Reviews with content warning for Miscarriage - Moje dni w antykwariacie Morisaki

This was such an interesting book. The characters were so well written and their stories were endearing. This was the first translated book I have read so some of the nuances of the writing are probably a little lost but I really enjoyed this quick read! I’m looking forward to reading the next one and getting more of this little world.

Content Warnings

avaa1000's review against another edition

Go to review page

Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.0

Content Warnings

jhbandcats's review against another edition

Go to review page

informative reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I think I’m suffering from cultural dissonance - or maybe I just don’t get it. This Japanese book was so very Japanese that perhaps I was lost just because I found it unfamiliar.

Okay, first of all, as petty as this is, I am *really* annoyed that there are cats on the cover of the book but none in the story. I love books about books and the people who love them, but a book about a bookshop that included cats would have been just fabulous IMO.

Between the cover and a somewhat misleading description, I was expecting something else, and every time the book did what the author intended, I was left feeling bewildered. I’d thought the book was about a young woman, Takako, working in her uncle’s bookshop (with cats) but that was only the first half. The second half is about the reappearance of the uncle’s wife, missing these past five years. By then, though, Takako has moved out so the bookshop is no longer as much a part of the story. Then there’s some misdirection (in both the description and the plot) about Takako’s romantic life. Again I was left feeling bewildered.

Overall I especially enjoyed that this story was a love letter to books, bookshops, and book lovers. It just wasn’t at all what I expected. I’m sure I’d have appreciated it much more had I not read the description and had there been no deceptive cats on the cover. False advertising!

Content Warnings

lolelolelolotte's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

Content Warnings

beatriks's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional reflective relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

Didn’t live up to the hype for me.
Maybe I’m not made for Japanese literature? I obviously need to read more Japanese books.

I listened to the audiobook and it didn’t catch my interest and attention at all. Especially part 2 was disappointing.

Content Warnings