English translation of much-anticipated triple-decker from Japanese novelist to be released to fans on the stroke of 12
Haruki Murakami. Photograph: Sipa Press / Rex Features
It's not quite on a Harry Potter scale, but bookshops are gearing up to mark the publication of Haruki Murakami's long-anticipated new novel 1Q84 with midnight openings.
Published on Tuesday 18 October, 1Q84 is the first long-form novel for Murakami's English fans since Kafka on the Shore was published in translation in 2005. The UK's largest book chain Waterstone's is celebrating its release with a midnight opening at its flagship Piccadilly branch, preceded by a "Murakami Mastermind" quiz – "very testing", according to the bookseller – with a £750 limited edition copy of the book as a prize. Independent chain Foyles is staying open late tonight with jazz and readings to enable fans to get their hands on a copy of the novel as soon as possible, and independent bookshops are joining in as well, with north London's Big Green Bookshop screening the film version of Murakami's best-known title Norwegian Wood this evening, before selling copies of 1Q84 from 00:01 tomorrow morning.
"It's very rare for us to open at midnight. Last year we did for the release of Terry Pratchett's new novel Unseen Academicals, when Terry did a Q&A and then came back at midnight in his nightshirt. Before that though, it was for Harry Potter," said Waterstone's spokesman Jon Howells. "Murakami fans are very excited. This is his first major novel in some years, and we're opening late in response to customer demand: they want to get their hands on it very quickly."
Simon Green, who runs the Big Green Bookshop, said that although the store had never opened so late before, he "wanted to celebrate the fact that Murakami's new book is out: our customers love him". Japanese drinks and food will be served to customers at a sold-out event in the bookshop before Norwegian Wood is screened, and readers will then go home with a new copy of 1Q84 at midnight. "It is a big deal: it's really exciting that people are getting excited about a literary work," Green said.
More at The Guardian
Published on Tuesday 18 October, 1Q84 is the first long-form novel for Murakami's English fans since Kafka on the Shore was published in translation in 2005. The UK's largest book chain Waterstone's is celebrating its release with a midnight opening at its flagship Piccadilly branch, preceded by a "Murakami Mastermind" quiz – "very testing", according to the bookseller – with a £750 limited edition copy of the book as a prize. Independent chain Foyles is staying open late tonight with jazz and readings to enable fans to get their hands on a copy of the novel as soon as possible, and independent bookshops are joining in as well, with north London's Big Green Bookshop screening the film version of Murakami's best-known title Norwegian Wood this evening, before selling copies of 1Q84 from 00:01 tomorrow morning.
"It's very rare for us to open at midnight. Last year we did for the release of Terry Pratchett's new novel Unseen Academicals, when Terry did a Q&A and then came back at midnight in his nightshirt. Before that though, it was for Harry Potter," said Waterstone's spokesman Jon Howells. "Murakami fans are very excited. This is his first major novel in some years, and we're opening late in response to customer demand: they want to get their hands on it very quickly."
Simon Green, who runs the Big Green Bookshop, said that although the store had never opened so late before, he "wanted to celebrate the fact that Murakami's new book is out: our customers love him". Japanese drinks and food will be served to customers at a sold-out event in the bookshop before Norwegian Wood is screened, and readers will then go home with a new copy of 1Q84 at midnight. "It is a big deal: it's really exciting that people are getting excited about a literary work," Green said.
More at The Guardian
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