Book Review- Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa

The book was recommended by many, and being a Japanese one, it was also waiting in my to-read booklist.

Coming straight to the book, this book can be reviewed in two ways-

First, the “Book Cover” and second, the book itself, i.e. the tale of new beginnings, love, family relationships, community and the comfort I find in reading the books.

If you look at the book cover that I am seeing, you will notice a cat gazing at a door. To the left, there is a bike, surrounded by a sea of books on the left, top, and right sides. In the center, there is a door featuring the silhouettes of what appear to be a man on the left and a woman on the right. The book title is centered at the top. There are additional details that enhance the enjoyment of reviewing the cover. This book cover is a delight to my eyes and feels like a gateway to an amazing dream place!

The story follows a young woman named Takako, who discovers the joy of reading. It also delves into her relationship with Uncle Satoru and Aunt Momoko. My favorite character throughout the novel was Uncle Satoru, who always tried his best to support Takako, despite making some mistakes along the way. I found it heartwarming how the three main characters—Takako, Satoru, and Momoko—form a family bound together by understanding. This connection made me feel very happy.

The book depicts that the the journey from self-doubt to recognizing our worth is a slow transition, like watching a cocoon turn to butterfly.

Overall, "Days at the Morisaki Bookshop" is a charming and enjoyable read. While it may not be extraordinary, it's a book that many readers will find useful at some point—perhaps during a heartbreak or when they need a break from the busyness of life. It's a joyful, short, and easy read, making it especially suitable for a vacation.


Quotes-

“No matter where you go, or how many books you read, you still know nothing, you haven't seen anything. And that's life. We live our lives trying to find our way.


“No matter where I went, no matter who I was with, if I could be honest with myself, then that was where I belonged.”


“Maybe it takes a long time to figure out what you're truly searching for. Maybe you spend your whole life just to figure out a small part of it.".”


“People can live anywhere if they put their mind to it.”

“Your life is yours. It doesn't belong to anyone else. I wanted to know what it would mean to live life on my own terms.”