Thoughts at the Sanseido Bookstore -Murakami Asahi-do -Haruki Murakami-

The other day, while I was buying a book at Sanseido Bookstore in Kanda, I noticed a girl at the same counter purchasing a book I had written. She bought two books, and one of them was mine. I remember what the other book was at that time, but I just can't seem to recall it now. As an author, I am very interested in knowing what kind of books my book is being purchased with. So, I'm making an effort to remember the name of my temporary neighbor, but I just can't seem to recall it. It's strange. Speaking of strange, it's quite unusual to see my own book being purchased at a bookstore. I remember once, when I first started writing novels, someone from the publishing company told me, "If you start seeing people buying your book at bookstores, then it's definitely a bestseller," and I was impressed, thinking, "Is that so?" It's a bit like seeing cockroaches or termites. However, honestly speaking, it's a delightful feeling to see my book being bought. Books need to be read to be relevant, and I don't think there are any authors who are upset about their books being sold. But it's not like I'm ecstatic about it either; there's a certain sense of melancholy that remains. It's hard to explain, but it's somewhat similar to the feeling of a girl watching her own nude photos being bought in a magazine. By the way, I know a few girls who have appeared in pin-up magazines for men. Surprisingly, even the ones you wouldn't expect. However, I have never actually seen their nude photos. That's because it takes about three months for the magazine to come out, and only then do the girls reveal to me personally, saying, "Actually, you know..." So, I think that kind of thing is quite rare.