Hey folks! Welcome to Reader’s Corner. I am Swathi Anandan, your book reviewer. In this blog, I am going to share my views on a Japanese book that has been translated into English. By now, you might have guessed it.
DAYS AT MORISAKI BOOKSHOP
– SATOSHI YAGISAWA
About the book
Days at Morisaki Bookshop was written by Satoshi Yagisawa. It is his debut novel, originally published in Japanese on 7 September 2010. Later, it was translated into English and published on 4 July 2023. The author won the Chiyoda Literature Prize for this novel.
Blurb of the book
From the beginning of summer to early spring, I lived at the Morisaki Bookshop. I spent that period of my life in the spare room on the second floor of the store, trying to bury myself in books. The cramped room barely got any light, and everything felt damp. It smelled constantly of musty old books. But I will always remember the days I spent there because that is where my real life began. And I know, without a doubt, that if not for those days, the rest of my life would have been bland, monotonous, and lovely. The Morisaki Bookshop is precious to me. It is a place I know I will never forget
My Review
The book, Days at Morisaki Bookshop, is not a romance book, not a self-help book, not a romcom, nor a travelogue; rather, it is a book full of essence from all these genres in a very apt way. The story is very simple. The flow is engaging and at a good pace. The characters are very well built, and a reader can easily connect to the story. The main character, Takoka – a girl in the prime of her life – experiences almost everything a young adult would experience.
This book also emphasizes the importance of reading books, changing lifestyles, and the vanishing of readers and bookshops in fast-moving times. My favorite takeaway from this novel is that ‘Being Idle’ for a particular period in our life, without a job or a purpose, is not bad. It is called a little rest or being still in the long journey of our life. This is our harbor, where we can rest for a while before we set sail. In this book, this part is told in a very humble manner. The supporting characters are so positive that I envy that I could have some in my life too.
On the whole, this novel has given me a new view on taking life slow in today’s fast-moving world.
Hence, Dear readers, if you are searching for a slow, feel-good novel to read during an unusual phase of life, I highly recommend this book.
Happy Reading!!!
P.S.
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