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A review by liv_easton
Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This was a lovely novel to start off the year with! I just recently found out that cozy is becoming a genre descriptor (which honestly I don't know how I feel about but nonetheless) and this book definitely fits into this category for me. I really enjoyed the relationship between Takano and Saturo, particularly because I thought it was such a beautiful example of an adult loving a child (or like, someone who was a child to them at one point) simply for their existing. Of course, there's more development as to why Takano reciprocates her uncle's love, but grounding their relationship in such an uncomplicated, inherent expression of love was just so so lovely. It also made the structure work, because although the second part is about Takano's relationship with Momoko, the entire premise of their relationship is based on a clear reciprocation of how Saturo helped give Takano's life back to her.
Where this novel loses points for me (and becomes one of my first-ever reviews to have a range) is in the writing style. Although the slow pacing is quite relaxing, the writing definitely over-explains moments I think could've been a bit more subtle, or shown in different ways. However, I'm giving it a range because this is the first Japanese novel I read, so this could fully be a typical convention of Japanese writing that I'm just unaccustomed to. Regardless, this was more of a "something I noticed and didn't love" critique than a "this is actively discouraging me to keep reading" critique. On the whole, the book is a delightfully peaceful and steady read that I think is particularly enjoyable for anyone feeling a bit transitory.
Where this novel loses points for me (and becomes one of my first-ever reviews to have a range) is in the writing style. Although the slow pacing is quite relaxing, the writing definitely over-explains moments I think could've been a bit more subtle, or shown in different ways. However, I'm giving it a range because this is the first Japanese novel I read, so this could fully be a typical convention of Japanese writing that I'm just unaccustomed to. Regardless, this was more of a "something I noticed and didn't love" critique than a "this is actively discouraging me to keep reading" critique. On the whole, the book is a delightfully peaceful and steady read that I think is particularly enjoyable for anyone feeling a bit transitory.
Content Warnings
Minor: Miscarriage