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aseel_reads's review against another edition
The first character was so unbelievably unlikeable, so whiney. Also, how can you have a smartphone and not know that your laptop has excel, when you wrote a dissertation at uni? Ridiculous
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
half_finished's review
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I have been reading a lot of dense nonfiction and tragic fiction lately, and I found this book to be a perfect breather. It's a very pleasant read, and even though you are with these characters for a short period of time, it is still enough time to endear you to them and wish for their success. However, the way that Ms. Komachi (the librarian) is described is very off putting, the author wants you to know and never forget that she is fat, almost inhumanly fat.
Content Warnings
Minor: Fatphobia
whitne_ey's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia and Body shaming
Minor: Sexism
This book is VERY similar in tone and structure to the “Before The Coffee Gets Cold” series by Toshikazu Kawaguchi, and could be good for someone looking for more of that. The 5 short stories are meant to be inspiring, but I found the endings to be predictable and flat. It was also quite repetitious, over describing the details that repeat in the stories, such as the appearance of the librarians, the characters’ love for a certain brand of cookies, the characters’ confusion over felting, etc. The concept is good, and I definitely enjoyed some moments and found them relatable, but overall it was an underwhelming experience for me. This could be because I read “Before the Coffee Gets Cold” first, and this wasn’t as whimsical as that (not saying it needs to be! It just might have impacted my experience of this book!) I do wish those cookies were real though, I’d like to try them.iriz_viriz's review
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia
dexlud's review
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
What You Are Looking For Is In The Library is a beautiful piece of translated fiction that consisted of 5 self-improvement stories that are set partially in the local community library with the main librarian Ms. Komachi. This book was beautifully written and translated and I need these Honeydome cookies they keep talking about. They sound delectable.
This book just made me feel so warm and welcome and I loved hearing how books helped improve these 5 people’s lives. Go in expecting vibes and love, and you’ll have a good time!
This book just made me feel so warm and welcome and I loved hearing how books helped improve these 5 people’s lives. Go in expecting vibes and love, and you’ll have a good time!
Content Warnings
Minor: Fatphobia
iaproton's review
hopeful
informative
mysterious
relaxing
sad
2.0
More slice of life than magical realism. Some mild to moderate life problems,husband not helping around the house and fighting about it, called into HR for being angry and treated like a doormat ,not liking one's job,being put in a different lower status job after having a child...
Mostly relaxing audio until you get to the 3rd main character and her child that likes to scream ''no.''
Most of the book is the main characters' thoughts with some dialogue every so often.Problems are solved simply and too quickly, it is nice to see some personal growth but it almost happened overnight.
The book has about 20 different characters which makes it quite difficult to follow occasionally.
There are multiple narrators. The one toward the last quarter of the book has a really terrible falsetto.
Wanting to find out more about the librarian was what made interested in finishing. She isn't mentioned often and every time uneccesarily in a fatphobic way.
I wouldn't give it a 2nd listen ,whereas DallerGut Dream Department Store I would as it has more magic and whimsy with less misery taking up 3/4 of the book.
There aren't many cats depsite the cover.
I was hoping that the last chapter would be dedicated to the librarian solving the mysterious aspects , but there was no such chapter.Very disappointing.
Mostly relaxing audio until you get to the 3rd main character and her child that likes to scream ''no.''
Most of the book is the main characters' thoughts with some dialogue every so often.Problems are solved simply and too quickly, it is nice to see some personal growth but it almost happened overnight.
The book has about 20 different characters which makes it quite difficult to follow occasionally.
There are multiple narrators. The one toward the last quarter of the book has a really terrible falsetto.
Wanting to find out more about the librarian was what made interested in finishing. She isn't mentioned often and every time uneccesarily in a fatphobic way.
I wouldn't give it a 2nd listen ,whereas DallerGut Dream Department Store I would as it has more magic and whimsy with less misery taking up 3/4 of the book.
There aren't many cats depsite the cover.
I was hoping that the last chapter would be dedicated to the librarian solving the mysterious aspects , but there was no such chapter.Very disappointing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia and Sexism
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Ableism, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Animal death, Bullying, and Pedophilia
Divorce, anxietygoldenwing's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
Minor: Pedophilia
isabellew27's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
kestrel's review
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It was fine. All five stories had a feel-good, basic life lesson. I enjoyed four of them and found them sweet.
I actively disliked the third story, the one about a woman grappling with her career and motherhood. What we won't do is blame a woman for a man's false incompetence. He's an adult and can put the dots together and realize how he can help his wife.
Also, I would rather not have read fatphobic commentary from five different POVs. The librarian was compared to a polar bear, the Marshmallow Man from Ghostbusters, and Genma Saotome. Like, come on!
I actively disliked the third story, the one about a woman grappling with her career and motherhood. What we won't do is blame a woman for a man's false incompetence. He's an adult and can put the dots together and realize how he can help his wife.
Also, I would rather not have read fatphobic commentary from five different POVs. The librarian was compared to a polar bear, the Marshmallow Man from Ghostbusters, and Genma Saotome. Like, come on!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
Moderate: Sexism and Body shaming
quejk25's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny and Fatphobia