Assassin which is on my TBR pile 7y
SpeculativeFemale I got Swing Time by Zadie Smith. 7y
eachwishrezigned I got Persepolis, which is actually on my reading list for the year. 7y
CherryPie Purple Hibiscus twice and Swing Time once. 7y
95 likes7 stack adds13 comments
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mauveandrosysky
After Dark | Haruki Murakami
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Pickpick

After Dark is a surreal and bewitching meditation on temporality and dualism. As with much of Murakami's fiction, there's an elusiveness to it. Sometimes that can be frustrating, but in such an ephemeral, dreamlike setting (the dead of night between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m.) it mostly works here. Very cool use of the first-person plural narrative device, too.

ephemeralwaltz One of my favorites! 7y
Blaire I love murakami but was not familiar with this one! Stacked! 7y
36 likes6 stack adds2 comments
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Alisnazzy
After Dark | Haruki Murakami
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So a week ago or so, I sent out a tweet of my Murakami collection saying all I wanted for Christmas was for it to be complete and my twitter friend Bre asked for my address. I didn‘t think she‘d actually send me something. I‘ve never been so glad to be wrong. I‘m literally crying over this. I‘m so humbled and happy right now 💖

TrishB That‘s lovely ❤️ 7y
suvata Very special 7y
DeborahSmall Lovely 💕 7y
cathysaid How sweet! 7y
122 likes4 comments
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ephemeralwaltz
After Dark | Haruki Murakami
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C --> Catcher in the Rye, The
L --> Long Walk, The
A --> After Dark
R --> Room
A --> All the Light We Cannot See

#booknames

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EllieDottie
After Dark | Haruki Murakami
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I really need to get going on my reading challenges! I have a lot to finish before 2018! I'm reading this for published 10 years ago! #dark #noteworthynovember

Billypar This was my first Murakami, and as it turns out, my least favorite. But I really liked it- least favorite Murakami beats many favorites from other authors 😃 7y
EllieDottie @Billypar this is my first one! I'm excited! I'm liking it so far! Which ones would you recommend?? 7y
Billypar Wind-up Bird Chronicle is my favorite, and also one of my all-time favorite novels. It's long, but excellent all the through. Wild Sheep Chase and Dance Dance Dance are a pair with the same main character (should be read in that order). Both mysteries, both fantastic, especially DDD. Hard-boiled Wonderland... is the most fast-paced of all, a thriller/fantasy blend. Kafka on the Shore is also great. Norwegian Wood and IQ84 are on my TBR next. 7y
67 likes3 comments
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blanketandcocoa
After Dark | Haruki Murakami
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Panpan

Unimpressed and slightly annoyed. One weird thing juxtaposed against uninteresting scenes of life after dark, and characters I couldn't care about. Reads like the first draft of a first-time novelist. I was expecting so much more.