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claireisagrisha's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings: Drug Use, Violence, Trafficking, Physical Abuse, Sexual Assault
This was recommended by my brother :)
This is told like a movie with the descriptions like “the camera pans out,” which was a super unique concept! I honestly just pictured the whole thing as a movie and it improved my reading experience. The descriptions feel very atmospheric and like something just out of reach.
It showed how many people and the kinds of people you can meet at night. Kaoru, Mari, and Takahashi to name a few. Eric Asai was asleep and wanted to stay asleep. Everyone seems lonely and depressed, yet they’re close to each other.
This was recommended by my brother :)
This is told like a movie with the descriptions like “the camera pans out,” which was a super unique concept! I honestly just pictured the whole thing as a movie and it improved my reading experience. The descriptions feel very atmospheric and like something just out of reach.
It showed how many people and the kinds of people you can meet at night. Kaoru, Mari, and Takahashi to name a few. Eric Asai was asleep and wanted to stay asleep. Everyone seems lonely and depressed, yet they’re close to each other.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual assault, Violence, and Trafficking
anna_hepworth's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The writing is lovely, although there were times where I wondered whether the translation was rather loose, missing some nuances (particularly there was a lot of reference to USian music and culture that was somewhat jarring at times). However, having read some of Murakami's work before, the ambiguity of 'what even is happening' was about what I expected.
The characters are lightly sketched, with what little we know about them almost entirely sourced from observations by strangers and limited dialogue. Which is not to say that there is limited dialogue, but much of it is meandering and not particularly illuminating as to character, setting, or what is going on.
As to what is going on? We have two main characters--Mari and Takahashi--who interact multiple times over the six or so hours that the story covers, both of whom are on the brink of completely changing where they are going with their lives. Takahashi is having one last night of music before becoming serious about their studies; Mari's changes are mentioned much later in the book. Thus we have story of liminalities, both in this wider sense, and the timing of the story, between midnight and dawn.
The two minor characters, Eri (Mari's sister) and Shirakawa, never really resolve into anything other than ciphers. Eri literally sleeps through the story while Shirakawa has done something shady but is mostly just being a placeholder for something that never comes clear.
I enjoyed reading it, because the writing really is beautiful. But I wouldn't say I liked it, and I probably wouldn't read it again. The blurb pitches it as surreal, which I guess is accurate. There is also a slowly creeping dread that goes nowhere, makes no threat, and has no resolution.
The characters are lightly sketched, with what little we know about them almost entirely sourced from observations by strangers and limited dialogue. Which is not to say that there is limited dialogue, but much of it is meandering and not particularly illuminating as to character, setting, or what is going on.
As to what is going on? We have two main characters--Mari and Takahashi--who interact multiple times over the six or so hours that the story covers, both of whom are on the brink of completely changing where they are going with their lives. Takahashi is having one last night of music before becoming serious about their studies; Mari's changes are mentioned much later in the book. Thus we have story of liminalities, both in this wider sense, and the timing of the story, between midnight and dawn.
The two minor characters, Eri (Mari's sister) and Shirakawa, never really resolve into anything other than ciphers. Eri literally sleeps through the story while Shirakawa has done something shady but is mostly just being a placeholder for something that never comes clear.
I enjoyed reading it, because the writing really is beautiful. But I wouldn't say I liked it, and I probably wouldn't read it again. The blurb pitches it as surreal, which I guess is accurate. There is also a slowly creeping dread that goes nowhere, makes no threat, and has no resolution.
Content Warnings
Minor: Drug use, Violence, and Alcohol
mailyreads's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
crlpedigo's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual violence and Violence
sillycreature's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Blood, and Trafficking
Minor: Cancer, Drug use, Infidelity, and Death of parent
anastas7a's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
I read this book back in July. I still haven't quite wrapped my head around it. It was my first time reading Murakami. From an early point on, I realized that we are not confined by the limits of the real and literal world, so I went with the flow.
I enjoyed the atmosphere the author created for this book and I found its title creative, given that everything- from the events to the exploration of the characters' personalities- takes place after dark. (This may be obvious to some people, but for me it was a fun, unexpected, little detail, especially because I normally start books blind {without having read summaries}).
I find myself at a loss of words to say because the book remains a mystery to me. I can understand a handful of the analogies, however the one I struggle with is sleep. I haven't figured out what it symbolizes or how through it Eri or even Mari discover part of themselves. Related to the sleep analogy is also the TV in Eri's room, which I did not exactly comprehend. .
I also like how even though nothing happens and the sun rises the next day as if nothing has happened, each event that took place had an impact on the introduced characters one way or the other.Specifically with Mari and Takahashi, I found their interaction genuine and crucial for Mari to take a step back and self-reflect on her idea of who she is. To this cause contributed her adventure at the love hotel and her interaction with people she normally wouldn't have met.
If I had a better understanding of the story I would rate it higher, but it continues to be a struggle for me. I would love to talk about it with someone so that we can share thoughts and I can gain some insight.
I appreciated greatly the songs the book mentions, not only because I'm a melomaniac, but also because they helped me immerse myself in the story.
Lastly, the book's fast pace outweighed the complexity of the concept it was dealing with and as a result, the story wasn't burdensome to the readers.
I recommend reading this when you want something to ponder over. Maybe I'll revisit it at one point.
I enjoyed the atmosphere the author created for this book and I found its title creative, given that everything- from the events to the exploration of the characters' personalities- takes place after dark. (This may be obvious to some people, but for me it was a fun, unexpected, little detail, especially because I normally start books blind {without having read summaries}).
I find myself at a loss of words to say because the book remains a mystery to me. I can understand a handful of the analogies, however
I also like how even though nothing happens and the sun rises the next day as if nothing has happened, each event that took place had an impact on the introduced characters one way or the other.
If I had a better understanding of the story I would rate it higher, but it continues to be a struggle for me. I would love to talk about it with someone so that we can share thoughts and I can gain some insight.
I appreciated greatly the songs the book mentions, not only because I'm a melomaniac, but also because they helped me immerse myself in the story.
Lastly, the book's fast pace outweighed the complexity of the concept it was dealing with and as a result, the story wasn't burdensome to the readers.
I recommend reading this when you want something to ponder over. Maybe I'll revisit it at one point.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Violence
em_the_cat's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
“Breasts, breasts, breasts!” Shut up Murakami you’re ruining your own book
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Violence, and Blood
rosie_valadez's review against another edition
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Violence
Minor: Trafficking and Death of parent
thorney's review against another edition
mysterious
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Confinement, Death, Eating disorder, Sexual violence, Violence, and Death of parent
tonsu's review against another edition
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Death of parent