55 pages • 1 hour read
Haruki MurakamiAfter Dark
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2004A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Published in 2004, Haruki Murakami’s After Dark follows college student Mari Asai through a night in Tokyo, encountering figures within the city’s underbelly while her sister Eri experiences a surreal ordeal in her sleep. Throughout the night, Mari interacts with characters on the fringes of society, including a jazz musician, a love hotel manager, and a sex worker. The novel contains depictions of violence, drug use, and sexual content.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Haruki Murakami's After Dark offers a mesmerizing journey through Tokyo's nocturnal landscape, evoking a dreamy, surreal atmosphere. Praised for its vivid characterization and compelling prose, the novel, however, can feel disjointed and unresolved. Readers either revel in its enigmatic charm or find its ambiguity frustrating. Overall, a thought-provoking read.
Who Should Read After Dark?
A reader of Haruki Murakami's After Dark would appreciate surreal narratives, atmospheric settings, and intricate character studies. Fans of Kafka on the Shore and 1Q84 would find themselves captivated, as would those who enjoy the dreamlike prose found in novels by David Mitchell such as Cloud Atlas.
RecommendedReading Age
18+yearsLexile Level
710LBook Details
Magical Realism
Japanese Literature
Surrealism
Relationships: Siblings
Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Society: Community