Reviews with content warning for Sexism - Die Tage in der Buchhandlung Morisaki

Days at the Morisaki Bookshop was the last book I read in 2023. It also happens to be the first book I read after defending my thesis proposal and wrapping up my second to the last semester of university. And perhaps, because of the academic burnout and the uncertainty of my future after graduation, this book deeply resonated with me.

“I had too many ideals and ambitions for one person, and because of that, I ended up without a single one I could hold on to. I was an empty person. That’s what I was. It seemed like there was absolutely nowhere I belonged in this world.”

In the beginning, Takako goes through the motions of everyday, secure about herself, her career, and her relationship. However, the rug gets pulled under her, and one day she wakes up with the startling realization that she’s gone adrift, unmoored, no anchor tethering her to the world. Left with no other choice, she resigns from her job and moves out of her upscale Tokyo apartment to live with her estranged uncle in his bookshop. Here, she discovers a newfound passion for reading and encounters people who not only share her love for books but also help her heal.

“... maybe it takes a long time to figure out what you're truly searching for. Maybe you spend your whole life just to figure out a small part of it."

"I don't know. I think maybe I've been wasting my time, just doing nothing."

"I don't think so. It's important to stand still sometimes. Think of it as a little rest in the long journey of your life. This is your harbor. And your boat is just dropping anchor here for a little while. And after you're well rested, you can set sail again.”

In the end, the Morisaki Bookshop becomes Takako’s harbor, a place of refuge where she could rest and find herself again. For me, it’s books like this.

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