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A review by ranee_samaniego
Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa
reflective
slow-paced
2.5
It took me some time to think about how I would rate and review this book.
<<Spoilers Below>>
The first half of this short book followed Takako, a young woman whose life sudden hits rock bottom. With no where to go, she has to move into the apartment above her uncle's second-hand bookshop. She soon falls in love with reading and, through the kind support and love from her uncle, Satoru, is able to slowly regain her footing in life.
The second half of the book suddenly takes a turn. Satoru's long-lost wife suddenly reappears after over a decade and just... moves back in as if she had never left. Takako and Satoru are utterly confused but don't ask questions or demand answers. I cannot fathom this. I was so frustrated at everyone - Takako and Satoru for not honoring themselves enough to demand truth, the long-lost wife for just trying to come back without providing any explanation.
And... then she leaves again at the end of the book. She has a lot of trauma and needs to heal, but I was so frustrated with her.
And that's how the book ended.
I enjoyed the first half of the book, but was frustrated with the characters in the second half.
<<Spoilers Below>>
The first half of this short book followed Takako, a young woman whose life sudden hits rock bottom. With no where to go, she has to move into the apartment above her uncle's second-hand bookshop. She soon falls in love with reading and, through the kind support and love from her uncle, Satoru, is able to slowly regain her footing in life.
The second half of the book suddenly takes a turn. Satoru's long-lost wife suddenly reappears after over a decade and just... moves back in as if she had never left. Takako and Satoru are utterly confused but don't ask questions or demand answers. I cannot fathom this. I was so frustrated at everyone - Takako and Satoru for not honoring themselves enough to demand truth, the long-lost wife for just trying to come back without providing any explanation.
And... then she leaves again at the end of the book. She has a lot of trauma and needs to heal, but I was so frustrated with her.
And that's how the book ended.
I enjoyed the first half of the book, but was frustrated with the characters in the second half.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Child death