Whenever he release a new novel- every three or fives years-theres an increase interest。 His 1987 novel Norwegian Wood, named after a Beatles song, become a classic among young Japanese , selling more than 4 million copies in Japan alone 。His latest novel Clorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage published in April, sold more than one million copies in first month.
The novelist who sells in the millions but keeps away from the public is Haruki Murakami
If you see eager fans wating outside bookshops in London or New York at midnight, if its not for something Harry Potter, it will be Haruki Murakamis latest novel .To date,Murakamis work has been translated into 42 languages and appeared on best-seller lists across the world。
So why the excitement ?Though Murakamis book sare set in Japan his subjects of loneliness, boredom and loss, resonate with readers everywhere 。
He was the first Japanese author whom readers stopped perceiving as Japanese。 You may see some mention of cherry blossoms and other Japanese symbols in the book title but as you read the book itself these soon disappear