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aseel_reads's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
This was a very sweet and quick read. I think it ended at a pretty good point of the story, just a short slice of life - because it was short, i can't rate it higher, since the several heavy plot points were not deeply discussed (like a good thing and a bad thing at the same time)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Cancer, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Abortion, and Abandonment
aliyachaudhry's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Mental illness, and Abandonment
Moderate: Miscarriage, Terminal illness, and Abortion
books_tea_blanket's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-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
4.0
An adult coming-of-age about recovering from depression.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Minor: Child death
adventures_in_bookstagram's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-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
For the right reader in the right mood, I can see how Days at the Morisaki Bookshop could be a great comfort read. It ambles along slowly with its messages of finding your feet and going at your own pace being matched by the novel's gentle pace and meandering plot. And, of course, it helps that Yagisawa's descriptions of Morisaki and its neighbourhood of bookshops made me want to pack my bags and get on the next flight to Tokyo.
Unfortunately, I personally found it a little underwhelming. There isn't really a strong plot and the story's episodic bursts didn't hold my attention. It's more character-driven, which didn't quite work for me because I didn't particularly warm to Takako. She comes across as a little shallow and judgemental towards her uncle in the beginning though, to her credit, she does learn to appreciate him for his eccentricity and they get some sweet bonding moments as the novel progesses. For me, it was hard to relate to her inital lack of curiosity about the neighbourhood and her ambivalence about moving into the bookshop (she's living the dream!). She also came across as a bit of a doormat in her reaction to her ex-boyfriend's cheating, though I suppose her underreaction could be attributed to cultural differences? On the other hand, I liked the friendships she built with the bookshop's patrons and locals and especially the bond she develops with Satoru, though I was less impressed with her underdeveloped potential romance with another booklover. Or the romantic subplot between two secondary characters Takako is tasked with matchmaking; we just didn't get to know them enough to be invested in their romance. The mystery of Satoru's M.I.A. wife is more interesting, which is the focus of Part Two; I do love a second chance romance and intergenerational friendships between women in fiction! And *spoiler alert* there is a happy ending, of course.
Overall, Days at the Morisaki Bookshop is well written, the characters are a bit bland but generally pleasant, and I always appreciate a book about loving books filled with recommendations for other books. It just didn't grip me or stick in my mind. I'm sure other readers will find a lot to enjoy in it but, for me, it was underwhelming. I didn't particularly enjoy the narration of the audiobook by Susan Momoko Hingley either. For some reason, I found her voice grating. Perhaps it was a little too perky and over-enunciated? I'm not sure how to describe it. Of course, my reaction to the narrator's voice is purely subjective and other readers may not have the same problem. That said, I might try re-reading DatMB one day when I'm in the mood for something slow-paced to see if it lands better on the re-read.
Unfortunately, I personally found it a little underwhelming. There isn't really a strong plot and the story's episodic bursts didn't hold my attention. It's more character-driven, which didn't quite work for me because I didn't particularly warm to Takako. She comes across as a little shallow and judgemental towards her uncle in the beginning though, to her credit, she does learn to appreciate him for his eccentricity and they get some sweet bonding moments as the novel progesses. For me, it was hard to relate to her inital lack of curiosity about the neighbourhood and her ambivalence about moving into the bookshop (she's living the dream!). She also came across as a bit of a doormat in her reaction to her ex-boyfriend's cheating, though I suppose her underreaction could be attributed to cultural differences? On the other hand, I liked the friendships she built with the bookshop's patrons and locals and especially the bond she develops with Satoru, though I was less impressed with her underdeveloped potential romance with another booklover. Or the romantic subplot between two secondary characters Takako is tasked with matchmaking; we just didn't get to know them enough to be invested in their romance. The mystery of Satoru's M.I.A. wife is more interesting, which is the focus of Part Two; I do love a second chance romance and intergenerational friendships between women in fiction! And *spoiler alert* there is a happy ending, of course.
Overall, Days at the Morisaki Bookshop is well written, the characters are a bit bland but generally pleasant, and I always appreciate a book about loving books filled with recommendations for other books. It just didn't grip me or stick in my mind. I'm sure other readers will find a lot to enjoy in it but, for me, it was underwhelming. I didn't particularly enjoy the narration of the audiobook by Susan Momoko Hingley either. For some reason, I found her voice grating. Perhaps it was a little too perky and over-enunciated? I'm not sure how to describe it. Of course, my reaction to the narrator's voice is purely subjective and other readers may not have the same problem. That said, I might try re-reading DatMB one day when I'm in the mood for something slow-paced to see if it lands better on the re-read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Mental illness, and Abortion
The main character falls into depression, which is discussed, but she recovers.bookmarkplaces's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Child death and Miscarriage
Minor: Pregnancy
xgabrielle_hx's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Mental illness
misuki's review against another edition
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Infertility, Miscarriage, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Mental illness and Death of parent
amiiliy's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, and Terminal illness
bexi's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, and Grief
Minor: Misogyny, Sexism, Terminal illness, and Gaslighting
kimbo8's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-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
4.5
Days at the Morisaki Bookshop uses a first person (past tense) narrative to follow 25-year-old Takako who is plunged into a period of low mood after learning that her partner is getting married to another woman. When offered free room and board by her peculiar uncle, she reluctantly agrees and moves in above his second-hand bookstore. Here, Takako slowly begins to find herself again as she learns the importance of connecting with others and develops a love for reading. This novel is a sympathetic and hopeful exploration of life’s difficulties, and the importance of facing your fears, responsibilities, and relationships. It also emphasizes the significance of recovering in your own time, on your terms, and relying on others when you feel stuck.
The writing style and descriptive language in this translation are beautifully simple, yet the descriptions are vivid and paint a picture of the surroundings in a way that gives them a warm glow. “It felt so peaceful there. The interior was lit by soft lanterns. Gentle piano music was playing. The blackened brick wall was covered with doodles and graffiti from past customers. All of it fit together beautifully and matched the warm, soothing ambience of the coffee shop”. Reading this book left me feeling the same way that I do after listening to lofi music for a while.
The characters are all easily loveable and as a result, it is easy to invest in them and their relationships. This made the book very difficult for me to put down. Despite their likability, they do have very clear flaws. We follow as several characters work on their flaws and try to improve, making them all the more interesting. This helps to make them seem like real people; they grow and change but never overcome their flaws completely, so they never become unrealistically perfect people.
Despite this, the book did feel slightly too short for me, and I found myself wanting a longer, slower development at some points. The narration style means that Takako can retrospectively tell us about how she was feeling, which allows for some interesting insights, but occasionally as though Satoshi Yagisawa used this to tell the reader exactly how Takako was feeling rather than showing this through how Takako interacts with others. For example, Takako’s discovery of her love for reading was near-instant, and this was used almost immediately to facilitate several relationships and improve her mental health very quickly. I think a slower development here would have been more realistic and provided a bigger payoff down the line.
Who would like this book?
This book is perfect if you want a simple and quick comforting read, especially for those who are new adults or those struggling with the burdens of life. Having been through periods of struggle in my life, I found this to be particularly poignant, and I expect I will re-read this when I inevitably struggle again in the future. This writing style would be perfect for you if you like unpretentious, cozy descriptions of the everyday. However, if you prefer more complex, morally grey characters or a plot that drives the story forward quickly, this may not be for you. In this case, the book may feel bland, and you may leave feeling disappointed.
Overall, this was a lovely read with some poignant themes and beautiful descriptions. I would rate this book: 4.5/5
Constructive feedback on this review is welcome!
The writing style and descriptive language in this translation are beautifully simple, yet the descriptions are vivid and paint a picture of the surroundings in a way that gives them a warm glow. “It felt so peaceful there. The interior was lit by soft lanterns. Gentle piano music was playing. The blackened brick wall was covered with doodles and graffiti from past customers. All of it fit together beautifully and matched the warm, soothing ambience of the coffee shop”. Reading this book left me feeling the same way that I do after listening to lofi music for a while.
The characters are all easily loveable and as a result, it is easy to invest in them and their relationships. This made the book very difficult for me to put down. Despite their likability, they do have very clear flaws. We follow as several characters work on their flaws and try to improve, making them all the more interesting. This helps to make them seem like real people; they grow and change but never overcome their flaws completely, so they never become unrealistically perfect people.
Despite this, the book did feel slightly too short for me, and I found myself wanting a longer, slower development at some points. The narration style means that Takako can retrospectively tell us about how she was feeling, which allows for some interesting insights, but occasionally as though Satoshi Yagisawa used this to tell the reader exactly how Takako was feeling rather than showing this through how Takako interacts with others. For example, Takako’s discovery of her love for reading was near-instant, and this was used almost immediately to facilitate several relationships and improve her mental health very quickly. I think a slower development here would have been more realistic and provided a bigger payoff down the line.
Who would like this book?
This book is perfect if you want a simple and quick comforting read, especially for those who are new adults or those struggling with the burdens of life. Having been through periods of struggle in my life, I found this to be particularly poignant, and I expect I will re-read this when I inevitably struggle again in the future. This writing style would be perfect for you if you like unpretentious, cozy descriptions of the everyday. However, if you prefer more complex, morally grey characters or a plot that drives the story forward quickly, this may not be for you. In this case, the book may feel bland, and you may leave feeling disappointed.
Overall, this was a lovely read with some poignant themes and beautiful descriptions. I would rate this book: 4.5/5
Constructive feedback on this review is welcome!
Content Warnings
Minor: Mental illness