The new Murakami 2-volume novel is selling fast enough to set records for the publisher in Japan. I wonder how long we’ll have to wait to see this one in the US?

The publisher and Murakami, who rarely gives media interviews, kept a veil over “1Q84,” which can be read as “1984″ in Japanese, after many readers asked not be told about the plot before reading the novel.

[via AFP]

A blogger and fan summarizes a recent appearance of Haruki Murakami at Zellerbach Auditorium on the Berkeley Campus.

“Writing a story for me is just like playing a video game. I start with a word or idea, then I stick out my hand to catch what’s coming next. I’m a player, and at the same time, I’m a programmer. It’s kind of like playing chess by yourself. When you’re the white player, you don’t think about the black player. It’s possible, but it’s hard. It’s kind of schizophrenic.”

[via The Millions]