La Cité des brumes oubliées

by Sachiko Kashiwaba, Nesrine Mezouane (Translator)

Découvrez pour la première fois en France l’histoire qui a inspiré le chef-d’œuvre de Hayao Miyazaki, Le Voyage de Chihiro !

Partie seule dans un lieu reculé pour les vacances, Lina se perd dans un épais brouillard. Lorsque la brume se dissipe enfin, la jeune fille découvre au cœur de celle-ci un village incongru… peuplé de personnages mystérieux et hauts en couleur.

Coincée dans la pension d’une vieille mégère à la tête bien trop grosse, Lina va alors devoir travailler dans des boutiques plus extravagantes les unes que les autres pour regagner sa liberté au cours d’un voyage d’apprentissage rythmé par des rencontres inoubliables.

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Fiction, Japan, Audiobook, Childrens, Japanese Literature

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1975

About the author

Sachiko Kashiwaba (1953–) is a native of Iwate Prefecture, where she was born in the coastal city of Miyako. She studied at Tohoku Pharmaceutical University in Sendai, and while still in college made her debut as a children's writer by winning the 1974 Kodansha Award for New Writers of Children's Literature with The Marvelous Village Veiled in Mist (tr. 1987), which inspired the Studio Ghibli animated film Spirited Away. She quickly established herself as a leading children's author, with work ranging from novel-length fantasies to nursery tales. Her stories portray other worlds—fantasy worlds—that are direct extensions of the real world. By venturing into those other realities, her characters discover things about themselves that allow them to return to their place in this world with a new outlook. Her many other awards include the JAWC New Talent Award for The Marvelous Village Veiled in Mist; the 2007 Sankei Children's Book Award Grand Prize for Botan-san no fushigi na mainichi (The Marvelous Days of Mrs. Peony); and the 2010 Shogakukan Children's Publication Culture Award for Tsuzuki no toshokan (The Rest of the Story Library). Her other works include Buremen basu (Bremen Bus), Dodo-cho no komazukai (The Dodo Bird's Gofer), and NHK-TV's educational puppet drama Bakeruno shogakko hyudoro-gumi (Hyudoro Class, Monster School).

Reviews

[Clace · Rating 3 out of 5]

The most cozy, atmospheric, cutest, mystic, Ghibli coded book that I have ever read

[Mir · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pleasant but very simple short book about a girl spending a few weeks in a tiny (6 buildings, I think it said) magical village where everyone is more or less nice except one grumpy old lady and a parrot. Okay but bland, no clue how they got Spirited Away out of this story.

The inventor's fulltime job is keeping stoves running so flowers bloom year round. The chef is supposedly great but we only hear about sandwiches. I felt like the author wasn't that invested in this story.

[buket · Rating 4 out of 5]

so whimsical and ghibli core

[A.M. (ᴍʏ.sᴘᴏᴏᴋʏ.ᴡᴀʏs) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐭 feels like stepping into a dream: quiet, surreal, and gently unsettling in that uniquely magical way only Japanese fantasy can deliver. This novella, translated from the 1989 original by Sachiko Kashiwaba, follows a young girl named Lina as she stumbles into a mysterious village hidden in the mountains, shrouded in mist and brimming with secrets. Time doesn’t quite work the same here. The villagers seem… not quite alive, but not dead either. The atmosphere lingers long after you close the book.

There’s a stillness to the storytelling that might not work for everyone, some moments feel more meditative than plot-driven, but that’s part of the charm. Kashiwaba writes with subtlety, creating a world that feels suspended between reality and myth. It’s easy to see how 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐭 helped inspire Studio Ghibli’s 𝘚𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘈𝘸𝘢𝘺. Lina’s journey mirrors Chihiro’s in many ways: the crossing into a hidden realm, the slow unraveling of its rules, the quiet bravery of a girl learning to find her place in an unfamiliar world. Even the tone, eerie yet full of wonder, feels like a spiritual predecessor.

What stood out to me most was how Kashiwaba blends folklore with gentle introspection. There’s a philosophical undercurrent about memory, grief, and the passage of time, but it never weighs down the story. Instead, it adds depth to the otherworldly setting, making the village feel more like a liminal space between life and death, childhood and maturity.

The only reason I’m not giving this a full five stars is because I found myself wanting just a little more emotional connection to the protagonist. Lina is quietly observant and brave, but I felt like I was watching her from a distance rather than walking beside her. Still, this is a minor quibble in an otherwise beautifully layered tale.

If you’re a fan of cozy and quiet, atmospheric fantasy, or if you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to walk through the mist and find yourself in a place forgotten by time, this one’s for you.

(𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘙𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴, 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬!)

[Suhailah · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Officially, it’s the town of Misty Valley, but we all call it Absurd Avenue, because we like to joke.”✨

~I found out about this book from my local library email newsletter. It was the Big Library Read choice! Available with no Libby holds for the eBook and audiobook from November 18th thru December 2nd.

✮Best Way to Experience This: Accompanied by the Audiobook 🎧

READ IF YOU LIKE ➺
🌂Magical Creatures
🤡Coming-of-Age Stories
🌂Cozy Middle Grade Fantasy Books
🤡Magical Villages
🌂Quirky Characters
🤡Community and Friendship

Fun Facts:
■ This book inspired Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away Movie!
■ This book is originally translated from Japanese.

My Thoughts✎𓂃📝
✱This was a great holiday reading choice, and I am glad I saw the information in my library’s newsletter. I had no idea Spirited Away was inspired by a book! I should have known! Anyway, though the book wasn’t perfect, it brought back good memories of watching Spirited Away for the first time. When I was living at home, back when I was in college, my younger sister randomly put this movie on while we ate our Thanksgiving meal, and it was so memorable! I definitely feel due for a rewatch!
✱More on why I couldn’t quite rate this 5☆…and this is probably just a me problem (since I’ve had a hard time finding any books worthy of 5☆ this entire reading year!), but I lost interest when the chapters started to feel episodic. I was expecting a more cohesive plot and what was given was more along the lines of snippets of an adventure strung together loosely. Not my favorite style.
✱The most interesting character I would say was Ms. Picotto. She was so stern yet taught so many valuable lessons. My favorite character was Gentleman, the cat. So cute! And my favorite job Lina had was of course the bookstore!!

MY FAVORITE QUOTES

“I thought this place smelled like a library when I came in,” Lina mused. “It does. Long-used books take on the smells of their readers,” Nata said. “Those are the only kinds of books that interest me.” She grinned.”

“When people immerse themselves in books and take great care of them, that’s my payment.”

“When the parrot finished, she couldn’t help but clap. “What a pretty song!” she said. “Your singing is gorgeous. I imagined a ship sailing away on the open sea toward the sunset.”

I recommend this book for the holidays! Enjoy! ♥️

[Seb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Je ne sais pas trop que penser de ce livre. D'un côté, l'onirisme et les incongruités rendent l'histoire intriguante et typique de ce que j'aime mais, d'un autre côté, je trouve l'histoire creuse. On a plus droit à des images et des impressions qu'à une histoire construite.

En cherchant bien, l'on peut deviner quelques rapports avec Le Voyage de Chihiro mais ce n'est pas non plus des plus flagrants. Ne lisez pas ce livre juste dans l'optique de retrouver une partie de la magie du film, vous ne la trouverez pas.

Au final, bonne ambiance, bons décors, mauvaise exploitation de tout cela avec une absence marquée d'accroche.

-----

(Automatic translation)

I'm not sure what to make of this book. On the one hand, the dreaminess and incongruities make the story intriguing and typical of what I like, but on the other, I find the story hollow. We're treated more to images and impressions than to a constructed story.

If you look hard enough, you can guess some connection with Chihiro's Journey, but it's not very obvious either. Don't read this book just to recapture some of the film's magic - you won't find it.

All in all, good atmosphere, good scenery, poor use of all that, with a marked lack of grip.

[Feseven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Il meraviglioso paese oltre la nebbia è il romanzo che ispirato il regista Hayao Miyazaki nella realizzazione del suo film d'animazione “La città incantata”.
Un libro breve (o un racconto lungo) che porta in un mondo fantastico dove tutti si comportano in modo strano e dove ci sono tigri nascoste nelle ceramiche e dove gli ombrelli sorridono.
Rina, la protagonista, nell’estate della sua sesta classe (ultimo anno di elementari) viene spinta dal padre a passare le vacanze nella Valle della Nebbia, dove la sua famiglia ha amici.
Dopo varie avventure giunge alla Valle della Nebbia e scopre subito che per poterci rimanere dovrà lavorare e mantenersi da sola.
Il libro è un piccolo viaggio di crescita interiore che Rina affronta, non senza difficoltà, anche grazie a tutte le persone (e non solo) che incontrerà nel suo percorso.
Per me è un dolcissimo racconto, una storia per bambini che possono leggere anche gli adulti, che intenerisce, diverte e fa anche un po’ emozionare.

[Indi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tout d'abord, NE VOUS FIEZ PAS A CE TERRIBLE STICKER MARKETING qui met en avant le fait que Le voyage de Chihiro ait été inspiré par ce livre. En faisant des recherches très rapides, il me semble avoir compris que Miyazaki avait souhaité adapter ce livre mais que le projet n'a pas été retenu. C'est ensuite qu'il a proposé le projet pour Le voyage de Chihiro qui a pour sa part été validé. Avec cette information, je peux tout à fait comprendre à quel point Le voyage de Chihiro et ce livre sont différents.

Ayant à l'esprit que beaucoup de personnes avaient dit que le livre n'avait rien à voir avec le film Ghibli, je m'y suis engagée en gardant ça en tête et j'ai adoré ma lecture !
Le livre est certes une espèce de Narnia très basique (l'autrice indique d'ailleurs dans sa note que Narnia l'a inspirée) mais j'ai adoré y retrouver cette ambiance très légère et apaisante du Japon. J'y ai vraiment retrouvé ce que j'aime le plus dans la littérature japonaise (en tout cas, dans le peu de livres japonais que j'ai lus).
J'ai trouvé que c'était une lecture doudou parfaite pour un weekend, sans prise de tête, juste un voyage aux côtés d'une petite fille dans un village merveilleux. Il n'y a pas réellement d'intrigue, simplement Lina qui rencontre différentes personnes lors de son séjour.
J'ai toutefois très moyennement apprécié l'insistance sur le poids de Lina mais le livre ayant été écrit dans les années 70 et la culture japonaise étant ce qu'elle est, ce n'était pas si étonnant.

En bref, une petite lecture doudou de weekend qui m'a beaucoup plu :)

[Panda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Libby Reads, formally known as Big Library Read, is currently running their quarterly book read. The Village Beyond the Mist is the library book that is available in unlimited quantities for participating libraries in both book and audiobook editions for Libby users from November 18 - December 2:

For the first time since its original publication in 1975, this timeless and enduring Japanese classic is available to English-speaking readers! Dive into the mystical children's novel that inspired the beloved Studio... ~Libby Reads

The club read is offering a downloadable reading guide and coloring pages for those interested:
https://pages.libbylife.com/LibbySora...

Audiobook (3 hours) narrated by Sarah Skaer
Translator: Avery Fischer Udagawa
Publisher: Tantor Media, Inc

Fantasticly flawless narration and audio.
Sarah Skaer was an Audie Award finalist. I'm not sure who she was up against, but if she has not yet won an award for her skills, I foresee a win in the not too distant future. She was delightful to listen too.

This book is so much fun!

There's creativity galore! The detail spreads throughout in the best ways, like an illustration with a pen.

This is one of those books that can be enjoyed at any age, with something for everyone, be it lessons or memories or something in between.

I enjoyed it fully as an adult, reading it by myself, but also can see this being one of those books that could be read together as a family. There's so much to be discussed here that it could be either a parent or grandparent reading it to a child, maybe as a routine for a few days, or for older children the child could read it out loud or even something that both could read separately and then talk about, like a read a long.

For me, it made me miss my Nana, who was an avid reader. She loved and gave me the love of Stephen King. She also read the entire Harry Potter collection so that she could share in the enjoyment with her grandchildren. Nana was also more than a bit spicy, and I saw glimpses of her in one of the characters.

Overall a fun read. I am so glad that it was translated for those of us who don't speak or read Japanese.

[hillary · Rating 2 out of 5]

Once again Studio Ghibli rules! I don't know how they manage to turn these little and a bit insignificant books into those amazing works of art.

[Hannah Greendale (Hello, Bookworm)]

First published in 1975 and now finally translated from the Japanese by Avery Fisher Udagawa, this is the children's book that inspired Hayao Miyazaki's much-loved film, Spirited Away. While the book doesn't have as much in common with the film as expected, it was fun to search the text for the seeds of whimsy that inspired Miyazaki's masterful film.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

« Excusez-moi, madame, vous savez comment aller à la Vallée des brumes ? demanda Lina d'un air résolu à une dame qui passait devant elle. »

Quelle belle aventure ! Et je remercie Indi de m’avoir fait découvrir ce livre que je ne connaissais pas (d’ailleurs, je recommande chaudement sa review).

La Cité des brumes oubliées est un adorable récit, ou l’imagerie est si riche qu’il est très facile de s’imaginer les petites bâtisses et autres personnages imaginés par Sachiko Kashiwaba, chose que l’auteur voulait transmettre. Un signe d’une écriture efficace et réussie dans sa démarche. J’aurais limite adoré trouver des fanarts/illustrations à travers les chapitres pour nourrir mon imagination (pour une raison ou une autre, je voyais la boutique de confiserie telle la maison d’Ansel et Gretel !)

Les personnages sont divers et variés, chacun d’entre eux participe à la magie du lieu et leur absence enlèverait une certaine cohérence au récit. Certaines répétitions étaient un peu redondantes (la grand-mère qui demande sans cesse ce qu’elle a dit, les mentions du poids de Lina comme l’a relevé Indi dans sa review, etc).

En somme, un joli petit livre pour s’évader et se retrouver dans un monde unique et très riche imaginairement parlant !

[Ilenia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Piccole pecche sintattiche e grammaticali a parte, è un libro da leggere senza troppe pretese , evitando di accostarlo al capolavoro della ghibli << la città incantata >> . Sussurrati i riferimenti a romanzi quali Mary Poppins e Le cronache di Narnia. La vicenda vede come protagonista Rina e la propria vacanza estiva che si rivelerà essere un vero e proprio percorso di formazione, alla scoperta della responsabilizzazione e di un paesino magico abitato da discendenti di maghi. Ogni negozio, ogni esperienza nasconderà un insegnamento necessario alla protagonista. Se cercate una lettura leggera, che sappia d'estate o una lettura da intervallare a trame ben più crude e destabilizzanti ( esco dalla de l'animale morente) questo libricino fa al caso vostro.

[Zana]

DNF @ 9%

Way too cozy for me.

[Steph · Rating 3 out of 5]

this classic japanese fairytale is magical and truly whimsical! the insufferable audiobook narration put me off, but i still really loved the story. rtc!

[Mady · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the November book for Libby Reads, which is a global eBook club for families. Readers around the world can enjoy the same featured book at the same time.

[Adele Lostinaclassicworld · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rina è una ragazzina che frequenta l'ultimo anno delle elementari, e quando il padre le suggerisce di trascorrere l'estate nella Valle della nebbia, lei parte con tanta curiosità.
Dopo alcuni piccoli imprevisti, raggiunge la meta e viene accolta dalla signora Picotte nella sua pensione, ma per viverci dovrà lavorare nei negozi dei vicini.
Iniziano così una serie di avventure indimenticabili...

L'ambientazione di questo libro è magica, piccoli negozi che svelano tante sorprese, con dei proprietari sempre diversi che aiutano la piccola nel suo percorso di crescita, a imparare a essere indipendente e ad aiutare gli altri.
Qui poi incontra anche altre creature che invece l'aiutano a vedere le ricchezze che ci sono nel mondo.

Vi dico solo che il suo primo lavoro è in mezzo a tantissimi libri, un'oasi di pace, con una proprietaria che non è per nulla brava in cucina e che ama i sottaceti!

'La città incantata' è una piccola fiaba adatta a giovani e adulti, una coccola che permette di sognare un luogo diverso, pieno di sorprese e ricco di bei personaggi, che lancia anche dei messaggi importanti e che spesso vengono dimenticati.

Ps: Hayao Miyazaki si è ispirato a questo libro per il suo famoso film, ma attenzione, le due opere sono molto diverse!

[Read me two times · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unico difetto: troppo corto!
È un libro tenerissimo!! Lo so che i libri per bambini sono tutti teneri (più o meno) ma la tenerezza giapponese è di un altro tipo. La amo.

[top. · Rating 3 out of 5]

อ่านจบแล้วก็เข้าใจได้ว่าเหตุไฉนมันจึงกลายไปเป็น Spirited Away (2001) ของจิบลิ จริงๆ ที่ได้แรงบันดาลใจมามีแค่โครงเรื่อง ส่วนดีเทลฝั่งอนิเมชั่นรางวัลออสการ์ คุณฮายาโอะด้นใหม่ให้หมดเลย (ซึ่งเราก็ชอบความลงตัวของมันมาก)

"ไม่มีอาหารให้สำหรับใครก็ตามที่ไม่ทำงาน และคนไม่ทำงานก็อยู่ในหมู่บ้านแห่งนี้ไม่ได้"

นี่เอ็นดูเจ้ายักษ์น้อยที่ชอบขนมเป็นพิเศษ (ภาพประกอบน่ารักมากก) และอีกจุดที่ชอบซึ่งจัดว่าส่วนตัวสุดคือ วิธีการเข้าสู่หมู่บ้านของตัวเอก มันมีความ Spirited Away + Only Yesterday (1991) ผสมกันอยู่อย่างพอดิบพอดี แล้วตอนจบก็โอเคอย่างที่ควรจะเป็น ไม่ฟูมฟาย หรือดับฝันจนเกินไป เด็กอ่านได้ ส่วนผู้ใหญ่อ่านแล้วก็อาจจะยังชอบเวอร์ชั่นจิบลิมากกว่า เพราะมันเสียดสีกว่า จริงจังกว่า และ nostalgia กว่า (แถมเพลงก็ไพเราะกว่า!?) ก็เป็นได้

[Lychee · Rating 1 out of 5]

Read as part of Libby’s first Libby Reads, the global digital book club, where there are unlimited copies of the book available with no waitlists from Nov 18 - Dec 2, 2025

https://share.libbyapp.com/title/1102...

I’ve been burnt out of cozy whimsical slow stories for a while now, so take my star review with a grain of salt.

Audiobook voices for the characters are so grating

[Luzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple, sweet, and magical.

[Ysa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un très chouette roman jeunesse, plein de douceur et de poésie 💛

[Dxdnelion · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Village Beyond the Mist is absolutely charming with its blend of folklore, cozy fantasy, and odd characters that just added more to this beautiful 'cottage' world. I can understand why this book inspired Spirited Away, as both give the quiet gentleness of its approach to fantasy.

This summer break is different than usual; instead of going to her grandmother's for the summer, Lina has been encouraged by her father to go to a remote village she's never heard of. She sets off on her solo journey but only to find that the village is nowhere to be seen until a gust of wind blows off her umbrella and whisks her to Absurd Avenue, a small village with its cobbled street, six buildings with peculiar cottage-like structures, and a massive house with numerous chimneys. From there, she met a grumpy old woman who set an odd rule: "Those who do not work, do not eat," and so the book spools through Lena's time helping out at five magical shops in the village, each filled with its wonders and quirky characters.

Rather than a high-stakes fantasy adventure, the book unfolds more like an episodic tale that follows Lina's journey with the characters at the different shops that mostly correspond to a small task or moment, such as organizing books, fleeting conversations, food, and receiving a warmth of kindness from all these strangers. These seemingly mundane encounters are so heartwarming, revealing many delightful surprises, with each of the owners helping Lina's growth, to learn to be independent and to help others. The world-building itself doesn't rely on their complex lore or superpower. It’s a world of gentle, unexplained magic that is brimming with nostalgia, enjoying the simple things in life, and being kind to everyone. It feels like stepping into a surreal, quiet dream—calm and timeless, like a liminal space between life and death (which does have a resemblance aspect to Spirited Away). Lina is such a great character; she is observant and brave. I wish that the book could delve deeper into their interaction with various characters, as I feel like I don't have much emotional connection with her character.

Despite being associated with Spirited Away, the book stands out with its own elements and unique storytelling. There are problematic remarks in the book regarding Lina's weight, but considering the year it was published, I'm just going to let it go. That said, if you're reading this book expecting it to be an 'adaptation' of Spirited Away, then you're wrong. Since most of the low ratings seem to stem from the disappointment of Ghibli fans. I feel like Hayao Miyazaki only took the book's vibes and some elements of the book as his inspiration for Spirited Away, so no, you won't find Haku, or parents turning into pigs, or cute soot sprites in here. Please know that this book served as inspiration for the film, not an adaptation!

Overall, I truly enjoy this cozy, atmospheric fantasy! Giving a solid 4 ⭐️

[Patryx · Rating 3 out of 5]

Per apprezzare questo breve racconto bisogna essere molto giovani e, soprattutto, non aver visto La città incantata di Myazaki (ispirata proprio a questo libro); se entrambe le condizioni sono soddisfatte, allora le avventure vissute da Rina durante la sua vacanza nella Città della Nebbia saranno un piacevole passatempo. Viceversa, se ci si avvicina a questo racconto con la speranza di immergersi nelle magiche atmosfere del film, allora si resterà abbastanza delusi.

[Bella Azam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sachiko Kashiwaba crafted a story out of the ordinary, weaved the fantastical elements to them and made it one of the most coziest and heartwarming tale that I have read this year. It was the kind of book that I think all type of readers can enjoy and love for its whimsical vibe and the magical town of Absurd Avenue. As marketed as the story that inspired the movie Spirited Away by Hayao Miyazaki (plus my favourite movie of all time), I was intrigued and very much looking forward to read this and I can safely say I love this little book. Its filled with warmth, the magic, the heartwarming moments. There were moments or scenes and characters in the book that I can see get taken as inspiration to the movie but the elements are what makes the book special. If you expect it to be the same to the film, you might want to change that point of view while reading this.

The Village Beyond the Mist is a book of its own. Lina visited the Misty Valley as suggested by her father during a school break. With the guidance of a white umbrella with red polka dots and a clown's smiling face at the end of the handle, she found a village in the woods, a mystical town with six buildings by bricks. At this Absurd Avenue lived villagers as descendants of sorcerers, she stayed with them while working at various places under the instruction of Ms Picotto, the landlady. The premise is simple yet these ordinary mudane jobs taken by Lina as she worked at a bookstore, the ceramics store and the toymakers showcased the magic of everyday life.

The illustrations by Miho Satake was so pretty and perfectly complimented the whimsicality of this story. The translation by Avery Fischer Udagawa was smooth and easy to read. Hope we get more of Sachiko Kashiwaba's book because if I could get this kind of tale again, I would be so delighted just to get sweeped away into this fantastical set up again and will never get tired of it

Thank you Edelweiss and the publisher for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review

[kylie’s been jinxed ౨ৎ]

“ʙᴜᴛ ɴᴏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʙᴇ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ʙᴏʀɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴀɴ sᴏᴍᴇᴏɴᴇ ᴡʜᴏ ɪs ᴘᴇʀғᴇᴄᴛ ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛɪᴍᴇ”

˗ˏˋ 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑽𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝑩𝒆𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑴𝒊𝒔𝒕 ˎˊ˗

☁️ ᴏᴠᴇʀᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛs:

This has been cited as the inspiration for the Studio Ghibli Film: Howl’s Moving Castle, and I can definitely see the correlation. They both contain magical worlds and a small journey to discover herself and the space around her (though i preferred the movie). This contains the characteristic Japanese charm in a short cozy fantasy.

I really liked our main character Lina, she’s super sweet and has a lot of the childish curiosity that makes me smile. Lina learns so much as a character but retains the same whimsical and kind personality.

Overall, this was such a cute atmospheric fantasy, perfect for a cozy winter day!

🌂 ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ:
⤷ 4 stars ★★★★☆

☁️ sɪᴍɪʟᴀʀ ʙᴏᴏᴋs:
⤷ Kiki’s Delievry Service (Eiko Kadono)
⤷ Howl’s Moving Castle (Diana Wynn Jones)

[Justine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Je ne m'attendais à rien en commençant ce livre ; je savais simplement qu'il avait inspiré Le Voyage de Chihiro de Miyazaki - qui m'avait traumatisée enfant - et je venais justement de le revoir. J'avais envie de voir un peu "l'origine" du film, ce qui avait pu intéresser le réalisateur dans ce court roman.

J'ai adoré ! J'ai passé un moment magique à suivre Lina - j'ai eu du mal à me faire à son nom, elle m'a semblé tellement différente d'autres héroïnes japonaises que j'ai pu croiser précédemment ! - dans la cité des brumes oubliées ! Tout était doux, les personnages étaient touchants ; j'aurais presque aimé que le livre soit plus long histoire de profiter encore un peu de cette atmosphère à la fois cosy et enchanteresse ! J'ai aimé, pour autant, que tout ne soit pas facile, que les personnages ne soient pas tous accueillants, que Lina ait à se faire accepter, que tout ne lui tombe pas dans les mains, comme par magie. C'était vraisemblable tout en restant lié à un monde très différent du nôtre.

La fin était pour moi assez amère : je trouvais cruel et inutile de ne pas permettre à Lina de retourner dans la cité. J'ai ressenti, comme j'aurais pu le faire enfant en lisant ce roman, un grand soulagement quand elle découvre le parapluie au fond de son sac !
En fin de compte, pendant les quelques heures que m'a pris la lecture du livre, j'ai l'impression d'être redevenue une enfant : ça arrive suffisamment rarement pour que j'apprécie le phénomène !

Les seuls éléments qui m'ont gênée sont, d'abord, les petites injonctions que reçoit la petite Lina. Il ne faut pas qu'elle mange trop ... mais, pour certaines nourritures, c'est bon, parce qu'elles ne font pas grossir ! C'était assez agaçant, mais j'ai réussi à faire abstraction pour rester immergée dans cette petite bulle de bien-être qu'a vite représenté ce livre pour moi.
Le "coup de grâce" a été la façon dont un petit garçon est traité par rapport à Lina : il ne peut pas mettre la table, enfin ! Les filles savent le faire, c'est facile pour elles ; pour lui, il faut quelque chose d'adapté, voyons ! J'ai vu rouge, mais ma colère s'est concentrée sur le personnage, laissant le livre intact.


Je n'ai ce livre qu'en numérique ; je me ferai une joie de trouver une copie physique, de la relire et de l'annoter ! J'ai aussi très envie de lire d'autres romans de l'autrice, notamment La Maison des égarées !

[Mickdemaria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Devo dire che questa nippofavoletta mi è proprio piaciuta!
Il libro racconta delle avventure di Rina nel meraviglioso paese oltre la nebbia, dei personaggi magici che lo popolano, delle difficoltà che deve affrontare in questo viaggio di crescita. Niente di nuovo per quanto riguarda il tema ma la declinazione in chiave giapponese da una leggerezza ed un gusto esotico che ho molto apprezzato. Rispetto al film che ha ispirato ha senz'altro atmosfere diverse ma soprattutto ha un utilizzo più "occidentale" del rapporto causa-effetto; ovvero si capisce! E per me questo (non me ne vogliano gli innumerevoli estimatori di Miyazaki) è un pregio non da poco. Consigliato ad adulti e bambini.
Voto: 6,5

[Zoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

cutie read

[Marine · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
a quick read, enchanting and full of great lessons. if it was longer though i probably would have left it aside because it feels like it was written mainly for kids, i still enjoyed it