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森崎書店の日々(Days at the Morisaki Bookshop) #1
Days at the Morisaki Bookshop
The wise and charming international bestseller and hit Japanese movie -- about a young woman who loses everything but finds herself -- a tale of new beginnings, romantic and family relationships, and the comfort that can be found in books.
Twenty-five-year-old Takako has enjoyed a relatively easy existence -- until the day her boyfriend Hideaki, the man she expected to wed, casually announces he's been cheating on her and is marrying the other woman. Suddenly, Takako's life is in freefall. She loses her job, her friends, and her acquaintances, and spirals into a deep depression. In the depths of her despair, she receives a call from her distant uncle Satoru.
An unusual man who has always pursued something of an unconventional life, especially after his wife Momoko left him out of the blue five years earlier, Satoru runs a second-hand bookshop in Jimbocho, Tokyo's famous book district. Takako once looked down upon Satoru's life. Now, she reluctantly accepts his offer of the tiny room above the bookshop rent-free in exchange for helping out at the store. The move is temporary, until she can get back on her feet. But in the months that follow, Takako surprises herself when she develops a passion for Japanese literature, becomes a regular at a local coffee shop where she makes new friends, and eventually meets a young editor from a nearby publishing house who's going through his own messy breakup.
But just as she begins to find joy again, Hideaki reappears, forcing Takako to rely once again on her uncle, whose own life has begun to unravel. Together, these seeming opposites work to understand each other and themselves as they continue to share the wisdom they've gained in the bookshop.
Twenty-five-year-old Takako has enjoyed a relatively easy existence -- until the day her boyfriend Hideaki, the man she expected to wed, casually announces he's been cheating on her and is marrying the other woman. Suddenly, Takako's life is in freefall. She loses her job, her friends, and her acquaintances, and spirals into a deep depression. In the depths of her despair, she receives a call from her distant uncle Satoru.
An unusual man who has always pursued something of an unconventional life, especially after his wife Momoko left him out of the blue five years earlier, Satoru runs a second-hand bookshop in Jimbocho, Tokyo's famous book district. Takako once looked down upon Satoru's life. Now, she reluctantly accepts his offer of the tiny room above the bookshop rent-free in exchange for helping out at the store. The move is temporary, until she can get back on her feet. But in the months that follow, Takako surprises herself when she develops a passion for Japanese literature, becomes a regular at a local coffee shop where she makes new friends, and eventually meets a young editor from a nearby publishing house who's going through his own messy breakup.
But just as she begins to find joy again, Hideaki reappears, forcing Takako to rely once again on her uncle, whose own life has begun to unravel. Together, these seeming opposites work to understand each other and themselves as they continue to share the wisdom they've gained in the bookshop.
1 pages, Audio CD
First published September 7, 2010
10456 people are currently reading
168363 people want to read
About the author
Satoshi Yagisawa
6 books1,864 followers八木沢 里志 (Satoshi Yagisawa) was born in Chiba, Japan, in 1977. Days at the Morisaki Bookshop, his debut novel, was originally published in 2009 and won the Chiyoda Literature Prize.
千葉県生まれ。日本大学芸術学部を卒業する。2008年、『森崎書店の日々』で東京都千代田区が主催する第3回ちよだ文学賞を受賞し、デビュー。2010年、同作が菊池亜希子主演で映画化される。神田伯剌西爾によく訪れ、コーヒーを嗜む。趣味はギター。
千葉県生まれ。日本大学芸術学部を卒業する。2008年、『森崎書店の日々』で東京都千代田区が主催する第3回ちよだ文学賞を受賞し、デビュー。2010年、同作が菊池亜希子主演で映画化される。神田伯剌西爾によく訪れ、コーヒーを嗜む。趣味はギター。
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 28,143 reviews
September 7, 2023
2.5 stars
The premise of this book sounded interesting and, even though I couldn't connect to Takako's character, I enjoyed the first part that takes place in the bookshop. I started losing interest in the second part that centers more around her uncle's wife.
My main complaint is that I found the writing simplistic and the characters rather flat. There was no depth in their relationships and conversations. Not sure if it's the writing style or the translation. It's not a long book and I listened to it on audio, but it still felt like it took me a long time to get through it.
The cover is super cute, though.
The premise of this book sounded interesting and, even though I couldn't connect to Takako's character, I enjoyed the first part that takes place in the bookshop. I started losing interest in the second part that centers more around her uncle's wife.
My main complaint is that I found the writing simplistic and the characters rather flat. There was no depth in their relationships and conversations. Not sure if it's the writing style or the translation. It's not a long book and I listened to it on audio, but it still felt like it took me a long time to get through it.
The cover is super cute, though.
June 18, 2025
had me at days in a bookshop.
lost me at the other days.
it's no shock that i did like the bookshop part. and it's probably not that much of a shock that it was the entire second half of the book, which occurred after our protagonist was no longer an employee of or even a real visitor to the bookshop, focusing on the reasons why her aunt had left her father many years before, that i didn't care for as much.
and to be fair, how could i have seen that one coming? i would have seemed diagnosable if i predicted that from this title / cover combo.
it's not just that it existed at all, although anything that pulls me away from a bookshop whether literally or fictionally is my enemy. it's more that the whole plotline felt shallow and unwieldy, given too much page time and still somehow not enough exploration.
i never have that problem when i'm reading about reading.
bottom line: books about books - yes. books about inaccurate and weird emotional subplots - maybe not.
2.5
lost me at the other days.
it's no shock that i did like the bookshop part. and it's probably not that much of a shock that it was the entire second half of the book, which occurred after our protagonist was no longer an employee of or even a real visitor to the bookshop, focusing on the reasons why her aunt had left her father many years before, that i didn't care for as much.
and to be fair, how could i have seen that one coming? i would have seemed diagnosable if i predicted that from this title / cover combo.
it's not just that it existed at all, although anything that pulls me away from a bookshop whether literally or fictionally is my enemy. it's more that the whole plotline felt shallow and unwieldy, given too much page time and still somehow not enough exploration.
i never have that problem when i'm reading about reading.
bottom line: books about books - yes. books about inaccurate and weird emotional subplots - maybe not.
2.5
October 11, 2023
It is a touching story about a young woman who discovers the joy of reading.
The book is a simple story about books, relationships, family, and community.
It is a joyful and easy read, especially for a vacation.
I find this book attractive because it is a well-written and engaging story.
Generally speaking, Days at the Morisaki Bookshop is a charming and enjoyable read.
The book is a simple story about books, relationships, family, and community.
It is a joyful and easy read, especially for a vacation.
I find this book attractive because it is a well-written and engaging story.
Generally speaking, Days at the Morisaki Bookshop is a charming and enjoyable read.
August 25, 2024
I don't know what it is about Japanese translated fiction that always makes me feel peaceful and calm, but Days at the Morisaki Bookshop had that effect. Like Before the Coffee Gets Cold, this short novel with simple prose manages to convey deep truths and impart important life lessons. There's comfort in knowing that bookstores share the same allure across the world. The MC, a young woman named Takako, a sensitive and reserved person, really blossoms by the end of this short book. Many of the literary references were lost on me, but that didn't seem to matter. People connecting over books and coffee is a universal joy.
August 12, 2024
Jak na to, że nie przepadam za tego typu książkami, ta mi się naprawdę podobała ❤️
January 14, 2024
3.5⭐
“Human beings are full of contradictions.”
Twenty-five-year-old Takako takes up residence for a few months in her uncle Satoru’s second-hand bookshop in Jimbicho, Tokyo in the wake of her breakup with her cad of a boyfriend/ coworker and her subsequent resignation. Depressed and unemployed, Takako is glad for the room above the Morisaki Bookshop to hide from the rest of the world even though she doesn’t quite enjoy reading. Surrounded by towering stacks of second-hand books and people who love reading, Takako eventually finds herself opening up to new experiences, making friends in the community, forging a bond with her uncle and finding joy, inspiration and hope in reading.
The narrative is divided into two segments the first of which focuses on Takano’s journey and the second segment, set a year later, revolves around her uncle and his wife Momoko whose sudden return five years after she left him has him seeking the answers to several unanswered questions. Her aunt’s return and their evolving friendship also encourage Takako to reconsider her own priorities.
“No matter where you go, or how many books you read, you still know nothing, you haven’t seen anything. And that’s life. We live our lives trying to find our way.”
Touching upon themes of family, friendship, new beginnings and most importantly the transformative power of books, this is a sweet, simple story that would appeal to book lovers and bibliophiles. I really liked the premise of Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa (translated by Eric Ozawa), and loved the descriptions of the Jimbocho Book Town (brought back some fond memories of College Street /”Boi Para” of Kolkata, India) and the literary references. The author also references the Kanda Used Book Festival, the largest annual event held in Kanda's Jimbocho secondhand book district that started in 1960. The narrative is evenly paced and compact but I thought the writing (or maybe the translation) was a tad choppy and lacking in depth. Though I didn’t enjoy the second segment of the narrative as much as the first, overall I didn't dislike this short novel in its totality.
“Human beings are full of contradictions.”
Twenty-five-year-old Takako takes up residence for a few months in her uncle Satoru’s second-hand bookshop in Jimbicho, Tokyo in the wake of her breakup with her cad of a boyfriend/ coworker and her subsequent resignation. Depressed and unemployed, Takako is glad for the room above the Morisaki Bookshop to hide from the rest of the world even though she doesn’t quite enjoy reading. Surrounded by towering stacks of second-hand books and people who love reading, Takako eventually finds herself opening up to new experiences, making friends in the community, forging a bond with her uncle and finding joy, inspiration and hope in reading.
The narrative is divided into two segments the first of which focuses on Takano’s journey and the second segment, set a year later, revolves around her uncle and his wife Momoko whose sudden return five years after she left him has him seeking the answers to several unanswered questions. Her aunt’s return and their evolving friendship also encourage Takako to reconsider her own priorities.
“No matter where you go, or how many books you read, you still know nothing, you haven’t seen anything. And that’s life. We live our lives trying to find our way.”
Touching upon themes of family, friendship, new beginnings and most importantly the transformative power of books, this is a sweet, simple story that would appeal to book lovers and bibliophiles. I really liked the premise of Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa (translated by Eric Ozawa), and loved the descriptions of the Jimbocho Book Town (brought back some fond memories of College Street /”Boi Para” of Kolkata, India) and the literary references. The author also references the Kanda Used Book Festival, the largest annual event held in Kanda's Jimbocho secondhand book district that started in 1960. The narrative is evenly paced and compact but I thought the writing (or maybe the translation) was a tad choppy and lacking in depth. Though I didn’t enjoy the second segment of the narrative as much as the first, overall I didn't dislike this short novel in its totality.
June 26, 2022
Gli autori giapponesi hanno un super potere da non sottovalutare: riescono a descrivere le più semplici azioni quotidiane come se fossero parte di un altro piano esistenziale. Persino leggere un libro sembra un passo per raggiungere l’illuminazione. Il che è possibilmente vero se si sceglie quello giusto.
Poetica a parte, questo racconto lungo si è rivelato una piacevole lettura estiva che coccola l’animo. La trama è molto semplice e lineare, senza grandi colpi di scena, ma compensa questa mancanza con uno stile delicato e armonioso.
La protagonista è Takako, una giovane donna che a causa di problemi di cuore cadrà nell’apatia più totale. Dopo aver lasciato il lavoro, suo zio Satoru la inviterà a passare qualche tempo nella libreria di famiglia per capire cosa fare della sua vita. Dopo una breve esitazione dato che la giovane ha sempre mal visto l’eccentricità dell’uomo, deciderà comunque di trasferirsi. Dapprima sorpresa dal caratteristico quartiere libresco e dal disordine regnante in casa dello zio, Takako inizierà pian piano a uscire dal proprio guscio con qualche aiuto imprevisto. Non solo, sebbene non sia una grande lettrice, incomincerà ad apprezzare i libri e il lavoro di Satoru sempre di più, tanto da aiutarlo a gestire il negozio.
Tra clienti abituali, amicizie inaspettate e amori sfuggenti, la placida routine instaurata dai due verrà sconvolta dal ritorno della moglie di Satoru, sparita nel nulla diversi anni prima. La donna porterà con sé molte domande e segreti, segreti che Takako è decisa a scoprire.
Sebbene abbia preferito la prima parte, ovvero quella dedicata ai libri, l’insieme si sposa bene nella tipica placidità orientale. E ora so persino in quale quartiere di Tokyo alloggiare.
Poetica a parte, questo racconto lungo si è rivelato una piacevole lettura estiva che coccola l’animo. La trama è molto semplice e lineare, senza grandi colpi di scena, ma compensa questa mancanza con uno stile delicato e armonioso.
La protagonista è Takako, una giovane donna che a causa di problemi di cuore cadrà nell’apatia più totale. Dopo aver lasciato il lavoro, suo zio Satoru la inviterà a passare qualche tempo nella libreria di famiglia per capire cosa fare della sua vita. Dopo una breve esitazione dato che la giovane ha sempre mal visto l’eccentricità dell’uomo, deciderà comunque di trasferirsi. Dapprima sorpresa dal caratteristico quartiere libresco e dal disordine regnante in casa dello zio, Takako inizierà pian piano a uscire dal proprio guscio con qualche aiuto imprevisto. Non solo, sebbene non sia una grande lettrice, incomincerà ad apprezzare i libri e il lavoro di Satoru sempre di più, tanto da aiutarlo a gestire il negozio.
Tra clienti abituali, amicizie inaspettate e amori sfuggenti, la placida routine instaurata dai due verrà sconvolta dal ritorno della moglie di Satoru, sparita nel nulla diversi anni prima. La donna porterà con sé molte domande e segreti, segreti che Takako è decisa a scoprire.
Sebbene abbia preferito la prima parte, ovvero quella dedicata ai libri, l’insieme si sposa bene nella tipica placidità orientale. E ora so persino in quale quartiere di Tokyo alloggiare.
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December 11, 2023You know that feeling when you read a book and it's an international bestseller they made into a film and you're like "but this slid out of my brain like it was greased and nothing happens except a vague feeling of melancholy and what the hell is there even to film?" That.
Fine. I don't see anything in this that you couldn't get out of the ~4000 other books about a sad person regaining enjoyment of life via a bookshop, but what do I know, I'm not the international bestseller here. Nice line about the sun glaring like a teenage boy.
The cover of the print edition is outstandingly beautiful.
Fine. I don't see anything in this that you couldn't get out of the ~4000 other books about a sad person regaining enjoyment of life via a bookshop, but what do I know, I'm not the international bestseller here. Nice line about the sun glaring like a teenage boy.
The cover of the print edition is outstandingly beautiful.
July 10, 2024
[3.0⭐] 𝙈𝙞𝙨 𝙙𝙞́𝙖𝙨 𝙚𝙣 𝙡𝙖 𝙡𝙞𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙧𝙞́𝙖 𝙈𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙖𝙠𝙞 es una novela escrita por Satoshi Yagisawa y publicada en 2009. La historia se centra en Tatako, una joven de 25 años que sufre por amor y decide abandonarlo todo para alejarse del hombre que le rompió el corazón. Comienza desde 0 viviendo en la librería de su tío, con el que vuelve a retomar su relación. Poco a poco, irá descubriendo el placer de la lectura.
Había leído muchas maravillas de la novela y creo que me esperaba más de ella.
Es una novela cozy, así que siempre te sientes bien al momento de leerla (hasta sentí que parecía del género “feelgood”). Nunca tuve altos y bajos, tampoco sentí tensión y me mantuve todo el tiempo relajada leyéndola. Por desgracia, creo que no es mi tipo de lectura ya que me gustan con más drama, acción y tensión. Estaba esperando emocionarme hasta más no poder con este libro, pero nunca llegó el momento. Se me hizo un relato bastante plano, pero cuya narrativa era muy simple y fácil de leer (yo diría que me demoré dos horas en terminarlo). Es cierto que tiene frases realmente hermosas, pero siento que, en mi caso, es una lectura muy olvidable (de aquí a dos semanas se me va a olvidar por completo todo el libro). Lo único que llegaría a recordar sería el momento más extraño de la novela: Tatako y su tía, desnudas, abrazándose en la ducha.
Finalmente, puedo decir que 𝙈𝙞𝙨 𝙙𝙞́𝙖𝙨 𝙚𝙣 𝙡𝙖 𝙡𝙞𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙧𝙞́𝙖 𝙈𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙖𝙠𝙞 es una novela para desconectarte del mundo y relajarte. Si quieres una lectura ligera y rápida, esta es una buena opción.
Había leído muchas maravillas de la novela y creo que me esperaba más de ella.
Es una novela cozy, así que siempre te sientes bien al momento de leerla (hasta sentí que parecía del género “feelgood”). Nunca tuve altos y bajos, tampoco sentí tensión y me mantuve todo el tiempo relajada leyéndola. Por desgracia, creo que no es mi tipo de lectura ya que me gustan con más drama, acción y tensión. Estaba esperando emocionarme hasta más no poder con este libro, pero nunca llegó el momento. Se me hizo un relato bastante plano, pero cuya narrativa era muy simple y fácil de leer (yo diría que me demoré dos horas en terminarlo). Es cierto que tiene frases realmente hermosas, pero siento que, en mi caso, es una lectura muy olvidable (de aquí a dos semanas se me va a olvidar por completo todo el libro). Lo único que llegaría a recordar sería el momento más extraño de la novela: Tatako y su tía, desnudas, abrazándose en la ducha.
Finalmente, puedo decir que 𝙈𝙞𝙨 𝙙𝙞́𝙖𝙨 𝙚𝙣 𝙡𝙖 𝙡𝙞𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙧𝙞́𝙖 𝙈𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙖𝙠𝙞 es una novela para desconectarte del mundo y relajarte. Si quieres una lectura ligera y rápida, esta es una buena opción.
April 13, 2019
It gently eased my soul.
November 2, 2024
Days at the Morisaki Bookshop was my first introduction to Satoshi Yagisawa's writing. Although, I have heard a lot of positive buzz about this book in the past year, I was curious if it would live up to its billing. Overall, I found the narrative to be very captivating, while at the same time written in a very accessible, 'smooth as jazz' style that seems common among many internationally acclaimed Japanese authors. I loved how Yagisawa skillfully crafted an engaging story from a fairly simple plot, with a few minor twists. It was like feasting on a well prepared meal (like Ramen) made from a few fresh, high-quality ingredients.
Days at the Morisaki Bookshop brought to life the rich atmosphere in the Jimbocho district in Tokyo, with its myriad bookstores and throngs of avid book enthusiasts. So, you might ask why was it not a 5⭐ read for me? All I can say is that this novel did not linger with me after I finished it. Days at the Morisaki Bookshop was an entertaining read, however, after I set it aside I moved on to reading the next book on my list without dwelling on it. I think this may partly be due to the story's somewhat happy ending, which seemed a bit too perfect. Although, I must confess as I was reading this book, I was thinking to myself that I could see this being made into a movie - which apparently has been done in Japan! Overall, I would highly recommend Days at the Morisaki Bookshop to anyone, especially if you are interested in exploring contemporary Japanese literature.
Days at the Morisaki Bookshop brought to life the rich atmosphere in the Jimbocho district in Tokyo, with its myriad bookstores and throngs of avid book enthusiasts. So, you might ask why was it not a 5⭐ read for me? All I can say is that this novel did not linger with me after I finished it. Days at the Morisaki Bookshop was an entertaining read, however, after I set it aside I moved on to reading the next book on my list without dwelling on it. I think this may partly be due to the story's somewhat happy ending, which seemed a bit too perfect. Although, I must confess as I was reading this book, I was thinking to myself that I could see this being made into a movie - which apparently has been done in Japan! Overall, I would highly recommend Days at the Morisaki Bookshop to anyone, especially if you are interested in exploring contemporary Japanese literature.
July 14, 2024
: ̗̀➛ 4 stars
A warm and cozy read about love and healing, where both Takako and Satoru discover that their time together in the bookstore nurtures empathy, understanding, and compassion within them.
This touching story follows a young woman who finds joy in reading.
The book beautifully explores themes of books, relationships, family, and community.
I stumbled upon this book in my local bookstore, and though it's not a genre I typically choose, I'm so glad I did. It was such a joyful and easy read.
"Don’t be afraid to love someone. When you fall in love, I want you to fall in love all the way even if it ends in heartache. Please don’t live a lonely life without love. I’ve been so worried that because of what happened you’ll give up on falling in love, but love is wonderful, I don’t want you to forget that. Those memories of people you love, they never disappear. They go on warming your heart for as long as you live. When you get old like me you’ll understand. So, how about it? Can you promise me?”
“I get it. I promise.” I said.
“In that case you’ll be alright, no matter where you go.”
A warm and cozy read about love and healing, where both Takako and Satoru discover that their time together in the bookstore nurtures empathy, understanding, and compassion within them.
This touching story follows a young woman who finds joy in reading.
The book beautifully explores themes of books, relationships, family, and community.
I stumbled upon this book in my local bookstore, and though it's not a genre I typically choose, I'm so glad I did. It was such a joyful and easy read.
November 19, 2025
WAS RELUCTANT FOR A LONG TIME to pick up this book BUT DAMN! I love this book to bits and pieces!
Love everything about this book. Yes, become a middle aged person to know what you are missing when you feel you love this book any less.
Love everything about this book. Yes, become a middle aged person to know what you are missing when you feel you love this book any less.
September 23, 2024
Take a look at the cover of this short little book.
If we are looking at the same cover, what I am looking at is a cat looking at a door. A bike to the left, and a sea of books – left – top - right. And, there is a door in the middle with a silhouette of what we can presume is a man to the left and a woman to the right. And, the title of the book is in the center at the top. There are other details if you want to really spend some time reviewing the cover which makes it even more fun.
I bring this up because it is the cover of this book that attracted me to read it.
And, to be honest it is another one of those books with the word “bookshop” in the title that also got me interested. I like to read at least one book (a month, if possible) with a bookshop in my reading adventure list in-between a mystery (if it isn’t a mystery, as well).
And, this one is written by a Japanese writer and translated by Eric Ozawa.
One thing I believe that is often true for us readers, is that we are drawn to bookstores like nature lovers are drawn to views. Whenever my husband and I were travelling we couldn’t leave a town without stopping at the local bookstore or library. It was a must-see stop, ALWAYS. If they were closed, I would just salivate at the window display. At least I, could look at the latest best sellers, or get a sense of who their local authors were, by who they displayed in their window.
Bottom line, there is something hopeful about bookstores. I can’t help but love the smell of books, the touch of books, and don’t we just feel a little bit smarter when we are surrounded by books? Well, at least I pretend to be.
But I digress. Let’s get to this review.
This is a heart-warming story that shows how literature helps to open doors for those who have difficulty expressing their feelings. Like Takado, our main character.
And speaking of Takado, she is our plain-speaking 25-year-old narrator. She doesn’t express her feelings well to others. And thus, it is no surprise how easily she has been taken advantage of by her boyfriend, Hideaki. We quickly learn on page 1, that he has dumped Takado and has announced he is getting married, but still wants to play around with her, even though he is engaged to somebody else.
Takado always thought they were serious, even though he didn’t want anyone to know they were in a relationship (they both worked together). So, Takado’s only recourse is to quit her job and head home to mope.
Her Uncle Satoru offers her free lodging if she will help in his bookshop. Feeling that she really doesn’t have much choice, she takes him up on the offer.
“That’s where my real life began. And I know without a doubt, that if not for those days, the rest of my life would have been bland, monotonous, and lonely.”
The characters of her uncle, his wife and others are quite interesting, quirky and personable and add to the enjoyment of the story.
And as the story unfolds, readers watch as life opens up in ways Takado never thought possible.
And, as readers, who already love to read, we get to watch Takado’s self-confidence grow, as well as witness how the importance of reading can and does make a difference in a person’s life.
And, that my friends, is the beauty of the transformation of books.
Sidenote: this book was originally published in Japan 2010, and adapted into film in Japan, but was not translated into English until 2023.
If we are looking at the same cover, what I am looking at is a cat looking at a door. A bike to the left, and a sea of books – left – top - right. And, there is a door in the middle with a silhouette of what we can presume is a man to the left and a woman to the right. And, the title of the book is in the center at the top. There are other details if you want to really spend some time reviewing the cover which makes it even more fun.
I bring this up because it is the cover of this book that attracted me to read it.
And, to be honest it is another one of those books with the word “bookshop” in the title that also got me interested. I like to read at least one book (a month, if possible) with a bookshop in my reading adventure list in-between a mystery (if it isn’t a mystery, as well).
And, this one is written by a Japanese writer and translated by Eric Ozawa.
One thing I believe that is often true for us readers, is that we are drawn to bookstores like nature lovers are drawn to views. Whenever my husband and I were travelling we couldn’t leave a town without stopping at the local bookstore or library. It was a must-see stop, ALWAYS. If they were closed, I would just salivate at the window display. At least I, could look at the latest best sellers, or get a sense of who their local authors were, by who they displayed in their window.
Bottom line, there is something hopeful about bookstores. I can’t help but love the smell of books, the touch of books, and don’t we just feel a little bit smarter when we are surrounded by books? Well, at least I pretend to be.
But I digress. Let’s get to this review.
This is a heart-warming story that shows how literature helps to open doors for those who have difficulty expressing their feelings. Like Takado, our main character.
And speaking of Takado, she is our plain-speaking 25-year-old narrator. She doesn’t express her feelings well to others. And thus, it is no surprise how easily she has been taken advantage of by her boyfriend, Hideaki. We quickly learn on page 1, that he has dumped Takado and has announced he is getting married, but still wants to play around with her, even though he is engaged to somebody else.
Takado always thought they were serious, even though he didn’t want anyone to know they were in a relationship (they both worked together). So, Takado’s only recourse is to quit her job and head home to mope.
Her Uncle Satoru offers her free lodging if she will help in his bookshop. Feeling that she really doesn’t have much choice, she takes him up on the offer.
“That’s where my real life began. And I know without a doubt, that if not for those days, the rest of my life would have been bland, monotonous, and lonely.”
The characters of her uncle, his wife and others are quite interesting, quirky and personable and add to the enjoyment of the story.
And as the story unfolds, readers watch as life opens up in ways Takado never thought possible.
And, as readers, who already love to read, we get to watch Takado’s self-confidence grow, as well as witness how the importance of reading can and does make a difference in a person’s life.
And, that my friends, is the beauty of the transformation of books.
Sidenote: this book was originally published in Japan 2010, and adapted into film in Japan, but was not translated into English until 2023.
February 22, 2023
3,5. Takako es una joven de 25 años que acaba de perder de golpe tanto a su pareja y como su trabajo. Esto la sumerge en una profunda apatía, alejándose de todo y de todos. Sin embargo, un día recibe la llamada de su tío Satoru, al cual lleva más de diez años sin ver. Este tiene una propuesta que hacerle, y después de presionarla, consigue que Takako se mude a vivir al pequeño pisito ubicado en la planta superior de la librería de segunda mano Morisaki, en el famoso barrio de las librerías, Jinbocho, el más grande del mundo dedicado a los libros. Satoru heredó la librería hace años y tras muchas idas y venidas por el mundo, descubrió que esta pequeña librería era su lugar en el mundo. ¿Puede encontrar Takako el mismo regocijo en la librería Morisaki?
No puedo remediar amar profundamente este tipo de historias que nos muestra el día a día de sus personajes, centrándose en lo cotidiano para mostrarnos el dilema de sus protagonistas y como estos buscan consuelo en lo esencial. Es un poco lo que pasa con Takako, que pese a que de niña quería y admiraba a su tío, la adolescencia rompió esa imagen que tenia sobre él, sin embargo, acaba encontrando en él y sobre todo en la librería Morisaki el consuelo que necesita, ese algo al que aferrarse para volver a salir a flote. Creo que a cualquier lector le gusta encontrar historias donde los libros se muestren como salvavidas, como elementos de aprendizaje y crecimiento. Es imposible no empatizar con ese sentimiento que todos hemos vivido en algún momento.
Leí este libro con una amiga y desde que lo conocimos con su edición en italiano, sabíamos que era el tipo de lectura que disfrutaríamos. De entrada se nos antojaba que “Mis días en la librería Morisaki” iba a ser este tipo de libro confortable, que a mí me gusta comparar con dar un paseo por un lugar agradable, del que siempre sales reconfortado, y aunque es totalmente ese tipo de libro, ambos tuvimos la misma sensación sobre él: libro bonito y tierno muy disfrutable, pero que nos hubiese gustado que fuera más largo, para que fuera más reposado y poder indagar algo más en algunos momentos y personajes. Se nos hizo demasiado breve y alguna trama se queda poco explorada.
El libro se divide en dos partes muy diferenciadas y claramente la primera parte con Takako y Satoru en la librería ha sido mi favorita, y me ha gustado bastante más que la segunda, que podría ser más profunda que la primera, pero me ha dejado con ganas de ver más. Lo que sí he disfrutado mucho ha sido la relación que se forja entre Takako y Wada, un personaje que aparece en esta segunda parte, aunque también me hubiera gustado verla más mostrada
Eso sí, disfruto mucho de la habilidad de los japoneses no solo para crear historias agradables y reconfortantes, si no para ubicarlas en escenarios que sin haber visto en tu vida, te resultan familiares, hogareños, lugares en los que sientes que has estado, aunque nunca los hayas visitado. Pasa un poco eso con Jinbocho, ese barrio lleno de librerías (que ya pongo como objetivo de vida visitarlo algún día), también con Morisaki, esa librería llena de libros por todas partes o el monte donde sus protagonistas viajan para desconectar de la ciudad. Los autores japoneses consiguen sumergirme como nadie en esos lugares que describen.
Pese a que me he quedado con ganas de que “Mis días en la librería Morisaki” fuese más extenso, lo bueno es que el autor escribió un segundo libro varios años después, que al parecer está centrado en Satoru y Momoko, siendo este último un personaje que me hubiera gustado conocer más y mejor, así que ojalá la editorial se anime a traernos también esta segunda entrega, porque pienso lanzarme de cabeza.
No puedo remediar amar profundamente este tipo de historias que nos muestra el día a día de sus personajes, centrándose en lo cotidiano para mostrarnos el dilema de sus protagonistas y como estos buscan consuelo en lo esencial. Es un poco lo que pasa con Takako, que pese a que de niña quería y admiraba a su tío, la adolescencia rompió esa imagen que tenia sobre él, sin embargo, acaba encontrando en él y sobre todo en la librería Morisaki el consuelo que necesita, ese algo al que aferrarse para volver a salir a flote. Creo que a cualquier lector le gusta encontrar historias donde los libros se muestren como salvavidas, como elementos de aprendizaje y crecimiento. Es imposible no empatizar con ese sentimiento que todos hemos vivido en algún momento.
Leí este libro con una amiga y desde que lo conocimos con su edición en italiano, sabíamos que era el tipo de lectura que disfrutaríamos. De entrada se nos antojaba que “Mis días en la librería Morisaki” iba a ser este tipo de libro confortable, que a mí me gusta comparar con dar un paseo por un lugar agradable, del que siempre sales reconfortado, y aunque es totalmente ese tipo de libro, ambos tuvimos la misma sensación sobre él: libro bonito y tierno muy disfrutable, pero que nos hubiese gustado que fuera más largo, para que fuera más reposado y poder indagar algo más en algunos momentos y personajes. Se nos hizo demasiado breve y alguna trama se queda poco explorada.
El libro se divide en dos partes muy diferenciadas y claramente la primera parte con Takako y Satoru en la librería ha sido mi favorita, y me ha gustado bastante más que la segunda, que podría ser más profunda que la primera, pero me ha dejado con ganas de ver más. Lo que sí he disfrutado mucho ha sido la relación que se forja entre Takako y Wada, un personaje que aparece en esta segunda parte, aunque también me hubiera gustado verla más mostrada
Eso sí, disfruto mucho de la habilidad de los japoneses no solo para crear historias agradables y reconfortantes, si no para ubicarlas en escenarios que sin haber visto en tu vida, te resultan familiares, hogareños, lugares en los que sientes que has estado, aunque nunca los hayas visitado. Pasa un poco eso con Jinbocho, ese barrio lleno de librerías (que ya pongo como objetivo de vida visitarlo algún día), también con Morisaki, esa librería llena de libros por todas partes o el monte donde sus protagonistas viajan para desconectar de la ciudad. Los autores japoneses consiguen sumergirme como nadie en esos lugares que describen.
Pese a que me he quedado con ganas de que “Mis días en la librería Morisaki” fuese más extenso, lo bueno es que el autor escribió un segundo libro varios años después, que al parecer está centrado en Satoru y Momoko, siendo este último un personaje que me hubiera gustado conocer más y mejor, así que ojalá la editorial se anime a traernos también esta segunda entrega, porque pienso lanzarme de cabeza.
March 13, 2023
Una pequeña y antigua librería en Japón, situada en el barrio más literario del mundo. Un lugar de paz, donde el tiempo parece detenerse y suceden conversaciones cultas e interesantes sobre literatura japonesa entre personajes inolvidables. ¿Qué podría ir mal ante semejante caramelito para los amantes de la literatura sobre librerías?
Eso es lo que la premisa de este título nos avanza en su contraportada, otra cosa es lo que los lectores encontraremos. No os engañaré, esta lectura ha sido la peor que he tenido en los últimos meses. Algo que obviamente no esperaba, ya que a pesar de saber que no iba a ser un libro inolvidable tenía el convencimiento de que encontraría una historia “feel good”, algo agradable y ligero para disfrutar.
Nada más lejos de la realidad: entre sus páginas he hallado una trama lineal, sumamente básica y carente de descripción alguna, dotada de personajes planos, sin carácter definido y sumamente incoherentes (mención especial a la protagonista que no puede ser más repelente). La trama, aparte de previsible, en muchas ocasiones pierde el sentido, fuerza relaciones y sentimientos que no traspasan las páginas y no convencen en absoluto al lector.
Eso no es todo: aquí no hay literatura, ni cultura japonesa, ni librerías, ni largas charlas emocionantes, ni puesta en situación… La novela bien podría estar ambientada en una heladería de un centro comercial en Estados Unidos y no notaríamos la diferencia. La narración, los diálogos y cómo se desarrollan los hechos, denota que estamos ante un relato banal, por su sencillez y por la escasa profundidad general.
En definitiva, me he llevado una gran decepción con esta obra contando que lo mejor que he encontrado es la ilustración de la portada. Y encima, no podía faltar el drama metido con calzador que encontraremos al final y el nacimiento de un amor que no veíamos venir (nótese la ironía). Un texto superfluo que yo no he podido disfrutar en ningún momento, al contrario, ha sido un suplicio leerlo.
Eso es lo que la premisa de este título nos avanza en su contraportada, otra cosa es lo que los lectores encontraremos. No os engañaré, esta lectura ha sido la peor que he tenido en los últimos meses. Algo que obviamente no esperaba, ya que a pesar de saber que no iba a ser un libro inolvidable tenía el convencimiento de que encontraría una historia “feel good”, algo agradable y ligero para disfrutar.
Nada más lejos de la realidad: entre sus páginas he hallado una trama lineal, sumamente básica y carente de descripción alguna, dotada de personajes planos, sin carácter definido y sumamente incoherentes (mención especial a la protagonista que no puede ser más repelente). La trama, aparte de previsible, en muchas ocasiones pierde el sentido, fuerza relaciones y sentimientos que no traspasan las páginas y no convencen en absoluto al lector.
Eso no es todo: aquí no hay literatura, ni cultura japonesa, ni librerías, ni largas charlas emocionantes, ni puesta en situación… La novela bien podría estar ambientada en una heladería de un centro comercial en Estados Unidos y no notaríamos la diferencia. La narración, los diálogos y cómo se desarrollan los hechos, denota que estamos ante un relato banal, por su sencillez y por la escasa profundidad general.
En definitiva, me he llevado una gran decepción con esta obra contando que lo mejor que he encontrado es la ilustración de la portada. Y encima, no podía faltar el drama metido con calzador que encontraremos al final y el nacimiento de un amor que no veíamos venir (nótese la ironía). Un texto superfluo que yo no he podido disfrutar en ningún momento, al contrario, ha sido un suplicio leerlo.
February 8, 2025
Short but exhaustive story of a woman who finds the way out of depression through reading.
This probably resonates with a lot of readers therefore no surprise that the book has so many good reviews. But I wasn't particularly impressed. The story itself is fine, and it's always interesting to read about Japan, but MC is whining, which makes her very annoying. Good that the book is short, otherwise I wouldn’t have finished it.
This probably resonates with a lot of readers therefore no surprise that the book has so many good reviews. But I wasn't particularly impressed. The story itself is fine, and it's always interesting to read about Japan, but MC is whining, which makes her very annoying. Good that the book is short, otherwise I wouldn’t have finished it.
January 2, 2024
I usually avoid books set in bookstores and libraries because they tend to be too sentimental for my tastes (How Can I Help You being a delicious exception).
This book, unfortunately, is not an exception. It's all feelings and even worse, blekky romantic feelings as well. All heterosexual too, which makes it even less of an interest to me, if possible.
I'm the Tin Man before Dorothy, no heart. This kind of stuff annoys me.
Two positives: it was short, and there's an adorable cat on the cover - perhaps I'd have liked the book more if the cat had been part of it.
This book, unfortunately, is not an exception. It's all feelings and even worse, blekky romantic feelings as well. All heterosexual too, which makes it even less of an interest to me, if possible.
I'm the Tin Man before Dorothy, no heart. This kind of stuff annoys me.
Two positives: it was short, and there's an adorable cat on the cover - perhaps I'd have liked the book more if the cat had been part of it.
September 20, 2023
This book is without a doubt, a truly heartwarming read. It envelops you in its warmth like a cherished, old sweater, making it feel like a literary hug. At its core, this book is a celebration of the transformative power of literature, how books can quietly but profoundly alter the course of our lives. It's a wholesome, sweet, and comforting story that will undoubtedly leave a lasting imprint on your heart.
From that moment on, I read relentlessly, one book after another. It was as if a love of reading had been sleeping somewhere deep inside me all this time, and then it suddenly sprang to life.
Little by little, I felt something wash over me, a feeling of peace that words can't express. If I had to explain it, I'd say it could only have come from the writer's fervent love for life.
The story revolves around a small, second-hand bookshop, Morisaki Bookshop, and the wonderful cast of characters who call it home. The narrative centers on Takako, whose life takes a transformative turn following a heartbreak when she retreats to her family's bookstore, managed by her uncle Saturo. As the characters navigate the ups and downs of life, their journeys are intertwined with the books they read and recommend, resulting in a brilliant tapestry of self-discovery.
At some point in the past, someone reading this book had felt moved to take a pen and draw a line under these words. It made me happy to think that because I had been moved by that same passage too, I was now connected to that stranger.
Another time, I happened to find a pressed flower someone had left as a bookmark. As I inhaled the scent of the long-ago-faded flower, I wondered about the person who had put it there. Who in the world was she? When did she live? What was she feeling?
It's only in secondhand books that you can savor encounters like this, connections that transcend time. And that's how I learned to love the secondhand bookstore that handled these books, our Morisaki Bookshop. I realized how precious a chance I'd been given, to be a part of that little place, where you can feel the quiet flow of time.
The prose is simple yet eloquent, like a soothing melody that lingers in your mind long after you've turned the last page.
From that moment on, I read relentlessly, one book after another. It was as if a love of reading had been sleeping somewhere deep inside me all this time, and then it suddenly sprang to life.
Little by little, I felt something wash over me, a feeling of peace that words can't express. If I had to explain it, I'd say it could only have come from the writer's fervent love for life.
The story revolves around a small, second-hand bookshop, Morisaki Bookshop, and the wonderful cast of characters who call it home. The narrative centers on Takako, whose life takes a transformative turn following a heartbreak when she retreats to her family's bookstore, managed by her uncle Saturo. As the characters navigate the ups and downs of life, their journeys are intertwined with the books they read and recommend, resulting in a brilliant tapestry of self-discovery.
At some point in the past, someone reading this book had felt moved to take a pen and draw a line under these words. It made me happy to think that because I had been moved by that same passage too, I was now connected to that stranger.
Another time, I happened to find a pressed flower someone had left as a bookmark. As I inhaled the scent of the long-ago-faded flower, I wondered about the person who had put it there. Who in the world was she? When did she live? What was she feeling?
It's only in secondhand books that you can savor encounters like this, connections that transcend time. And that's how I learned to love the secondhand bookstore that handled these books, our Morisaki Bookshop. I realized how precious a chance I'd been given, to be a part of that little place, where you can feel the quiet flow of time.
The prose is simple yet eloquent, like a soothing melody that lingers in your mind long after you've turned the last page.
Read
April 23, 2023Sutil como la ceremonia del té, hermosa como los cerezos en flor y melancólica como el cine de autor japonés, así es la novela corta Mis días en la librería Morisaki de Satoshi Yagisawa que ha conquistado el corazón de lectores bibliófilos a lo largo y ancho de todo el mundo y que, con traducción de Estefanía Asins, acaba de ser editada en España por Plata Editores, un nuevo sello que promete darnos muchas alegrías lectoras.
Y es que solo se me ocurre un escenario más sugerente para un amante de los libros que una librería: un barrio lleno de ellas. Allí, a Jinbōchō, es donde da a parar Takako después de que le rompan el corazón y necesite un lugar donde replantearse su futuro. Su tío regenta una antigua librería familiar de segunda mano especializada en literatura japonesa y le ofrece el ático del local para que allí la joven vuelva a conectar consigo misma.
Al principio se siente perdida y fuera de lugar en un ambiente tan bucólico e intelectual… Pero el olor del polvo de los antiguos volúmenes apilados en las estanterías, el ambiente del barrio bohemio, las peculiaridades de cada uno de los clientes habituales… le hacen conectar con más cosas además de consigo misma: con el gran desconocido que resultó ser su tío, con los chicos que regentan el café de la esquina… y hasta con un apuesto y misterioso lector que se pasa las horas leyendo siempre en la misma mesa.
Mis días en la librería Morisaki es una obra cálida que hará disfrutar al público lector al que le apasionan las historias serenas, introspectivas, que se cocinan a fuego lento. Además de una adquisición perfecta para conmemorar el Marzo asiático, esta obra es un bucólico paréntesis del torbellino urbano que nos rodea.
Y es que… ¿quién no ha sido Tatako en algún momento de su vida? ¿Quién no ha necesitado frenar en seco para tomar impulso? ¿Quién no se ha dado cuenta de que ha construido una vida de espaldas a sus raíces? ¿Quién no sueña con una época dedicada solamente a escucharse a sí mismo, a emprender un nuevo rumbo, a recargar las pilas?
Mis días en la librería Morisaki hará las delicias del público japonófilo. Entre sus páginas se nos narra el día a día de un rincón oculto de esa inabarcable urbe, pero también se nos desmenuzan distintas formas de vivir y sentir en el Tokio de hoy en día. Cada uno de los curiosos personajes con los que confraterniza la tímida Tatako representa una forma de ser distinta que encapsula al propio Japón: su melancólico tío, su extravagante tía, los chismosos chicos del café, el hierático cliente habitual… constituyen un mosaico que nos habla de una sociedad compleja, contradictoria, en constante evolución.
Esta breve y sutil novelita es una lectura perfecta para recuperar la fe en el poder sanador de los libros, para hacer despertar el amor por las pequeñas cosas que a menudo nos pasan desapercibidas en nuestro ajetreado día a día.
Y es que solo se me ocurre un escenario más sugerente para un amante de los libros que una librería: un barrio lleno de ellas. Allí, a Jinbōchō, es donde da a parar Takako después de que le rompan el corazón y necesite un lugar donde replantearse su futuro. Su tío regenta una antigua librería familiar de segunda mano especializada en literatura japonesa y le ofrece el ático del local para que allí la joven vuelva a conectar consigo misma.
Al principio se siente perdida y fuera de lugar en un ambiente tan bucólico e intelectual… Pero el olor del polvo de los antiguos volúmenes apilados en las estanterías, el ambiente del barrio bohemio, las peculiaridades de cada uno de los clientes habituales… le hacen conectar con más cosas además de consigo misma: con el gran desconocido que resultó ser su tío, con los chicos que regentan el café de la esquina… y hasta con un apuesto y misterioso lector que se pasa las horas leyendo siempre en la misma mesa.
Mis días en la librería Morisaki es una obra cálida que hará disfrutar al público lector al que le apasionan las historias serenas, introspectivas, que se cocinan a fuego lento. Además de una adquisición perfecta para conmemorar el Marzo asiático, esta obra es un bucólico paréntesis del torbellino urbano que nos rodea.
Y es que… ¿quién no ha sido Tatako en algún momento de su vida? ¿Quién no ha necesitado frenar en seco para tomar impulso? ¿Quién no se ha dado cuenta de que ha construido una vida de espaldas a sus raíces? ¿Quién no sueña con una época dedicada solamente a escucharse a sí mismo, a emprender un nuevo rumbo, a recargar las pilas?
Mis días en la librería Morisaki hará las delicias del público japonófilo. Entre sus páginas se nos narra el día a día de un rincón oculto de esa inabarcable urbe, pero también se nos desmenuzan distintas formas de vivir y sentir en el Tokio de hoy en día. Cada uno de los curiosos personajes con los que confraterniza la tímida Tatako representa una forma de ser distinta que encapsula al propio Japón: su melancólico tío, su extravagante tía, los chismosos chicos del café, el hierático cliente habitual… constituyen un mosaico que nos habla de una sociedad compleja, contradictoria, en constante evolución.
Esta breve y sutil novelita es una lectura perfecta para recuperar la fe en el poder sanador de los libros, para hacer despertar el amor por las pequeñas cosas que a menudo nos pasan desapercibidas en nuestro ajetreado día a día.
March 1, 2024
An ode to rediscovering the love for reading and the transformative power of entering the realm of books. Heartwarming, well done portrait of the importance of candor and speaking out, especially when its difficult.
If I just told them what they wanted to hear that wouldn’t fix anything.
A sweet trip to secondhand bookstores and the mountains, Days at the Morisaki Bookshop feels like a nice excursion from corporate life. Our main character, a 25 year old office worker, has her life fall apart during a fancy dinner, and turns into a sleep monster. With the help of an uncle and literature she finds a place in the world again.
Maybe it takes a long time to figure out what you are truly searching for. Maybe you spend your whole life just to figure out a small part of it.
The district full of specialised bookstores sounds lovely, as sound of a back-up plan and the best taking a vacation of one’s life one can find!
But our main character can’t escape hard things, she needs to push through them to truly find herself and shed the societal pressure of always being a good girl:
This is might be the first time in my life I raised my voice and told another person how I felt - no wonder mental health is such a theme in Japanese literature.
Peoples impressions aren’t very reliable are they? is something that comes back a lot in the second part, when the main character can return the favor to her uncle. Very much a slice of life book, wholesome and restorative for anyone who feels low in their trust in the world and people.
If I just told them what they wanted to hear that wouldn’t fix anything.
A sweet trip to secondhand bookstores and the mountains, Days at the Morisaki Bookshop feels like a nice excursion from corporate life. Our main character, a 25 year old office worker, has her life fall apart during a fancy dinner, and turns into a sleep monster. With the help of an uncle and literature she finds a place in the world again.
Maybe it takes a long time to figure out what you are truly searching for. Maybe you spend your whole life just to figure out a small part of it.
The district full of specialised bookstores sounds lovely, as sound of a back-up plan and the best taking a vacation of one’s life one can find!
But our main character can’t escape hard things, she needs to push through them to truly find herself and shed the societal pressure of always being a good girl:
This is might be the first time in my life I raised my voice and told another person how I felt - no wonder mental health is such a theme in Japanese literature.
Peoples impressions aren’t very reliable are they? is something that comes back a lot in the second part, when the main character can return the favor to her uncle. Very much a slice of life book, wholesome and restorative for anyone who feels low in their trust in the world and people.
March 29, 2024
books about books will always be my favorite!
January 8, 2024
Days at the Morisaki Bookshop is a short (thankfully) corny (unbearably so) novel about a heartbroken 25-year-old woman who is able to heal and find new meaning in life by working at her uncle's second-hand bookshop. Takako, our central character, is no longer able to keep working at her company after her supposed boyfriend informs her, very casually, that he is actually going to marry someone else. She's thrown off kilter and soon finds it impossible to keep on working. More depressed than ever, Takako's days of listlessness are interrupted by a call from her eccentric uncle, whom she hadn't kept in contact with. He offers her a place to stay, rent-free, in exchange for helping out at his second-hand bookshop. She reluctantly agrees, but to begin with, has no interest in the place or its contents. Eventually, she learns to love literature and the bookshop, breaking free of her post-breakup apathy. Turns out her uncle is a nice guy and so is that cantankerous regular customer!
Good times ensue and Takako not only gets better but learns valuable life lessons along the way. And I guess this could have just been a Hallmark-y, inoffensive, vanilla book about learning to love books and unexpected friendships and not judging people based on first impressions but we get a whole storyline involving Takako's aunt that veered straight into the mawkish. Worst, her story is moralistic, and punitive even, as . I'm afraid that the way this issue is handled, as well as the platitudes that come to the surface during the conversations between the aunt & Takako, came across as clichéd, icky even. Needless to say, I was unsurprised to see that this book had been written by a man.
As with any other review of mine, I feel the need to remind whoever is reading this that what they have just read is entirely subjective and that my not liking a book should not stop you from giving it a try.
Good times ensue and Takako not only gets better but learns valuable life lessons along the way. And I guess this could have just been a Hallmark-y, inoffensive, vanilla book about learning to love books and unexpected friendships and not judging people based on first impressions but we get a whole storyline involving Takako's aunt that veered straight into the mawkish. Worst, her story is moralistic, and punitive even, as . I'm afraid that the way this issue is handled, as well as the platitudes that come to the surface during the conversations between the aunt & Takako, came across as clichéd, icky even. Needless to say, I was unsurprised to see that this book had been written by a man.
As with any other review of mine, I feel the need to remind whoever is reading this that what they have just read is entirely subjective and that my not liking a book should not stop you from giving it a try.
April 16, 2023
Satoshi Yagisawa’s debut novel, first published in 2010, won the Chiyoda Literature Prize and was later turned into a film. It’ s a gentle, slice-of-life narrative set in Jimbōchō, the district of Tokyo famous for its array of second-hand bookshops. After a disastrous end to a relationship Takako is drifting and melancholy, she leaves her job and reluctantly moves into a small room over her uncle’s bookshop. Yagisawa’s novel details Takako’s journey as she finds solace in reading and the small pleasures offered by the local community: from eccentric customers to charming coffee shops. The story then skips ahead over a period of years, moving from Takako to her uncle Satoru as he’s reunited with his long-lost wife Momoko, after her mysterious disappearance. This is oddly fragmented, sometimes a little uneven, and the translation could be smoother but I enjoyed its quirky feel and the emphasis on the transformative power of reading. Translated by Eric Ozawa.
Thanks to Edelweiss and publisher HarperCollins for an ARC
Rating: 3 to 3.5
Thanks to Edelweiss and publisher HarperCollins for an ARC
Rating: 3 to 3.5
December 12, 2024
Hello again Goodreads. It’s been a while, hasn’t it? Over a year. It’s interesting thinking about it... not only is this my first review in over a year, but the first novel I’ve completed in that time. Sure, I’ve picked up books and started them thinking “I need to get back into this” and within fifty pages I’ve put it down and gone along my not so merry way. I won’t bore you with the details of my life since then, but enough people expressed concern that I’ll say I’m better now. I still have bad days, but my snark and snide humor still resides (he said foreshadowingly...)
“Yes, yes,” say the people who don’t followed me. “That’s all well and good, but this is a book review, not your facebook page or blog, kindly review the book or GTFO.”
Sorry, but this is my spotlight for a moment. I mention this for a reason beyond being an update. I mention it because there’s a scene in this book where someone describes the love of reading, that upon getting to it, filled my heart with nostalgia for something I didn’t even realize I missed. I’ve missed reading. I’ve missed reading the reviews of others. I’ve missed you all.
(“Again, not a speech Mr. Reviewer. Kindly get on with it.”)
This is not a perfect book by any means. It fits in nicely as one of those short Japanese novels that are mostly dialogue, light on plot, and have a lot of confused narrators going “what the hell am I doing with my life?”
God, I needed that. It may not be perfect, but it’s the perfect book for this specific time in my life. It’s a cozy read. Like being placed under a literary warm blanket. It’s what I needed. If I had to say anything negative about it, I would say that the second section of the book doesn't work quite as well as the first, and given that it's supposed to be the emotional heart of the book, that's a touch disappointing. Still, it doesn't hurt it much at all.
May it bring any other readers the same comfort it gave me.
Thank you for your time.
(“Decent finish, but terrible review. Blocked.”)
“Yes, yes,” say the people who don’t followed me. “That’s all well and good, but this is a book review, not your facebook page or blog, kindly review the book or GTFO.”
Sorry, but this is my spotlight for a moment. I mention this for a reason beyond being an update. I mention it because there’s a scene in this book where someone describes the love of reading, that upon getting to it, filled my heart with nostalgia for something I didn’t even realize I missed. I’ve missed reading. I’ve missed reading the reviews of others. I’ve missed you all.
(“Again, not a speech Mr. Reviewer. Kindly get on with it.”)
This is not a perfect book by any means. It fits in nicely as one of those short Japanese novels that are mostly dialogue, light on plot, and have a lot of confused narrators going “what the hell am I doing with my life?”
God, I needed that. It may not be perfect, but it’s the perfect book for this specific time in my life. It’s a cozy read. Like being placed under a literary warm blanket. It’s what I needed. If I had to say anything negative about it, I would say that the second section of the book doesn't work quite as well as the first, and given that it's supposed to be the emotional heart of the book, that's a touch disappointing. Still, it doesn't hurt it much at all.
May it bring any other readers the same comfort it gave me.
Thank you for your time.
(“Decent finish, but terrible review. Blocked.”)
February 1, 2023
¡AY, SANTA CACHUCHA!, ¿por qué me tientas de esta manera🥴?
Sé que me va la marcha literaria, que es entrar en una librería y empezar a aplaudir con las orejas, PERO ESTO YA ES DEMASIADO! En serio, que me veo en Jimbocho, paseando entre librerías y comprando como una posesa novelas japonesas! Y, entiéndeme, más bien poco de japo...🤭
Y sí, sé que me vas a decir: "A ver, tampoco será pa tanto, no🤪?".
Y yo, que me va lo de ser la amiga con cierto grado de maldad, sonrío en plan maléfica, antes de preguntarte: "¿Sabes dónde está ambientada esta maravillosa historia, verdad?😈".
Exacto! En el barrio de Jimbocho, considerada como la ciudad de los libros más grande del mundo🤩. Es más, su nombre ya lo dice todo: "Podemos seguir así todo el día"! Así que, imagínate un libro ambientado en este barrio, que habla de libros y que además pasa en una librería ! Vamos, si esto ya no es tentar al publico, que venga santa Cachucha y nos lo explique...🤭
Ahora, si quieres saber qué vas a encontrar en su interior...
⛩️Una protagonista que busca su lugar en el mundo.
⛩️Un Morisaki que sin saber sabe!
⛩️Un chico muy tímido y una mujer a la que le gusta la aventura.
⛩️Una cafetería, una librería y muchos libros!
Sé que me va la marcha literaria, que es entrar en una librería y empezar a aplaudir con las orejas, PERO ESTO YA ES DEMASIADO! En serio, que me veo en Jimbocho, paseando entre librerías y comprando como una posesa novelas japonesas! Y, entiéndeme, más bien poco de japo...🤭
Y sí, sé que me vas a decir: "A ver, tampoco será pa tanto, no🤪?".
Y yo, que me va lo de ser la amiga con cierto grado de maldad, sonrío en plan maléfica, antes de preguntarte: "¿Sabes dónde está ambientada esta maravillosa historia, verdad?😈".
Exacto! En el barrio de Jimbocho, considerada como la ciudad de los libros más grande del mundo🤩. Es más, su nombre ya lo dice todo: "Podemos seguir así todo el día"! Así que, imagínate un libro ambientado en este barrio, que habla de libros y que además pasa en una librería ! Vamos, si esto ya no es tentar al publico, que venga santa Cachucha y nos lo explique...🤭
Ahora, si quieres saber qué vas a encontrar en su interior...
⛩️Una protagonista que busca su lugar en el mundo.
⛩️Un Morisaki que sin saber sabe!
⛩️Un chico muy tímido y una mujer a la que le gusta la aventura.
⛩️Una cafetería, una librería y muchos libros!
June 6, 2024
3.75 ⭐
Un buon libro oper uscire dal blocco del lettore! I miei giorni alla libreria Morisaki ti costringe a prenderti una pausa e fermarti. L'atmosfera suggestiva del romanzo è capace di teletrasportarti al distretto di Jinbōchō (il famoso distretto di Tokyo completamente formato da librerie di tutti i tipi).
È facile immedesimarsi nella protagonista del romanzo, una donna la cui vita finisce allo sbaraglio e che grazie allo zio e alla libreria Morisaki riesce a risalire.
Di per sé il romanzo non è nulla di particolarmente entusiasmante ma se siete alla ricerca di uno slice of life con cozy vibes e volete immergervi in un ambiente ricco di libri è un buon punto di partenza!
Un buon libro oper uscire dal blocco del lettore! I miei giorni alla libreria Morisaki ti costringe a prenderti una pausa e fermarti. L'atmosfera suggestiva del romanzo è capace di teletrasportarti al distretto di Jinbōchō (il famoso distretto di Tokyo completamente formato da librerie di tutti i tipi).
È facile immedesimarsi nella protagonista del romanzo, una donna la cui vita finisce allo sbaraglio e che grazie allo zio e alla libreria Morisaki riesce a risalire.
Di per sé il romanzo non è nulla di particolarmente entusiasmante ma se siete alla ricerca di uno slice of life con cozy vibes e volete immergervi in un ambiente ricco di libri è un buon punto di partenza!
August 15, 2023
Basically a story of finding yourself amid rows and rows of secondhand books. Story of love, loss and reconciliation.
September 6, 2023
A really delightful read.
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