“When I open them, most of the books have the smell of an earlier time leaking out between the pages - a special odor of the knowledge and emotions that for ages have been calmly resting between the covers. Breathing it in, I glance through a few pages before returning each book to its shelf.”

Japanese writer

Haruki Murakami is a Japanese writer known for his novels, essays, and short stories. His work has reached readers in Japan and far beyond, and he has received many major literary awards. Murakami’s books have been best-sellers, with translations in 50 languages and millions of copies sold outside Japan. His honors include the Gunzo Prize for New Writers, the World Fantasy Award, the Tanizaki Prize, the Yomiuri Prize for Literature, the Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award, the Noma Literary Prize, the Franz Kafka Prize, the Kiriyama Prize for Fiction, the Goodreads Choice Awards for Best Fiction, the Jerusalem Prize, and the Princess of Asturias Awards.