Han’s Nobel and International Fiction


In young people’s self-help, a November trend was spotted in specialized guidance for male and female teens in China’s market.

Formerly pegged as ‘short-video’ platforms, market-influencing social media channels driving book sales in China now are being referred to as “content e-commerce channels,’ a reflection of a broadening of formats used to catch consumer attention. Image – Getty, Shanghai, October 15, Felix Morion Castilla

By Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief | @Porter_Anderson

Han Kang, Gender-Specific Self-Help, ‘Content E-Commerce’

Near year’s end, as Publishing Perspectives noted in our last Rights Roundup of 2024 and in our China Bestseller lists of October, the announcement of South Korea’s Han Kang as the winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature generated great pride and interest in her work in many parts of Asia.

‘The Vegetarian’ by Han Kang, from Sichuan Literature & Art Press

The reaction of the mainland Chinese market was part of this, with Han’s The Vegetarian in its 2021 Mandarin translation from Sichuan Literature & Art Press going from No. 5 up to No. 2 on the Beijing OpenBook fiction bestseller November lists in fiction and to No. 1 on foreign-author fiction. In fact, Han’s My Woman’s Fruits was at No. 12 by the end of the month on foreign-author fiction, along with The White Book at No. 19, both from Sichuan Literature & Art Press.

Clearly, Han’s selection as the first Asian woman and the first Korean writer to be made a Nobel laureate in literature had predictable and understandable impact in many Asian book markets. At 53, Han is also reported to be the youngest Nobel-winning author in some 40 years.

However, this consumer interest in work from outside China is hardly new and not surprising to those who follow these charts.

Setting aside the Nobel attention, we’ve watched for years as Japan’s Keigo Higashino—Nos. 9, 11, 15, and 17 in November— found a formidably loyal audience in China for his work, something his countryman, the popular manga artist Tatsuki Fujimoto (Nos. 14 and 20), is starting to see, as well.

‘Take Care’ by Da Bing from Beijing Union Publishing

In-country, with strong, continuing reader interest, the Chinese author Da Bing saw his Take Care from Beijing Union Publishing arrive at No. 13 on the fiction list. Bing’s May You 2.0 and Take It Easy 2.0 had shown strength in October. The key element in Da’s market punch is in his social-media following.

And one of the latest demonstrations of the impact of film and television on market dynamics is the television series Love Game in Eastern Fantasy, based on Yang Wan’s original story, and directed by Yilong Zhao.

Its release in November, including in the Australian market, appears to be driving healthy book sales.

Actors Esther Yu and Yuxi Ding in ‘Love Game in Eastern Fantasy,’ based on the Web novel ‘The Guide to Capturing a Black Lotus.’ Image: Promotional still, Tansent

The title, from Qingdao Publishing House, quickly arrived at No. 25 on the fiction list, the television series carrying a plot description that reads: “Girl Ling enters novel’s world as villain. To escape, she joins monster hunters Mu Yao, Liu Fu Yi in battles against beasts, conflicts, rewriting fate to save humanity.”

The period-costuming and visual aesthetic are by now very familiar to those  who follow the Chinese YA romance market.

A part of the energy behind book sales is that both the book and the television series are based on a Web novel, The Guide to Capturing a Black Lotus, by Bai Yu Zhai Diao Gong.

As is the trend, the release of the show in November was accompanied not only by content developed by the publisher and the production group but also by fan fiction developed by avid readers themselves.

Gender-Specific Topical Titles for Adolescents

Lastly, an interesting note on children’s books in November has to do with new attention going to gender-specific psychological developmental self-help books for teens.

Publishers, faced with an upturn in self-help across the board—and calls for more guidance from parents in working with their youngsters—”have seized on the different growth points of boys and girls,” our research associates at OpenBook tell us, “to create differentiated products that have been warmly received by the market.”

These include Girl, Self-Safety is More Important and Boy, It’s Important to Be Strong Within Yourself. A key driver here is “content e-commerce channels,” which have in the past been called “short-video e-commerce.” The term is being expanded in favor of “content” over “short video” to reflect a widening array of formats being generated as promotional messaging in these channels in China.

Below, then, are OpenBook’s overall lists from November 2024 of bestsellers in fiction, nonfiction, and children’s books, followed by its lists of bestselling fiction and nonfiction in China by authors from outside the country.

At the end of our article, as always, you’ll find notes on how the lists are constructed.

At November’s 11th China Shanghai International Children’s Book Fair, directed by Donna Chai in cooperation with Bologna Children’s Book Fair’s Elena Pasoli and Bologna Book Plus’ Jacks Thomas. Image: Publishing Perspectives, Porter Anderson

OpenBook’s Fiction Bestsellers, November 2024
November 2024 Ranking ISBN Release Date Title (Translated) Author Chinese Publisher
1 9787530221532 2021-10 To Live (2021 Edition) Yu Hua Beijing October Art & Literature Publishing House
2 9787541160868 2021-09 The Vegetarian Han Kang Sichuan Literature & Art Press
3 9787201112695 2017-03 Siddhartha Hermann Hesse Tianjin People’s Publishing House
4 9787536097261 2022-07 Someone To Talk To Liu Zhenyun Flower City Press
5 9787572608582 2022-10 The Litchi Road Ma Boyong Hunan Literature & Art Press
6 9787536692930 2008-01 The Three-Body Problem Liu Cixin Chongqing Publishing House
7 9787020139590 2019-06 The Last Quarter of the Moon Chi Zijian People’s Literature Publishing House
8 9787229030933 2010-11 Death’s End Liu Cixin Chongqing Publishing House
9 9787544291170 2017-08 One Hundred Years of Solitude (50th Anniversary Edition) Gabriel García Márquez Nan Hai Publishing Co.
10 9787536693968 2008-05 The Dark Forest Liu Cixin Chongqing Publishing House
11 9787540487645 2018-06 Moments We Shared Zhang Jiajia Hunan Literature & Art Press
12 9787020008735 1998-07 Journey to the West Wu Cheng’en People’s Literature Publishing House
13 9787559664129 2022-08 Take Care Da Bing Beijing Union Publishing Co., Ltd.
14 9787513348362 2022-08 Look Back Tatsuki Fujimoto New Star Press Co., Ltd.
15 9787530221396 2021-06 Ordinary Word (3 Volumes) (2021 Edition) Lu Yao Beijing October Art & Literature Publishing House
16 9787572610912 2023-05 The Annoyance of the Gods Ma Boyong Hunan Literature & Art Press
17 9787559484543 2024-07 I’m as Timid as a Hare Yu Hua Jiangsu Literature & Art Press
18 9787544766500 2017-01 To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee Yilin Press
19 9787020002207 1998-07 Dream of the Red Chamber Cao Xueqin People’s Literature Publishing House
20 9787559484581 2024-09 A Woman’s Victory Yu Hua Jiangsu Literature & Art Press
21 9787521748239 2022-12 Goodbye, Eri Tatsuki Fujimoto CITIC Publishing House Co., Ltd.
22 9787020178063 2023-04 Notes on Principles Shi Tiesheng People’s Literature Publishing House
23 9787201141527 2018-10 Strait is the Gate Andre Gide Tianjin People’s Publishing House
24 9787559484550 2024-03 Go On a Long Trip at Eighteen Yu Hua Jiangsu Literature & Art Press
25 9787555291183 2020-11 Love Game in Eastern Fantasy Bai Yu Zhai Diao Gong Qingdao Publishing House
26 9787513348744 2022-11 The Seventh Day Yu Hua New Star Press Co., Ltd.
27 9787572616099 2024-03 The Journey to the South Ma Boyong Hunan Literature & Art Press
28 9787020164776 2020-07 A Late Bloomer Mo Yan People’s Literature Publishing House
29 9787541161834 2022-07 Notebook of a Grave Robber (1) Nanpai Sanshu Sichuan Literature & Art Press
30 9787530221570 2024-03 Chronicle of a Blood Merchant Yu Hua Beijing October Art & Literature Publishing House

OpenBook’s Nonfiction Bestsellers, November 2024
November 2024 Ranking ISBN Release Date Title (Translated) Author Chinese Publisher
1 9787521768923 2024-11 The Engineer’s Spirit: BYD at Thirty (1994-2024) Qin Shuo, Xiong Yuejia CITIC Publishing House Co., Ltd.
2 9787122450791 2024-04 Comic The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine Zhang Jiaming, Wang Jing Chemical Industry Press
3 9787557033118 2024-06 If History were a Group of Cats: The Late Ming Dynasty and the Early Qing Dynasty Fei Zhi Guangdong Tourism Publishing House
4 9787020084357 2011-04 I and the Temple of Earth Shi Tiesheng People’s Literature Publishing House
5 9787557031589 2023-11 If History were a Group of Cats: The Ming Dynasty Fei Zhi Guangdong Tourism Publishing House
6 9787111495482 2015-04 The Courage to Be Disliked Ichiro Kishimi, Fumitake Koga China Machine Press
7 9787559490742 2024-11 Beyond the Music: Road to JJ20 JJ Lin Jiangsu Literature & Art Press
8 9787536094352 2021-09 My Altay Li Juan Flower City Press
9 9787201161693 2020-08 Counselling for Toads: A Psychological Adventure Robert de Board Tianjin People’s Publishing House
10 9787557030162 2023-05 If History were a Group of Cats: Late Yuan and Early Ming Dynasty Fei Zhi Guangdong Tourism Publishing House
11 9787576715842 2024-09 There Will Be No More Conspiracies In The World Wen Fei Harbin Institute of Technology Press
12 9787557027063 2022-04 If History were a Group of Cats: Song, Liao, Jin Dynasty and the Western Xia Regime Fei Zhi Guangdong Tourism Publishing House
13 9787557020149 2019-09 If History were a Group of Cats: Three Kingdoms Fei Zhi Guangdong Tourism Publishing House
14 9787513357685 2024-10 Real Demands Liang Ning New Star Press Co., Ltd.
15 9787540483432 2017-11 Jottings in Sickbed (Commemorative Edition 2021) Shi Tiesheng Hunan Literature & Art Press
16 9787557028657 2022-10 If History were a Group of Cats: Southern Song, Jin and Yuan Dynasty Fei Zhi Guangdong Tourism Publishing House
17 9787557020132 2019-09 If History were a Group of Cats: The End of Eastern Han Dynasty Fei Zhi Guangdong Tourism Publishing House
18 9787557024413 2021-05 If History were a Group of Cats: Prosperity of the Tang Dynasty Fei Zhi Guangdong Tourism Publishing House
19 9787544276986 2019-10 Educated: A Memoir Tara Westover Nan Hai Publishing Co.
20 9787557023041 2020-10 If History were a Group of Cats: Sui and Tang Dynasty Fei Zhi Guangdong Tourism Publishing House
21 9787502078942 2021-05 Talmud Guo Yongshui Emergency Management Press
22 9787521760323 2024-02 Timelines of World History Dorling Kindersley Limited CITIC Publishing House Co., Ltd.
23 9787557021856 2020-05 If History were a Group of Cats: Wei, Jin and the Northern and Southern Dynasties Fei Zhi Guangdong Tourism Publishing House
24 9787557017477 2019-02 If History were a Group of Cats: Qin, Chu, Western Han and Eastern Han Dynasty Fei Zhi Guangdong Tourism Publishing House
25 9787557025847 2021-11 If History were a Group of Cats: Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Fei Zhi Guangdong Tourism Publishing House
26 9787521758399 2023-09 Elon Musk Walter Isaacson CITIC Publishing House Co., Ltd.
27 9787550207516 2012-06 Illustrate the World: Travelling Around China Editing Group of This Book Beijing Union Publishing Co., Ltd.
28 9787020135639 2018-03 I and the Temple of Earth Shi Tiesheng People’s Literature Publishing House
29 9787557030599 2023-06 If History were a Group of Cats: Xia, Shang and Western Zhou Dynasty Fei Zhi Guangdong Tourism Publishing House
30 9787115543424 2020-09 Cognitive Awakening: The Driving Force Behind Self-Change Zhou Ling Posts & Telecommunications Publishing House

OpenBook’s Children’s Bestsellers, November 2024
November 2024 Ranking ISBN Release Date Title (Translated) Author Chinese Publisher
1 9787530778494 2024-09 Comic Teen Adventures: The Way of the Wolf (4 volumes) Kou Qiankun New Buds Publishing House
2 9787559728920 2023-02 Backbone of Nation: The Scientific Life of Chinese Academicians and The Development History of Chinese Science Academic Divisions of The Chinese Academy of Sciences Zhejiang Juvenile and Children’s Publishing House
3 9787556882236 2024-08 Treasure Hunting in Jilin Jingding Comic 21st Century Press Group
4 9787532767373 2014-08 Charlotte’s Web Elwyn Brooks White Shanghai Translation Publishing House
5 9787556878871 2023-11 Treasure Hunting in Shanxi Jingding Comic 21st Century Press Group
6 9787570544394 2024-07 Comic Physics and Chemistry Enlightenment Book Sun Jing Jiangxi Education Press
7 9787500178415 2024-06 Physics Comic Enlightenment Planet Culture China Translation & Publishing Corporation
8 9787500179795 2024-07 Chemistry Comic Enlightenment Planet Culture China Translation & Publishing Corporation
9 9787533274269 2013-08 Guess How Much I Love You Sam McBratney, Anita Jeram Tomorrow Publishing House
10 9787533264062 2010-12 Let’s Get Mung Beans, Momma! Zeng Yangqing, Wan Huaguo Tomorrow Publishing House
11 9787556869589 2023-01 Treasure Hunting in Beijing Jingding Comic 21st Century Press Group
12 9787556869602 202302 Treasure Hunting in Chongqing Jingding Comic 21st Century Press Group
13 9787556869572 2023-01 Treasure Hunting in Shanghai Jingding Comic 21st Century Press Group
14 9787556869848 2023-02 Treasure Hunting in Heilongjiang Jingding Comic 21st Century Press Group
15 9787536574366 2016-01 Mi Xiaoquan’s Brain-teaser: Stratego Bei Mao Sichuan Juvenile and Children’s Publishing House
16 9787536574373 2016-01 Mi Xiaoquan’s Brain-teaser: The Great Adventure of the Castle Bei Mao Sichuan Juvenile and Children’s Publishing House
17 9787536574397 2016-01 Mi Xiaoquan’s Brain-teaser: Clever Little Prodigy Bei Mao Sichuan Juvenile and Children’s Publishing House
18 9787536574380 2016-01 Mi Xiaoquan’s Brain-teaser: Who’s the Smart Guy? Bei Mao Sichuan Juvenile and Children’s Publishing House
19 9787556869596 2023-02 Treasure Hunting in Tianjin Jingding Comic 21st Century Press Group
20 9787559706522 2018-05 The Foolish and the Unhappy (With Chinese Pinyin) Ren Rongrong Zhejiang Juvenile and Children’s Publishing House
21 9787556869695 2023-02 Treasure Hunting in Yunnan Jingding Comic 21st Century Press Group
22 9787521334876 2022-05 Pip and Posy: The Birthday Party Axel Scheffler Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press
23 9787556869855 2023-02 Treasure Hunting in Neimenggu Jingding Comic 21st Century Press Group
24 9787556869640 2023-02 Treasure Hunting in Zhejiang Jingding Comic 21st Century Press Group
25 9787556869626 2023-02 Treasure Hunting in Sichuan Jingding Comic 21st Century Press Group
26 9787556869831 2023-02 Treasure Hunting in Hainan Jingding Comic 21st Century Press Group
27 9787556869749 2023-02 Treasure Hunting in Liaoning Jingding Comic 21st Century Press Group
28 9787536587731 2018-04 Mi Xiaoquan School Experience: Trouble of the New Deskmate Bei Mao Sichuan Juvenile and Children’s Publishing House
29 9787513585828 2017-06 Pip and Posy: The New Friend Axel Scheffler Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press
30 9787521312201 2019-12 Pip and Posy: The Christmas Tree Axel Scheffler Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press

Foreign Author Fiction Bestsellers, November 2024
November 2024 Ranking ISBN Release Date Title (Translated) Author Author nationality Chinese Publisher
1 9787541160868 2021-09 The Vegetarian Han Kang Korea Sichuan Literature & Art Press
2 9787201112695 2017-03 Siddhartha Hermann Hesse Germany Tianjin People’s Publishing House
3 9787544291170 2017-08 One Hundred Years of Solitude (50th Anniversary Edition) Gabriel García Márquez Colombia Nan Hai Publishing Co.
4 9787513348362 2022-08 Look Back Tatsuki Fujimoto Japan New Star Press Co., Ltd.
5 9787544766500 2017-01 To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee United States of America Yilin Press
6 9787521748239 2022-12 Goodbye, Eri Tatsuki Fujimoto Japan CITIC Publishing House Co., Ltd.
7 9787201141527 2018-10 Strait is the Gate Andre Gide France Tianjin People’s Publishing House
8 9787208061644 2006-04 The Kite Runner Khaled Hosseini United States of America Shanghai People’s Publishing House
9 9787544291163 2017-08 Journey Under the Midnight Sun (2017 Edition) Keigo Higashino Japan Nan Hai Publishing Co.
10 9787559489357 2024-10 The City and Its Uncertain Walls Haruki Murakami Japan Jiangsu Literature & Art Press
11 9787544298995 2020-09 Miracles of the Namiya General Store (2020 Edition) Keigo Higashino Japan Nan Hai Publishing Co.
12 9787541165320 2023-02 My Woman’s Fruits Han Kang Korea Sichuan Literature & Art Press
13 9787201142708 2018-12 Klingsor’s Last Summer Hermann Hesse Germany Tianjin People’s Publishing House
14 9787544297059 2020-03 Love in the Time of Cholera (3 Million Sold Anniversary Edition) Gabriel García Márquez Colombia Nan Hai Publishing Co.
15 9787544269452 2021-12 Malice (2022 Edition) Keigo Higashino Japan Nan Hai Publishing Co.
16 9787511379054 2019-10 The Moon and Sixpence William Somerset Maugham Britain China Overseas Chinese Press
17 9787573500014 2021-11 The Devotion of Suspect X (2022 Edition) Keigo Higashino Japan Nan Hai Publishing Co.
18 9787530217054 2017-12 The Alchemist Paulo Coelho Brazil Beijing October Art & Literature Publishing House
19 9787541163760 2022-09 The White Book Han Kang Korea Sichuan Literature & Art Press
20 9787532175512 2020-05 13 Steps Kazuaki Takano Japan Shanghai Literature & Art Press

Foreign Author Nonfiction Bestsellers, November 2024
November 2024 Ranking ISBN Release Date Title (Translated) Author Author nationality Chinese Publisher
1 9787111495482 2015-04 The Courage to Be Disliked Ichiro Kishimi, Fumitake Koga Japan China Machine Press
2 9787559490742 2024-11 Beyond the Music: Road to JJ20 JJ Lin Singapore Jiangsu Literature & Art Press
3 9787201161693 2020-08 Counselling for Toads: A Psychological Adventure Robert de Board Britain Tianjin People’s Publishing House
4 9787544276986 2019-10 Educated: A Memoir Tara Westover United States of America Nan Hai Publishing Co.
5 9787521760323 2024-02 Timelines of World History Dorling Kindersley Limited Britain CITIC Publishing House Co., Ltd.
6 9787521758399 2023-09 Elon Musk Walter Isaacson United States of America CITIC Publishing House Co., Ltd.
7 9787516837375 2024-01 There’s An Elephant In Every Mosquito: Why We Don’t Get Upset About Little Things For No Reason Ernstfried Hanisch, Eva Wunderer Germany Taihai Publishing House
8 9787522200514 2021-05 Nonviolent Communication Marshall B.Rosenberg United States of America Huaxia Publishing House
9 9787521762181 2024-04 The Worlds I See: Curiosity, Exploration, and Discovery at the Dawn of AI Fei-Fei Li United States of America CITIC Publishing House Co., Ltd.
10 9787550268517 2016-07 Positive Discipline (Revised Edition) Jane Nelsen United States of America Beijing Union Publishing Co., Ltd.
11 9787521768527 2024-08 Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI Yuval Noah Harari Israel CITIC Publishing House Co., Ltd.
12 9787535780348 2015-05 Why Nations Fail Janmes A. Robinson United States of America Hunan Science & Technology Press
13 9787201151656 2019-10 A Room of One’s Own Virginia Woolf Britain Tianjin People’s Publishing House
14 9787521741124 2022-04 The Almanack of Naval Ravikant: A Guide to Wealth and Happiness Eric Jorgenson United States of America CITIC Publishing House Co., Ltd.
15 9787574217324 2024-02 Why Is Hunger Good? Yumi Ishihara Japan Tianjin Science & Technology Press
16 9787111551447 2016-12 The Red Book Carl Gustav Jung, Sonu Shamdasani Switzerland China Machine Press
17 9787111735779 2024-01 My father before me :how fathers and sons influence each other throughout their lives Michael J. Diamond United States of America China Machine Press
18 9787108009821 1998-07 1587, A Year of No Significance Ray Huang United States of America SDX Joint Publishing Company
19 9787521719253 2020-08 The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read (and Your Children Will Be Glad That You Did) Philippa Perry Britain CITIC Publishing House Co., Ltd.
20 9787508633558 2012-07 Thinking, Fast and Slow Daniel Kanneman United States of America CITIC Publishing House Co., Ltd.

A conference series program at November’s 11th China Shanghai International Children’s Book Fair, directed by Donna Chai in cooperation with Bologna Children’s Book Fair’s Elena Pasoli and Bologna Book Plus’ Jacks Thomas. Image: Publishing Perspectives, Porter Anderson

Notes on the Charts

OpenBook is a privately owned industry-data research firm based in Beijing. It functions somewhat as Nielsen and NDP do from the West, and Nielsen Book Research International has worked with OpenBook in Asian operations. With authoritative data and information resources, OpenBook is able to deliver consulting service to partners who would like to explore the Chinese book market and identify suitable partners.

At last report, OpenBook monitored more than 18,000 online and offline bookstores.

The online channel includes digital retailers such as large self-operated online stores, platform stores, and small- and medium-sized stores. The offline channels include more than 4,800 bookstores. Coverage includes most of the state-owned and influential privately owned bookstores in 30 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions. Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Tibet are not included in OpenBook’s system.

In 2022, OpenBook tracked around 76.21 billion RMB in sales (US$10.62 billion).

Retail outlets include:

  • Traditional bookstores
  • Supermarkets
  • Campus bookstores
  • “Professional” stores, said to be small stores with a specific industrial or trade focus
  • Airport stores

In addition, OpenBook is drawing data from online bookstores of three main types:

  • The “Tmall” stores of Alibaba (Tmall is described as a marketplace of companies that create storefronts online to sell products including books)
  • The “JingDong” Stores of JD.com (similar to Tmall as a marketplace of both individual companies and bookstores operated by JD.com)
  • Ten independent online bookselling retailers

China has 500 or more publishers in operation today. Most of them are government-owned. Private publishers are required to generate ISBNs for their titles from a publishing company that is government-owned—which, in other words, creates a system in which all ISBNs are registered through government channels. The government approves each book published in China.


More China bestseller reports from Publishing Perspectives are here, and more on the Chinese book publishing market is here.

About the Author

Porter Anderson

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Porter Anderson has been named International Trade Press Journalist of the Year in London Book Fair’s International Excellence Awards. He is Editor-in-Chief of Publishing Perspectives. He formerly was Associate Editor for The FutureBook at London’s The Bookseller. Anderson was for more than a decade a senior producer and anchor with CNN.com, CNN International, and CNN USA. As an arts critic (Fellow, National Critics Institute), he was with The Village Voice, the Dallas Times Herald, and the Tampa Tribune, now the Tampa Bay Times. He co-founded The Hot Sheet, a newsletter for authors, which now is owned and operated by Jane Friedman.



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