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A review by mayannecosplay
Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
4.0
A sweet, short read that has those cozy book about books vibes. The protagonist, Takako, is down on her luck, freshly dumped and without a job. Her estranged uncle, Satoru, invites her to stay at the family bookshop until she gets herself back on her feet. In her months surrounded by towers of old books, she finds herself a new passion for reading and forms impactful relationships with customers and her family. I really enjoyed the atmospheres of the Jimbocho neighbourhood, the cafes with familiar faces, and the cozy Morisaki bookstore. Book lovers will relate to Takako's discovery of her love of reading and spending endless hours curled around a book.
Takako is at first very quick to judge a person's character, but learns to slow down away from the fast-paced city life and connect with the people around her. I especially loved her quirky uncle, Satoru, and his open and flexible approach to life, It was such a contrast to Takako's more practical nature, and when she accepts him and his love, you see their relationship develop into such a comforting and supportive dynamic. In the first half of the novel, Satoru saves Takako at her lowest and she does so in return in the second half. Truly a positive depiction of familial love.
And some new characters introduced in the second half surprised me with how much I liked them by the end too. This book leaves you with a sense that every person you meet has a whole life of stories, experiences and struggles that you would never know. If only we just took the time to ask and listen, we would understand each other more deeply and see each other with more empathy.
As a translated Japanese to English text, I appreciated that many terms were left untranslated to keep the cultural context. Many famous Japanese authors are mentioned that I would like to read one day too.
Days at the Morisaki Bookshop is a very short read with few plot points but for its length it manages to connect and convey a strong message of hope and love. Reading this in one sitting felt like taking a short vacation from life, just like what Takako had at the Bookshop. A very heart-warming and positive read that I enjoyed thoroughly!
Takako is at first very quick to judge a person's character, but learns to slow down away from the fast-paced city life and connect with the people around her. I especially loved her quirky uncle, Satoru, and his open and flexible approach to life, It was such a contrast to Takako's more practical nature, and when she accepts him and his love, you see their relationship develop into such a comforting and supportive dynamic. In the first half of the novel, Satoru saves Takako at her lowest and she does so in return in the second half. Truly a positive depiction of familial love.
And some new characters introduced in the second half surprised me with how much I liked them by the end too. This book leaves you with a sense that every person you meet has a whole life of stories, experiences and struggles that you would never know. If only we just took the time to ask and listen, we would understand each other more deeply and see each other with more empathy.
As a translated Japanese to English text, I appreciated that many terms were left untranslated to keep the cultural context. Many famous Japanese authors are mentioned that I would like to read one day too.
Days at the Morisaki Bookshop is a very short read with few plot points but for its length it manages to connect and convey a strong message of hope and love. Reading this in one sitting felt like taking a short vacation from life, just like what Takako had at the Bookshop. A very heart-warming and positive read that I enjoyed thoroughly!