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stellahadz's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
A sweet, cozy love letter to the transformative power of books. The stories are interconnected without being repetitive, and I love that all the characters get their happy ending. Maybe it's a little cheesy, but that's exactly what I need these days.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia
oceanwriter's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I read this at a party so I don't feel I gave it the appropriate amount of attention it deserved, but there were some beautiful passages that I highlighted that I will absolutely be revisiting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Misogyny, and Sexism
Moderate: Body shaming
Minor: Pedophilia, Suicidal thoughts, and Pregnancy
meenasbooks's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
steffidercroc's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
süßes, cozy buch mit kleinen Lebensweisheiten drin, das ich sehr mochte. die letzte geschichte mit dem rentner hat mir am besten gefallen, ganz niedlich! schade fand ich nur, dass oft eine lösung der probleme der Protagonist*innen ein neuer job war, als würde sich mit lohnarbeit alles ins positive ändern. da zeigt sich auch nochmal der stellenwert von arbeit in japan. die sich in jeder Geschichte wiederholende Beschreibung von frau komachis körper war unnötig und fettfeindlich, das hat schon übelst genervt. trotzdem ist es ein buch, das einen definitiv aufheitern kann!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia and Sexism
kaneebli's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
Moderate: Ableism, Body shaming, Misogyny, and Sexism
Minor: Pedophilia, Suicidal thoughts, and Police brutality
grazeea's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
He recommends transcribing any poem that you happen to like into a notebook. It can be the whole poem or just a section. In this way, you can create your own anthology.
Maybe because I am journaling while I am reading this book that I picked up several quotes across the chapters
I like how each characters relate to the random books the librarian recommended.
Readers make their own personal connections to words, irrespective of the writers, intentions, and each reader gains something unique
Rating it four because of how bad they described the librarian, albeit her character is filled with warmth and wisdom. And I didn’t really like Chapter 4 :/
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
philosophicellie's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Really cute stories about people finding themselves through books. I loved how they all slightly overlapped too.
Fatphobic descriptions of Mrs Komachi were jarring.
Fatphobic descriptions of Mrs Komachi were jarring.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia
hmetwade's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Sexism, and Grief
alexactually's review against another edition
I struggled to remain interested in this book. The men were extremely unsympathetic characters who I struggled to like, and there was a lot of fatphobic commentary about the librarian. I wish I had known going in that this was a short story collection rather than a novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia and Misogyny
colorcrystals's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This was a bit of a departure from what I typically read, but it proved to be a delightful read about various individuals within a community who all find their to the library in the midst of their own personal crossroads, and how they make unexpected connections to the books recommended by the librarian. It was a beautiful reminder of how books take on a life of their own and can come to mean different things to different readers for a whole variety of reasons.
I’d rate this 3.5 stars. The translation was beautiful and I found the story compelling and thought-provoking, but I didn’t have the excitement to return to the book and finish reading that I look for to rate it higher, probably because it is so different than my preferred escapism genres. I’d absolutely recommend the book to someone who appreciates books with a more introspective view.
I’d rate this 3.5 stars. The translation was beautiful and I found the story compelling and thought-provoking, but I didn’t have the excitement to return to the book and finish reading that I look for to rate it higher, probably because it is so different than my preferred escapism genres. I’d absolutely recommend the book to someone who appreciates books with a more introspective view.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism
Moderate: Fatphobia
Minor: Cursing and Pregnancy