This is the first book by Yōko Mure that I have read, and I really enjoyed it. 😊
This is such a warm and comforting Japanese book. 🥰
A simple story about life, food, cats, and finding your own way after life takes an unexpected turn.
I really enjoyed the atmosphere. The bread and soup made me feel like I was sitting in the little shop together with the characters. 😋
I really like how the story shows that happiness does not always need to be something big. Sometimes a quiet life, good food, a cat, and a peaceful place are enough.
The cats are definitely one of my favourite parts. 🐈 😻
The story is easy to read and gives me a relaxing feeling. A good book to pick up when you want to take a break from heavier books.
It also reminds me of some other Japanese cosy books I have read, especially the kind that make you want to slow down and enjoy the small things in life.
But the last part really touched me. It made tears run down my face. 😭😢
If you like Japanese books about food, cats, healing, and everyday life, I think you may enjoy this one too.
By all known laws of my taste, a book about food and cats should be an automatic favorite. Regrettably, this one does not have the same magic and leave me cold.
Beforehand, I must say that I love the cover of this novel the first time seeing it. And honestly, the covers for its other editions are just as lovely. They all have that warm, cozy, almost comforting quality that feels perfectly suited to the kind of book this is. And for the most part, the book does deliver exactly that atmosphere.
3,5 ⭐️ La trama no es nada del otro mundo pero es un libro muy tierno para leer cuando estás muy abrumado y no podes procesar mucha info (como yo ahora que estoy con miles de pruebas). Justo adopté una gatita hace una semana y hay muchas escenas que me hicieron acordar a ella!!! Amo la literatura japonesa me parece muy cozy
«Sì, non sapeva di niente. Sembrava cibo da ospedale.» «Be', dai, ora non esagerare!Prima dicevi che era cibo da galera, ora da ospedale... Che maniere! Aki-chan, é solo che per il nostro gusto i piatti sapevano di poco, ecco.» A lei era venuto da ridere, ma li aveva comunque salutati con un inchino. «Grazie di essere venuti!» Di certo la notizia si sarebbe diffusa tra i vecchi clienti nel giro di qualche ora. Akiko non pretendeva che il suo ristorante piacesse a chiunque. Ognuno ha i suoi gusti, è normale che il locale non sia per tutti. L'importante è non lasciarsi condizionare. La gente è volubile, e se ci si affanna a star dietro alle mode del momento si finisce solo per perdere clienti. Certo, è possibile che le persone si stufino del mio locale, ma ci penserò quando succederà. «Chissà se funzionerà...» Aveva continuato a lavorare di buona lena, insieme a Shima, fino all'ora di chiusura, alle sette. Verso sera alcuni dei vecchi clienti si erano affacciati di nuovo a curiosare, ma erano scappati via dopo pochi minuti.
4,5 ⭐️ A me questo libri giapponesi mi piacciono tanto, sono una coccola nei momenti in cui voglio leggere qualcosa di più soft e leggero. Tra l’altro scritto bene, anche la storia non banale…
Terminé et c'est une déception. Je ne sais pas trop quoi en dire à part que j'ai trouvé les personnages "secondaires" très intrusifs, qui ont la critique facile et qui ne soutiennent pas du tout. Les chapitres étaient longs et lents. Je m'attendais vraiment à quelque chose de plus poétique, qui mette plus en avant la cuisine. Bref, je suis déçue.
Akiko a grandi auprès d’une mère célibataire restauratrice. L’héroïne devient éditrice. Toutefois, quand sa mère décède, elle décide de reprendre l’affaire familiale. C’est un livre doux et réconfortant.
This book was such an enjoyable read, it is very cozy and not a huge amount happens. It is a book about grief and this is front and centre. The story takes our protagonist through a career change to setting up her own cafe. It is based in Japan and as someone from Wales it was interesting to read a story based in another country and culture. The focus was interesting in that it was no a romance rather a story about a single older woman who had focused her life on her career. The other main focus is on her relationship with her cat and her employee. It is a book that focuses on female relationships and also the relationship we have with our pets. It does not shy away from complex relationships and each character felt nuanced. I loved the setting and the consideration given to food. It did feel like an old book, given that I am mid 50s this is not a negative. I did think it was a 5 🌟 most of the way. I wanted to read the book at the end of each evening but at the end of it I don’t think I want to read it again. I found the subject of grief towards the end difficult and felt that I would have liked more character development towards the end. I wouldn’t have wanted more drama rather more ………. change, I think. Whilst relationships are formed and reflections are made there seems to be no actual change in the characters. I definitely might have missed it but for me that sense of a rushed ending reduced the enjoyment. It’s definitely a book I would recommend if you are after easy reading, with a background exploration on grief.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing this book for my consideration, this is all my own rambling, honest and personal opinion.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ALC.
This novel falls into the healing fiction genre, but it's not quite the magical realism kind of novel I've come to expect from Japanese healing fiction, which was a welcome surprise and change. Instead, we get Akiko, a woman in her 40s who picks up a whole new trade for herself because she wants to. The novel touches upon grief (and its irrationality at times), as wel as community and carving out your own path when you have a legacy already attached to your name, but are not sure if you really want that legacy. It also touches upon the need for compromises and flexibility, and generally just allows for pondering while still being rather lighthearted and low-stakes. I haven't been reading particularly challenging literature lately, but still, this novel felt like a break, and the narrator did a great job at bringing the characters to life, calm yet emotional, fitting the vibe of the novel perfectly.
This book is a reminder for us to follow our hearts to live our own lives. Other people will have their opinions, but we may live our lives our way. It also touches some spots about grief, loss, and loneliness in a peaceful way. Suitable for you who like something peaceful to read.
3.5/5
Thank you Netgalley and Orion Publishing Group for this Arc
Yes, yes... it's another Japanese healing fiction novel. I know. I can't help myself. This was a pleasant afternoon read that allowed its main character to gently handle grief, family and her identity. And I loved that Akiko was in her 40s/50s because so many of these books focus on younger characters. I might give the next instalment a go, if it's translated.
J’ai pas autant accroché au personnage principal que ça. Il y a beaucoup de thème mais pas vraiment de leçons de vie qu’on pourrait en retirer… Ce qui m’a touché les plus c’est la relation entre Akiko et son chat ✨