Novelist as a Vocation

Named a Best Book of the Year by Esquire"Assured, candid." —The New York Times"Captivating." —TIME"There's something wonderfully freeing about turning a constraint into a boon—similarly, Murakami pushes back against the trope of 'the suffering writer.' This is a good [book] to read if you need a reminder that the act of writing can, and maybe even should, be pleasurable." —Vanity Fair"A generally charming excursion through the mind of one of the world's most beloved novelists. . . . A fascinating backstage pass to Murakami's process and approach to creating fiction." —Boston Globe"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." —Esquire"A series of intriguing glimpses into the singular mind of Murakami." —The Guardian"[Murakami] writes directly and honestly about his own creative and linguistic processes, low points in his pre-writing career. . . . The book is a frank account from a person who comes across as incredibly common despite the fact that his books, of which he's written over a dozen, have sold many millions of copies around the world." —Japan Times"[A] compelling look at [the] mysteries of the novel from a master of the art." —Business Post"Novelist is indeed [Murakami's] true vocation. . . . Although this is a concrete and practical guide, as Murakami intended, it is also a fascinating personal and professional memoir." —Library Journal (starred review)"[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)"A lively collection. . . . Murakami describes the path that led him to become a novelist, and offers plentiful insights into his craft. . . . This genial collection offers one writer's perspective on how they got that way." —Shelf Awareness"A delightful volume on how to be a successful author. . . . Murakami is a modern treasure." —Washington Independent Review of Books"Novelist as a Vocation is an indispensable contribution to understanding Murakami's astounding mind and method. It shows what makes Murakami run—on the street and on the page." —Los Angeles Review of Books