Haruki Murakami’s new novel named Japan's bestsellerDecember 3, 2013 - 14:58 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The new novel by literary superstar Haruki Murakami was Japan's biggest-selling book of 2013, the nation's largest distributor said, according to AFP. The novel, about a man struggling to come to terms with events in his past, beat off competition from the flood of self-help books and how-to manuals published in Japan every year to come top of the list released Monday, December 2 by Nippon Shuppan Hanbai. Murakami's “Shikisai wo Motanai Tazaki Tsukuru to Kare no Junrei no Toshi (Colourless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage)” was released in Japanese in April. The best-seller list covers the 12-month period to November 30. The distributor does not disclose the number of copies it sold but Bungei Shunju, the publisher of the Murakami book, says it has printed 1.05 million copies. Second place in the list went to a book by a cancer specialist cautioning against sufferers having surgery too early. Murakami, who has a large and loyal following worldwide, is regularly mentioned as a potential winner of the Nobel literature prize, but was passed over again this year in favour of Canadian Alice Munro. His works are sprinkled with pop culture references and characterised by lyrical prose that deals — sometimes surreally with his characters' struggles on the margins of Japanese society. An English translation of his latest novel is expected some time next year. Related links: Top stories The creative crew of the Public TV had chosen 13-year-old Malena as a participant of this year's contest. She called on others to also suspend their accounts over the companies’ failure to tackle hate speech. Penderecki was known for his film scores, including for William Friedkin’s “The Exorcist”, Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining”. The festival made the news public on March 19, saying that “several options are considered in order to preserve its running” Partner news | Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. Azerbaijan must respect human rights, Scholz tells Aliyev German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called for greater respect for human rights in Azerbaijan. Armenia: Defense Ministry warns against involving army in political processes The Ministry’s statement came after a video surfaced online, showing soldiers joining the protests in Tavush. Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year. |