A review by james1star
Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa

emotional hopeful lighthearted relaxing 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? No

4.5

This was a wholly enjoyable read and one I’d definitely recommend. The book is in two parts, the first centres around Takako who, after her boyfriend reveals he’s planning to marry another woman, decides to take up her eccentric uncle Satoru’s offer to move in with him at the Morisaki Bookshop. This is a place of wonder, surrounded by loads of other second-hand bookshops in Jimbocho, Tokyo, each brimming with thousands of books. Takako was never into reading but starts to uncover the beauty within these worlds of fiction, seeing herself, her thoughts and her feelings within the page. As the year passes, the second part of the book comes into play and here we delve deeper into the life of Momoko, the wife who left Satoru five years prior. The three share time together, learning about life, love and the power of books. 

There is possibly something to be desired in the book’s plot and story whereby more could’ve happened. However, the characters are what made me love this novel, they’re really real - not perfect - and you just root for them all the way. This applies to Takako, Satoru and Momoko but also those in the coffee shop down the road and the regular customers to Morisaki. It’s a perfect balance of description and moving the story along. My favourite part was probably reading Takako fall in love with reading in the same way I did, it’s a little meta as I’m seeing myself in her seeing herself in books. It’s not an amazing book but definitely one worth checking out and a thoroughly enjoyable read. 
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