"After Dark" -- Murakami's Fine Crystal...

This is an awesome novel. Murakami is a master of the expository. Description and setting are his master strokes in this novel. The story centers after a few characters spending the night out in the city. There's a young woman, Mari and a young trombone player, Takahashi, who engage in a conversation that ties the separate plots together. Mari's sister Eri is a beautiful young woman, a magazine model of sorts. Of course, there's the tension between the sisters, but Mari is really the central character here. Takahashi introduces Mari to Kauro, a love hotel manager who needs helps with Chinese translation (which Mari can provide). A Chinese prostitute has been beaten up at the Alphaville love hotel. This sends the book into another fascinating plot, and again Murakami's descriptions and setting are beyond comparison.

I am beyond the middle point of the novel. I find myself trying to pace myself, enjoying every sentence little by little. I really don't want it to end. I have several nice options for my next read, so we'll see what happens. All I have to say is Murakami is one of the finest writers alive today.