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ejrathke 's review for:
After Dark
by Haruki Murakami
The first time I read this, I thought it was the weakest Murakami novel I read. I think it was my fourth, after Wind Up Bird, Hardboiled Wonderland, and Kafka on the Shore.
However! I'm pleased to say that it's the first novel of his on my rereads where I'm increasing the stars. The novel is tight and simple. It keeps moving and sticks close to the specifics of the characters. I think, in doing essentially the opposite of his other novels, Murakami finds a very different kind of success. After the big expansive novels, this is a nice refreshing novel.
Murakami, I've realized, is kind of terrible at writing dialogue, and this may be my real problem with his novels so far. It may be a problem with the translation, but it doesn't make the book read any better.
Anyrate, this makes me a little less excited to finally read 1Q84, which is the first book I preordered way back in 2011. Somehow I still haven't read it though. The fact that it's his longest novel is somewhat worrying after this.
However! I'm pleased to say that it's the first novel of his on my rereads where I'm increasing the stars. The novel is tight and simple. It keeps moving and sticks close to the specifics of the characters. I think, in doing essentially the opposite of his other novels, Murakami finds a very different kind of success. After the big expansive novels, this is a nice refreshing novel.
Murakami, I've realized, is kind of terrible at writing dialogue, and this may be my real problem with his novels so far. It may be a problem with the translation, but it doesn't make the book read any better.
Anyrate, this makes me a little less excited to finally read 1Q84, which is the first book I preordered way back in 2011. Somehow I still haven't read it though. The fact that it's his longest novel is somewhat worrying after this.