![]() Murakami’s career has been a tale of two authors-the one who wrote fantastical narratives such as The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle and Kafka on the Shore, and the one who wrote Norwegian Wood, the product of a resolution to write a strictly realistic novel. Because of the critical splashdown made by 1Q84, and the author’s reputation solidified by his previous books, American readers are equally hungry for this latest work by a contemporary master. Though the English-language publication of the book is not surrounded by the same level of secrecy, the anticipation leading up to the novel’s release is no less palpable. ![]() On announcement, orders on Amazon Japan outpaced sales of 1Q84, even if beating its twelve-day sales record by only one day a million copies were printed due to overwhelming demand. Only a small coterie knew anything of the content of the book, much less the actual title. ![]() Anticipation was fueled by a campaign of containment that might make intelligence agencies envious-both author and publisher (Bungeishunjū) were cryptic or silent press galleys and review copies were nonexistent. ![]() ![]() One year ago, amid secrecy surrounding the Japanese release of Haruki Murakami’s first book since his epic project 1Q84, readers lined up at many late-night booksellers in Tokyo to purchase copies of Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |