After the Quake would not have been my first choice, but I am quite happy with the selection. I have really enjoyed the other books by him that I have read. There was recently a question in the quiz thread (in the Lounge Forum) about past winners of the Kafka Prize. I knew that Murakami was one, but not any of the others. Anyway an author that wins that prize rises in stature in my opinion. I do like Kafka.