Popular author Haraki Murakami reveals his long-anticipated new novel following a six-year hiatus.
Haruki Murakami, the renowned Japanese author known for his magical realism and surrealism, is set to release a new novel titled "The City and Its Uncertain Walls" on April 13, 2021. The plot revolves around a young couple in love, with the girl mysteriously disappearing, leaving the boy on a lifelong quest to find her.
The story unfolds as the boy delves into the role of a head librarian, journeying from Tokyo to a small mountain town. Here, he encounters an uncanny, walled town where unicorns roam, a Gatekeeper controls entry, and shadows can detach from their owners. As he grows older, he uncovers mysterious details about the previous librarian and meets a strange young boy who helps him unravel what he had been missing all along.
Fans can expect themes of love and loss, quests for meaning, the interplay between reality and imagination, and exploration of identity in this novel. The work is described as an ode to books and libraries, presented as a parable suited to contemporary times. Murakami’s signature magical realism, blending the surreal with the everyday, is a strong element in this novel, with motifs such as other worlds, mysterious gates, and symbolic creatures like unicorns.
The novel, with approximately 1,200 pages in its original Japanese manuscript form, is Murakami's first work since 2017's "Killing Commendatore." The anticipation for this release was significant, much like the one for "Killing Commendatore" in 2017.
For those outside Japan, translations of the novel are expected after its publication, but confirmation from the publisher, Shinchosha, is uncertain. Fans eagerly await more news about the upcoming project from Murakami.
For those interested in delving deeper into Murakami's work and understanding his creative process, a visit to the Waseda University library is recommended. Here, a replica of Murakami's workspace is available for visitors, and the café and radio studio offer an opportunity to enjoy coffee and listen to music.
Murakami's novels, renowned for their imaginative world-building style narratives, both within Japan and internationally, are available in 50 languages and have sold millions of copies worldwide. The title and plot of the upcoming novel are still unknown, but the certainty of its release on April 13, 2021, has sparked excitement among fans, who are eagerly anticipating the new work from this acclaimed author.
In the upcoming novel "The City and Its Uncertain Walls" by Haruki Murakami, the unraveling protagonist works as a head librarian in a town where he discovers an eerie, walled city filled with unicorns and other surreal elements, making it a perfect blend of books and pure entertainment. Fans searching for translations of this work can look forward to them after the Japanese publication, offering an opportunity to explore his latest masterpiece even further.
