Novelist as a Vocation

Praise

A MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK: Esquire, Vulture, LitHub, New York Observer

“Murakami has written 14 acclaimed novels, including Hear the Wind Sing, Kafka on the Shore, Norwegian Wood, and his best-selling IQ84; dozens of short stories; and over a dozen books of essays and other nonfiction…Novelist is indeed his true vocation, and in this collection of 11 interconnected essays, he tells would-be fiction writers, struggling novelists, and his many devoted readers about the path he’s followed and the ideas and thoughts he’s had in the process…Although this is a concrete and practical guide, as Murakami intended, it is also a fascinating personal and professional memoir.” –Marcia Welsh, Library Journal (starred review)

“In this winsome volume, one of our greatest novelists invites readers into his creative process. The result is a revealing self-portrait that answers many burning questions about its reclusive subject, like: where do Murakami’s strange and surreal ideas come from? When and how did he start writing? How does he view the role of novels in contemporary society? Novelist as a Vocation is a rare and welcome peek behind the curtain of a singular mind.” –Adrienne Westenfeld, Esquire (“The Best Books of Fall 2022”)

“[Murakami]…reveals the tricks of the trade in this stellar essay collection…Lighthearted yet edifying, the anecdotes make for a fantastic look at how a key literary figure made it happen. Murakami’s fans will relish these amusing missives.” —Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)