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Three fantasy novels by popular American writer Stephenie Meyer are included on the list of best-selling books in Korea during the final week of January tallied by the Korean Publishers Society. The "Twilight" trilogy, about a romance between a teenage girl and a vampire, raced to the top of the list, alongside the movie of the same name. These days books printed in their original language are published at the same time as their Korean translations.
¡ß Vampires Dominate the United States
Half of the best-sellers on Amazon.com in January -- first, second, third, fifth and ninth places -- were fantasy novels written by Stephenie Meyers. Last year, fantasy novels accounted for three of the top 10 best sellers. "Twilight" and Christopher Paolini's "Brisingr" took first and second places, while Meyers' "The Host" was tenth. Kim Hee-soon, head of intellectual property rights broker Eric Yang Agency, says self-help books are popular, especially in times when it is difficult to predict the future. Buoyed by the inauguration of U.S. President Barack Obama, new books by popular African-American writers, such as Maya Angelou and Toni Morrison, are entering the best-seller list.
¡ß Blood Types Rule in Japan
In 2008, the big hit in Japanese publishing was the "Instruction Manual for People with Type-B Blood." The book, which focuses on the characteristics of people with different blood types, has sold more than five million copies until now, with follow-up titles on types A, O and AB. Han Ki-ho, head of the Korean Publishing Marketing Research Institute, says people who have become lonely are buying those books in hopes of predicting their futures.
¡ß Health Sells in China
The most popular subject in China's publishing industry last year was health. Carrot Korea Agency head Paik Eun-young says books about health are popular in China since they allow readers to invest in themselves for a small fee while consumer sentiment remains weak. Also, industry watchers predict books about modern Chinese history to become popular this year, which marks the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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