Days at the Morisaki Bookshop: The perfect book to curl up with - for lovers of Japanese translated fiction everywhere Paperback – 25 August 2023

Days at the Morisaki Bookshop is an exquisite novel that truly touched my heart. Set in a quiet, nostalgic bookstore in Tokyo, the story beautifully weaves together the lives of its characters, all of whom find solace in the written word. The bookshop itself becomes a metaphor for the space we all need to heal, reflect, and rediscover ourselves.The protagonist, who is at a crossroads in life, stumbles upon the Morisaki Bookshop after a series of personal losses. What unfolds is a gentle, yet profound exploration of human connections, the power of literature, and the surprising ways in which people find each other and heal. The author’s prose is elegant and evocative, perfectly capturing the quiet rhythms of daily life and the quiet spaces where the most meaningful moments occur.What stood out to me most was the way the novel explores themes of grief, healing, and self-discovery. It’s a beautiful reminder of the power books have to shape our lives, offer comfort, and provide new perspectives. The characters feel real and relatable, and their personal growth over the course of the book left a lasting impact on me.The atmosphere of the bookshop itself is so lovingly described that I could almost smell the pages and feel the warm ambiance of the shelves lined with forgotten treasures. The book is much more than a story about a bookstore; it's about finding new beginnings even in the most unexpected places.If you’re someone who loves books and believes in the transformative power of stories, Days at the Morisaki Bookshop will resonate deeply. It's a beautiful, thoughtful read that will stay with you long after you finish it. Highly recommend!

With simple writing that's easy to follow, ‘Days at the Morisaki Bookshop’ is a story about the connection we form with stories. Be it the written word or the spoken one, we have an intrinsic human tendency to relate to certain stories and cherish them. It is a coming-of-age story.It is a relatively thin book; it does not feel daunting when held. The cover of the book is like an amalgamation of a warm cup of coffee along with a cosy blanket. It beckons to you with a lilting aura. The story is equally warm. The narrative is simple; it follows our lead, Takako, on a realistic journey that begins with heartbreak but ends with a deeper understanding of human nature thanks to her newfound appreciation of books. She has not grown up with an affection for books as most book lovers have. She doesn't even develop the connection immediately when she is thrust into a situation that surrounds her with books. It is only by chance that she discovers the escapist worlds hidden between pages and once she does, she devours books with a fascination & hunger that only book lovers would relate to. Reading the book will bring back fond memories of how you first fell in love with reading.Although having a name that implies that it’s all about books, ‘Days at the Morisaki Bookshop’ has more to offer. It paints a wonderfully accurate picture of the nuances of Japanese culture that make that way of life so affable to everyone. We can only hope that we emulate the values that Takako learns as she comes out of her shell and experiences life around her. The descriptive passages of the neighbourhood of Jimbocho in which the bookshop is located can make you feel like you’re walking amid the Cherry blossoms, savouring the clean, fresh air around you.The story retains only a few well-written main characters. As we read along, it can sometimes be frustrating to understand their actions and reactions to situations. At these junctions, we need to remember that the Japanese are polite, gentle people who are not often vocal about their emotions. In anger, they would normally internalise emotions rather than throw a tantrum. This tends to slow down the narrative & can at times stunt the story. There is no A-HA moment or a defining climax for readers who are looking for excitement. It is a slow burn that engages your thoughts; which is often how reality works. There are some name drops of famous Japanese literature that I was grateful to add to my reading list. It is a welcome diving board into Japanese fiction.The book has won the Chiyoda Literature Prize in 2023. The English translation by Eric Ozawa is crisp and emotive. Yagisawa’s book is comfort food that reminds us to be grounded in reality while at the same time encouraging us to discover ourselves by getting lost in the abundant words (and worlds) found between pages.

5 ⭐Looking for a cozy read which is heart-warming and emotional? Pick this one up.This is my first book from the japanese translated fiction and I'm glad I picked it up.I wanted something to read about books written about books, finding the joy of reading and this one is my start for it.Simply written heartwarming story about relationships, a new journey to start life leaving the past behind, love for the used books and streets of bookshops, are the things I came across and adored reading about these.I liked takako's uncle satoru's character from this tale.His kindness and gentle nature, his love for books, his understanding of human nature, and his way of giving emotional support, made me feel good which felt like a warm hug.And the 2nd book from this series i.e, "More days at morisaki bookshop" is on my tbr. I can't wait to explore more of the character's life from this one.A beautiful read : )📌 More story is there in this book. I'm not mentioning it because I think it will be good and fun to read without knowing much about the story and plot before going through a book.

Very much loved it!The story is so well written and gives you a sense of warmth as you read it. The character development of the main character, Takako, is so well, about how life goes on. We can see her transformative journey as the story proceeds.The book is divided into two parts, in the first one we can see how she faces a crisis in her life, takes the opportunity she gets without much thought but, that's the turning point in her life, she deals with her emotions and move on in life. She bonds with her maternal uncle with whom she wasn't close with as an adult.The latter part is about her bond with her maternal aunt which just hits you with a lot of emotions.Such a heartwarming story!