“I don’t think it really matters whether you know a lot about books or not. That said, I don’t know that much myself. But I think what matters far more with a book is how it affects you.”
The moving international sensation about new beginnings, human connection, and the joy of reading.
Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa / translated by Eric Ozawa
Published by Harper Perennial; July 4, 2023
Genres: Fiction | Contemporary | Asian Literature
Pages: 150 Paperback
Format: Paperback
Source: Public Library
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T/W: Depression, heartbreak, child loss
Rated: Adult
★★★☆☆ | 3.5 / 5
When you think of a bookshop, cozy comes to mind. However, this one is a little far from that concept. The premise of the story is about a young woman who ends up staying with her uncle at his bookshop. He allows her to stay with him until she can figure out what to do with her life.
“It’s important to stand still sometimes. Think of it as a little rest in the long journey of your life. This is your harbor. And your boat is just dropping anchor here for a little while. And after you’re well rested, you can set sail again.”
Perhaps it was just the way the story was translated. Being a short book at 150 pages long, it was a straightforward read. We get to walk the streets of Jimbocho, Japan’s book town, home to over 200 bookstores carrying a variety of books. Additionally, we get to explore various small areas of Japan. Makes me feel as though I’ve already been there.
I wanted to love this. Without spoiling, I enjoyed the first part more than I did the second part of the novel. And I wished it could have been more of that. While the second part was necessary, it took me a little longer than I liked to pick up the book to finish it when I got to it.
I will admit that I did shed a tear or two, which is why I would give this novel a bit of a higher rating than normal. It made me feel something on a deeper level, and for that, I appreciate it.
This isn’t to say that I will avoid any type of English-translated novel. There is the possibility that I will pick up the second book in this series, More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa. I will still give them a chance as long as they hold my interest.
★★★☆☆ | 3.5 / 5
