On the Books: Haruki Murakami tops speculative Nobel Prize shortlist

The Nobel Prize for Literature will be awarded this week, and the literary world is placing its bets on who will be the next winner. Meanwhile, Andrew Wylie blasted Amazon in a new interview, and Atavist Books is staking its claim in the digital landscape. Read on for today's top books headlines:

British bookmaker and betting site Ladbrokes announced its speculative shortlist for the Nobel Prize, with Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami at the top this year. Ladbrokes' top pick has previously gone on to win in 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2011. The next winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature will be announced Thursday morning in stockholm. [Boston Globe]

Literary agent Andrew Wylie — better known as "the Jackal" to publishing insiders — criticized Amazon in a new interview with The New Republic, saying the company "has talked itself into the position of thinking that it can thrive without the assistance of anyone else. That is megalomania." [The New Republic]

Multiplatform publishing company Atavist Books has launched its list of available authors, including Karen Russell, Hari Kunzru and Kamila Shamsie, who will publish digital-only work. [Atavist]

Elizabeth Smart, the kidnapping victim who dominated headlines, wrote a memoir published this week by St. Martin's. She shares more details in an interview. [LA Times]

Cartoonist Al Jaffee is donating most of his work to Columbia University. [The New York Times]

Speaking of artists, they may be the key to the future of publishing, argues Tim Douglas. [The Australian]

Curious about how the new Bridget Jones book is doing, reviews-wise? Here's a roundup. [The Telegraph]

Lastly, here's your must-read of the day: Granta published Paul Auster's new short story, "You Remember the Planes." [Granta]