teaandbookshelves 's review for:

Donnerstags im Café unter den Kirschbäumen by Michiko Aoyama

4.0

emotional lighthearted reflective fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Loveable characters: Yes

---

Having already read ‘What You Are Looking For Is in the Library’ by Michiko Aoyama, I knew that ‚Donnerstags im Café unter den Kirschbäumen‘ would also delight me with its warm and sensitive style - and that's exactly what happened. 

The small, hidden Café Marble becomes a meeting place for people who need time out - and sometimes more than just a hot drink to reorganise their lives.  

I particularly liked the way the guests' stories are interwoven. Whether it's the overwhelmed career woman who has to prepare a bentō for her son for the first time, or the kindergarten teacher Ena-sensei who struggles with self-doubt - each story brings its own wisdom to the table.  

The novel alternates between Tokyo and Sydney and shows that everything in life is interconnected. Michiko Aoyama's storytelling is quiet but profound, leaving the reader with the feeling that small gestures and encounters can bring about big changes.  

A book full of quiet magic that invites you to pause for a moment and opens your eyes to the connection between people. Anyone who loves Japanese literature will find much to think about and take away here.