Hey Synth, other Murakami fans, read After Dark

[Billy Rygar]

I just finished it.  It a much tighter book than some of his others but it is vintage Murakami, both off kilter, disturbing, and tender at the same time.  It also breaks nicely from the typical Murakami protagonist.  It is more fulfilling as a whole than Kafka on The Shore, though it's length doesn't allow quite the same amount of single character growth, but it also doesn't have that books extra flabby sections.  Thematically it is similiar to Dance Dance Dance and Wind Up Bird Chronicles.

[Howard Alan Treesong]

I still haven't read Kafka on the Shore

I got Blindness but am too busy reading DEATH NOTE to start it. Oh god I'm a failure japafag,

[Howard Alan Treesong]

yeah, I think that was the problem. I've really overdosed on all his current body of work so I tend to zone out when he's doing Oh This Again.

Is After Dark out in hardcover only now I imagine?

p.s. review light

[Ichirou]

I'm reading Underground right now, bitches.  This summer has been a Murakami fiesta for me - I've decided to read through all his books before summer ends.

[TVC15]

Kafka on the Shore seemed kinda been there done that, almost like Murakami was trying to be Murakami.  He did a great 50+ page interview with The Paris Review right before it came out though.  I enjoyed that more than the book.

[Howard Alan Treesong]

in my defense, DEATHNOTE is fuck awesome. and I'm reading it in Japanese for practice so it's sort of like studying?!

After Dark is 208 pages? sold and ordered.

Amazon Prime means never having to say you're sorry.

[TVC15]

Wait, Death Note.  That's ANIMU isn't it?  Or I guess in your case, MANGU!

[Ichirou]

Guys, so far I've read The Wind-Up Bird Chronicles, after the quake, Norwegian Wood, and now Underground.  Which Murakami book should I read next??? My local bookstore has all the English-translated paperbacks available.  Usually I hate reading translated stuff but Murakami's stuff is surprisingly easy to read.

[TVC15]

Hard Boiled Wonderland.  I can't believe you've put it off this long.

[Howard Alan Treesong]

DEATHNOTE is totally mangu, I mean it's a Jump manga ffs (Naruto, Bleach, etc.)

It's fun though cause it's not a fighting manga or about a kid who wants to be TEH BEST at something.

The protagonist finds a shinigami's (death god's) notebook, a "DEATH NOTE," and discovers that the name of anyone he writes in it will die of a heart attack within a minute. He then starts TAKING OUT SOCIETY'S TRASH and trying to build a better world. Then the Japanese police and FBI start investigating him. Then hijinx ensue.

It's actually pretty interesting, because I can't remember the last anything (movie, book) I read where I like the guy on the run and the guys trying to catch him equally. Both sides/stories are super fun and because it's mangu every 24 pages it's IN YOUR FACE with the twisty plot action.

And yes, HBW is my favorite Murakami with a bullet.

[TVC15]

Hard-Boiled Wonderland is my favorite, too.  Not only do I like the book, but it reminds me of lots of other things I like, like Chandler (one of my favorites) and early William Gibson.  And The Prisoner.

[Ichirou]

Hard Boiled Wonderland it is, then!  I was actually going to go for Sputnik Sweetheart otherwise.

Wind-Up Bird Chronicle was amazing.

[Howard Alan Treesong]

you've read Gun, With Occassional Music, right?

[Ichirou]

you've read Gun, With Occassional Music, right?

I've read The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, after the quake, Norwegian Wood, and Underground.

[TVC15]

you've read Gun, With Occassional Music, right?

No.  It has a fuckin' kangaroo on the cover.  Kangaroos suck, unless it's Tank Girl.

[Howard Alan Treesong]

you should read it. I think the new versions have no kangaroos on the cover. if you like Chandler and Gibson you will love it, promise.

[TVC15]

Jonathan Lethem wrote it?  It's better than his non-genre stuff, right?

[Howard Alan Treesong]

it's good! honest!