The excitement is building for the on-sale of the much-anticipated novel, 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami. Not surprisingly, several bookstores across the country are joining in on the celebration with midnight release parties.
Here’s the rundown:
Elliott Bay Book Company (Seattle, WA): Elliott Bay will be extending its hours past their usual 10 PM close in anticipation of the release of 1Q84. The evening will be filled with Murakami trivia and a raffle to purchase a signed copy of 1Q84 (must be present to win)! Bonus: On Nov. 14th at 7PM, Jay Rubin, longtime Murakami translator, will be talking about translating the epic: 1Q84.
Green Apple Books (San Francisco, CA): Green Apple will be serving up tacos and beer at their midnight release party of 1Q84. Copies will be available to purchase at 12:01 on 10/25. Bonus: “Anyone who buys the book before midnight on the 24th will be entered in a raffle to win one of 10 signed copies of 1Q84 at no extra charge.”
St. Mark’s Bookshop (New York, NY): St. Mark’s will be extending its regular hours, selling 1Q84 at the stroke of midnight.
Three Lives & Company (New York, NY): Join Three Lives for their very first midnight launch event! “We’ve waited over two years for this and now the translation is complete and will be available for sale on 25 October. We’ll be open all evening on Monday the 24th, and at the stroke of midnight, when the horns of Janacek’s Sinfonietta sound, we’ll unpack 1Q84.” Bonus: The first 20 to purchase the book will receive a special gift! Also, rumor has it there will be beer.
Unabridged Bookstore (Chicago, IL): Copies go on-sale at 12:01 AM on 10/25 with a raffle of signed copies for those who attend! Bonus: The store will stay open through its regular hours on 10/24 until the release party on 10/25 so fans don’t wait outside in the cold. Now that’s love!
WORD (Brooklyn, NY): Launch party is primed and ready. Those wishing to attend the event (where they’ll be serving donuts and wine) must pre-order their copy of 1Q84 at the store or on their site. Bonus: Starting at 10:30 PM on 10/24/11, WORD will be hosting a Read-a-Thon in honor of Haruki Murakami. Submit your favorite passage beforehand to take part in the reading. WORD also has a super-limited stock of signed editions of 1Q84 that they’ll be raffling off to those picking up their pre-ordered copy.