A review by jstilts
Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa

emotional reflective relaxing 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

4.0

Another Japanese slice-of-life book that is so gentle and slow it's hard to call it an exciting page-turner, but nevertheless I find myself utterly absorbed - and complete these books faster than any other type.

A book of two halves - so much so it's almost a novella and it's sequel - this quiet emotional book follows Takako into her uncle's bookshop as she retreats from a life that just fell to pieces. 

We see her anger, we see her grieving, we see centre herself, we see her uncertainty at her ability to ever leave the cosy confines of the bookstore. I'd like to say there's a dramatic twist, but this book is very grounded in reality - life just goes on until you choose to make changes happen.

Unexpected events do occur, but it's refreshing to read a book where the characters truly are in charge of their own destiny - and the obstacles they need to overcome are usually ones from within, dictated by their personality, drives and emotions.
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