Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa
The story follows twenty-five-year-old Takako, who, following a heartbreak, moves to a charming community filled with bookshops. She lives over her uncle's bookshop and helps him out. The book explores themes such as community, human connection, the impact of our daily lives, and finding purpose. While I got nuggets from the book, for the most part, it was a quick read that I finished quickly. The second half slowed my interest, and I couldn't determine the story's purpose. I liked the book and got the charming, cozy read I wanted, but I would not rush to read the 2nd book.
Where to Find Reviews
📚 Related Books
🥰 Who Would Like It?
I would recommend it to people who enjoy translated works and contemporary fiction. I would recommend it to people who like lighthearted, reflective, and fast-paced books.
Highlights and Notes
Everywhere you turned, there was another bookshop. (Page 10)
They're only seeing the surface of things. And if you don't want to be a shallow person, then you should try reading some of the wonderful books in this place. (Page 18)
“I don't know. I think maybe I've been wasting my time, just doing nothing." "I don't think so. It's important to stand still sometimes. Think of it as a little rest in the long journey of your life. This is your harbor. And your boat is just dropping anchor here for a little while. And after you're well rested, you can set sail again." (Page 31)
We live our lives trying to find our way. (Page 31)
Then he said, "Don't be afraid to love someone. When you fall in love, I want you to fall in love all the way. Even if it. ends in heartache, please don't live a lonely life without love. I've been so worried that because of what happened you'll give up on falling in love. Love is wonderful. I don't want you to forget that. Those memories of people you love, they never disappear. They go on warming your heart as Jong.as you live. When you get old like me, you'll understand. How about it—-can you promise me?" (Page 65)
People’s impressions really aren't very reliable, are they? That's what crossed my mind as Momoko was staring at me with a twinkle in her eye. I was wrong about so many things when it came to my uncle too. In the end, it doesn't matter if you're related by blood or if you spend years together in the same class at school or the same office; unless you really come face to face, you never really know someone at all. (Page 80)
🧠Thoughts
Initial Thoughts
- The book does a good job of setting up the characters, the setting and the conflict of the story. The main character, Takako, has just broken up with her boyfriend and quit her job and she is depressed and just laying around. Her uncle, Mr. Morisaki, calls her most likely at her mother’s request and told her to come down to his bookshop to help out and live above the shop for free. I think this does a good job of setting up what is going on, who the character is and what’s the motivation for the character.
Last Thought
- The second half of the book wasn’t as great as the first half. It felt more disjointed.
Characters
- Takako
- 25-year-old who got her heart broken
- She goes to her uncle's bookshop to recharge and overcome the heartbreak
- The book tells a lot instead of showing. We are told she is heartbroken, and then the action that reflects this is the catalyst of her quitting her job and then sleeping excessively
“I don't know. I think maybe I've been wasting my time, just doing nothing." "I don't think so. It's important to stand still sometimes. Think of it as a little rest in the long journey of your life. This is your harbor. And your boat is just dropping anchor here for a little while. And after you're well rested, you can set sail again." (Page 31)
- This quote captures the essence of the first half of the book. It is okay to be still sometimes. To be quiet and allow our minds or hearts time to recover. It is important to have a safe space to do so.
- Takako spent time reading, making friends, and getting to know her uncle again. All these things made her think she was getting over her ex, but confronting him allowed her to heal fully. While those human connections and community were integral to the healing process, sometimes confrontation of those hurts needs to take place.
- Mr. Morisaki
- We were continually told he was weird by Takako, but I was never shown that. He was a character, but his decisions did not seem unnatural.
- Momoko
- She is the estranged wife and through out the first half of the book she is a mystery.
- She comes back in the second half and we learn more about her.
- The emotion fell flat to me. It took us a while to understand why she left and returned. However, the book did not do a good job of making me care about her motivations.
- All three characters seemed to want purpose, and that question of how to find purpose drove the story.
Conflict
- This book involved more internal conflict than external conflict. The main characters were pushed to consider their purpose and the importance of community. The all had to overcome something internally to keep growing. Again, this fell flat in some ways.
We live our lives trying to find our way. (Page 31)
- While the book had a handful of gems, it didn't go as deep as I expected. It stayed surface-level in some ways. I didn't see the characters confront their thought processes much. Much of the book is day-to-day experiences in a community without much external conflict, just random characters.
Context
- The world was clearly defined within a community filled with numerous bookshops which creates an environment rich in literary culture and opportunities for exploration.
Craft
- It was an easy-to-read book I finished pretty quickly, even if the second half slowed my interest. The second half didn't flow nicely with the first half. It felt incomplete in some ways, and I couldn't tell what the main purpose of the story was.