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Extended Audio Sample After the Quake: Stories Audiobook, by Haruki Murakami Click for printable size audiobook cover
3.93 out of 53.93 out of 53.93 out of 53.93 out of 53.93 out of 5 3.93 (30 ratings) (rate this audio book) Author: Haruki Murakami Narrator: Rupert Degas, Teresa Gallagher, Adam Sims Publisher: Penguin Random House Format: Unabridged Audiobook Delivery: Instant Download Audio Length: Release Date: January 2014 ISBN: 9780804166614
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The six stories in Haruki Murakami’s mesmerizing collection are set at the time of the catastrophic 1995 Kobe earthquake, when Japan became brutally aware of the fragility of its daily existence. But the upheavals that afflict Murakami’s characters are even deeper and more mysterious, emanating from a place where the human meets the inhuman.

An electronics salesman who has been abruptly deserted by his wife agrees to deliver an enigmatic package—and is rewarded with a glimpse of his true nature. A man who has been raised to view himself as the son of God pursues a stranger who may or may not be his human father. A mild-mannered collection agent receives a visit from a giant talking frog who enlists his help in saving Tokyo from destruction. As haunting as dreams, as potent as oracles, the stories in After the Quake are further proof that Murakami is one of the most visionary writers at work today.  

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Quotes & Awards

  • Ushers the reader into a hallucinatory world where the real and surreal merge and overlap, where dreams and real-life nightmares are impossible to tell apart. Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times
  • “His characters are so persuasive, and the storytelling so spacious. . . . Murakami’s crisp, accomplished stories in After the Quake have great immediacy. The Seattle Times
  • “One of the great Japanese exports. Details
  • “Unexpectedly powerful. . . . Moving. The New York Times Book Review
  • “Both mysterious and somehow quite familiar. Alan Cheuse, San Francisco Chronicle
  • In these stories . . . Murakami proves himself to be almost as fantastic–and as heroic–as his creations. Elle
  • Trim, beautiful, diamond sharp, and profoundly layered in . . . mystical symbolism and daily absurdities. Murakami’s evocations of grace and possible redemption are startling, dangerous, and moving. O, The Oprah Magazine
  • Haruki Murakami remains one of the most accessible Japanese writers for Western readers. LA Times
  • Spare yet richly mysterious and emotionally prismatic, these unpredictable tales explore the subtle ways the earthquake affected those who live far from its epicenter yet who are nonetheless shaken to their very core. . . .Haunting. Booklist (starred review)
  • Murakami has written a series of deeply evocative stories. Tulsa Today
  • The stories here are well-crafted and lyrical . . . They are sometimes absurd, sometimes quite funny, but they all have real epiphanies and real moments of feeling. Rocky Mountain News

  • “Ushers the reader into a hallucinatory world where the real and surreal merge and overlap, where dreams and real-life nightmares are impossible to tell apart.”

    New York Times

  • “Both mysterious and somehow quite familiar.”

    San Francisco Chronicle

  • “Haruki Murakami remains one of the most accessible Japanese writers for Western readers.”

    Los Angeles Times

  • “Trim, beautiful, diamond sharp, and profoundly layered in…mystical symbolism and daily absurdities. Murakami’s evocations of grace and possible redemption are startling, dangerous, and moving.”

    O, The Oprah Magazine

  • “In these stories…Murakami proves himself to be almost as fantastic—and as heroic—as his creations.”

    Elle

  • “One of the great Japanese exports.”

    Details

  • “His characters are so persuasive, and the storytelling so spacious…Murakami’s crisp, accomplished stories in After the Quake have great immediacy.”

    Seattle Times

  • “Murakami has written a series of deeply evocative stories.” 

    Tulsa Today

  • “The stories here are well-crafted and lyrical…They are sometimes absurd, sometimes quite funny, but they all have real epiphanies and real moments of feeling.”

    Rocky Mountain News

  • “Murakami has created a series of small masterpieces.”

    Publishers Weekly

  • “Spare yet richly mysterious and emotionally prismatic, these unpredictable tales explore the subtle ways the earthquake affected those who live far from its epicenter yet who are nonetheless shaken to their very core…Haunting.” 

    Booklist (starred review)

  • “It really is a wonderment to see how Murakami develops bizarre, ‘impossible’ premises into emotionally and thematically satisfying explorations of genuine human longing, extremity, epiphany, and growth. This writer goes from strength to strength. Magnificent.”

    Kirkus Reviews
  • One of the 2002 New York Times Book Review 100 Notable Books for Fiction

Listener Opinions

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Jennie | 2/16/2014

    " No real reason why I liked this one, I just did. The stories don't resolve themselves the way they do in some of Murakami's other collections but I just enjoyed spending a little time in this book. I liked Honey Pie the best because it reminded me of Norwegian Wood, but something about Thailand really grabbed me too. Super-Frog Saves Tokyo made me feel nostalgic for Kafka. "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Jana | 2/13/2014

    " This is what I know: I love Murakami, but I think some time will pass until I again pick up one of his books. I kind of cannot stand him right now. This is really not a fair review, but, just to say, I am frowning. So, that makes sense. "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Richard Janzen | 2/9/2014

    " Several short stories somewhat connected to the Kobe earthquake. I liked them. Dec 07 "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Danny Miller | 1/18/2014

    " Impulse buy at the author suggestion of a friend. Finished it in 2 days. "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Paul | 1/18/2014

    " Always enjoy Murakami, particularly his short stories and the six here are full of lovely observations, supressed emotions and enigmatic characters, against a backdrop of the Kobe earthquake. A lot of the characters have a link to family or friends there but largely remain as aloof from the earthquake as to these friends. "Honey Pie" is the best short story I've read in a while, even though it is a bit more sugary than is usually my taste (d'you see what I've done there?). "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Keir Thomas | 12/25/2013

    " Really enjoyed a couple of the stories, particularly the surreal 'Superfrog Saves Tokyo'. Others left me feeling a bit 'meh' - see 'UFO in Kushiro'. Overall, not bad, but doesn't leave a lasting impression. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Bob | 12/13/2013

    " Very sweet short stories here. Super Frog Saves Tokyo is now one of my favorite short stories. A quick read that's definitely worth taking a look at. "

  • 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 M. | 12/13/2013

    " worst dialogue i've encountered in 2k8 + plus pointlessly quirky anti-endings and incidents = i will not be reading any more haruki murakami. i'll stick to ryu, thanks. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Gleb | 12/6/2013

    " Very interesting book in great Murakami style. Its a book of several philosophic novels. Guess it shows that crisis in country can totally change our basic understanding of the world, of what we love even though it didn't effect us personally. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Roanne | 8/7/2013

    " I don't even like short stories, but this collection rocked. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Danielroffle | 6/16/2013

    " Absolutley worth it if you enjoy Murakami's matter-of-fact magic realism; funny, sad and gripping. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Amanda | 3/5/2013

    " Forgot how much I loved to read Murakami...it has been too long. Remembering the JETAA-NYC Bookclub with my first book of 2013. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Maggie | 3/1/2013

    " Several short stories about after the earthquake, and a couple that I can't remember. Not all of his short stories are easy to decipher at all, but there are some awesome images that will stay with you for a long time. "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Andi | 11/2/2012

    " I'm not usually a fan of short stories, but this was fantastic. I'm slowly working my way through all of Murakami's works. They are gems well worth the time. "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Han Jang | 10/25/2012

    " Writing about how characters were affected from afar by an earthquake is an interesting premise. I expected this idea to be the collection's primary focus, but I don't think Murakami delved far enough in its exploration. Still, I found most of the stories to be touching, if not too abstract. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Crystal | 7/1/2012

    " Pulled this one off the shelf this morning to re-read the story about Frog. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Kerstin | 4/1/2012

    " My first Murakami book, and after finishing it, I was genuinely spooked for a while. This does not happen to me often. Not bad, not bad at all. Really quite remarkable. "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Joe | 3/16/2012

    " Some really wonderful stories in this collection. A giant six foot frog, a woman that can predict your dreams and a family of bears that listen to the radio. As always dream like Murakami. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Carol Wakefield | 2/12/2012

    " Enigmatic. But compelling. Interpreting murakami is always a challenge but these stories at least have a common starting point, a devastating earthquake. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Akeem Bailey | 6/23/2011

    " Well worth the read. All God's Children Can Dance, Thailand & Honey Pie are some of Murakami's best short stories in my opinion... Honey Pie is especially good. "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Tony | 5/15/2011

    " A great collection of stories. The endcap, "Honey Pie", is absolutely the best thing I've read by him so far. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Danielroffle | 5/13/2011

    " Absolutley worth it if you enjoy Murakami's matter-of-fact magic realism; funny, sad and gripping. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Koen | 5/11/2011

    " A very small collection of short stories inspired by the 1995 Kobe earthquake. Not his best, but not bad, and at least the translation is good (Rubin). "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Stolee | 4/24/2011

    " Murakami is captivating to say the least. I particularly enjoyed the story "honey pie" as it was the most heartwarming and was about an emotionally-challenged writer with fits of obsessive work. I could identify a little bit. "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Janet | 4/19/2011

    " 3.5 stars, really. A quick and easy read, first time reading Murakami for me. I liked the fantasy element in some of them, and will probably try this author again.
    "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Cottageunderhill | 4/14/2011

    " Mr. Frog, I mean, Frog: you should totally come visit me. We will kick Worm's ass together with my awesome kung fu. "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Dan | 4/12/2011

    " A generally enjoyable read, but some of the stories worked better, i think, than others, which seemed to lack emotional oomph. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Joanna | 4/9/2011

    " Murakami without his usual veneer of chill. Why yes, he does have a heart. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Gleb | 4/5/2011

    " Very interesting book in great Murakami style. Its a book of several philosophic novels. Guess it shows that crisis in country can totally change our basic understanding of the world, of what we love even though it didn't effect us personally. "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Danny | 3/22/2011

    " Impulse buy at the author suggestion of a friend. Finished it in 2 days. "

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About the Author
Author Haruki Murakami

Haruki Murakami is a Japanese author of fiction and nonfiction works. His books and stories have been bestsellers in Japan as well as internationally, with his novel Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage topping the New York Times bestsellers list in 2014. His work has been translated into more than fifty languages. Murakami is the recipient of numerous awards, including the World Fantasy Award, the Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award, the Franz Kafka Prize, and the Jerusalem Prize.

About the Narrators

Rupert Degas can be heard reading numerous audiobooks, including the Saga of Darren Shan series by Darren Shan, and his narrations have won nine AudioFile Earphones Awards. He has also lent his voice to numerous cartoons, including Mr Bean, Robotboy, Bob the Builder and has performed in more than thirty radio productions, including The Gemini Apes, The Glittering Prizes, and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.

Teresa Gallagher has performed in many leading roles in both plays and musicals across the country, London’s West End, and Broadway. In addition, she is a well-known voice to listeners of BBC Radio Drama. Her work on film includes The Misadventures of Margaret and Mike Leigh’s Topsy Turvy. She has read numerous audiobooks throughout her career, including the Biography of Jane Austen by Elizabeth Jenkins and selections from The Decameron by Boccaccio, and has earned two AudioFile Earphones Awards.

Adam Sims, Earphones Award-winning narrator, is an actor who trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. His recordings for radio include Wenny Has Wings, The World According to Humphrey, and The Salamander Letter, all for the BBC. Film and theater credits include Band of Brothers on HBO; Lost in Space and The Madness of George III at the West Yorkshire Playhouse; Alice in Wonderland with the Royal Shakespeare Company; A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Regent’s Park; and Snake in Fridge at the Royal Exchange Theatre, for which he won the award for Best Actor at the Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards.

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