DAYS AT THE MORISAKI BOOKSHOP
๐๐๐ฒ๐ฌ ๐๐ญ ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐๐ค๐ข ๐๐จ๐จ๐ค๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ฉ
๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐ญ๐จ๐ฌ๐ก๐ข ๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ฌ๐๐ฐ๐
๐๐ฎ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ฌ๐ก๐๐ซ: ๐๐๐ง๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ
๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐๐๐ค:๐๐๐
๐๐ฎ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ฌ๐ก๐๐: ๐๐ญ๐ก ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐ง๐ซ๐: ๐
๐ข๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง
๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ ๐๐ข๐ญ๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐
๐๐๐๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐ซ: ๐๐๐๐
Twenty-five-year-old Takako finds solace in her uncle Satoruโs cozy second-hand bookshop in Jimbicho, Tokyo, following a tumultuous breakup with her less-than-stellar ex-boyfriend and coworker. Feeling disheartened and jobless, Takako appreciates the peaceful haven above Morisaki Bookshop despite not being an avid reader. Surrounded by towering stacks of beloved books and fellow book enthusiasts, Takako gradually embraces new adventures, builds connections within the community, grows closer to her uncle, and discovers the joys of reading.
The narrative unfolds in two acts: the first focuses on Takakoโs journey of self-discovery, while the second, set a year later, delves into her uncle's life with the return of his wife Momoko, after a mysterious five-year absence. As Takako forms a deeper bond with her aunt and forges new friendships, she also begins to reassess her own dreams and priorities.
This short novel revolves around a modest plot, yet it truly fits in the captivating vibes and ambience of the bookshop. This aspect is beautifully displayed, and I found it most delightfulโthe vivid sights and evocative smells of the neighborhood leaping off the pages. Takako, the affable protagonist, takes readers along on her odyssey across two sections of the narrative, discovering that life often holds hidden depths beyond what initially meets the eye. While the first part showed great promise, I felt the pace slowed a bit for me in the second part, as it seemed to revolve too heavily around Momoko.
There is something inherently serene about Japanese fiction, and Days at the Morisaki Bookshop effortlessly evokes that tranquility. In the same vein as Before the Coffee Gets Cold, this concise yet profound novel, with its straightforward prose, offers significant insights into life. Moreover, it is reassuring to witness the universal allure of bookstores, transcending geographical boundaries.
While I noticed some bumps in the translation, the book remains enjoyable till the end. However, due to these translation issues, the pacing felt a bit sluggish. Nevertheless, readers seeking tranquility through a book will still find it an enjoyable read.
My Rating:
3.5/5
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