J's Musings

Reviewed by Janx

Days At the Morisaki Bookshop. Nostalgic and profound, Days at the Morisaki Bookshop is a quiet and calm narration of the long days that Takako spent on the second floor of her uncle’s bookshop.

After suffering a major heartbreak, losing her job and, in a nutshell, having given up on trying to make it, nothing can save Takako from her fate of going back to her hometown. Except, her eccentric uncle with a bookshop in Jinbocho. Even though she has never read a book in her life, Takako hopes to nurse her broken heart and hopefully put together her life amongst hundreds of second-hand books. As seasons fade into one another, Takako discovers she has more in common with her uncle than she could have imagined.
I love a good, cozy, wrap my legs in a blanket book. And, after 5-6 traumatising books in a row, Yagisawa’s debut novel was a perfect palate cleanser. At only 147 pages, it’s a short and easy read to feel refreshed.

The writing style is gentle and lightweight. Satoshi writes in a way that replicates journaling more than storytelling. Not delving too obviously into themes and relations. Kind of like classics, that didn’t explain everything, but hinted at just what had happened. I like the coolness of the writing, which reminds us exactly how small the problems in our life can look once you get over them. Cool and collected, Yagisawa creates a subtle discomfort in the reader as he narrates a beautiful story in a way that is realistic like no other.

Neither the characters nor the plot are larger than life. Which is something I believe enhances the calmness of the narrative. I love how normal the book feels, with no large character arc or eye-opening revelations. Just true to its name; an account of Takako’s Days at the Morisaki bookshop.

Books like this are hard to find. Books that keep you grounded to reality while letting you escape to a better place. But not one so unreal it can be stretched into a fantasy. A warm and healing bowl of soup does the same to my body as what this book did to my mind.

On a journey of love, healing and discovery, “Days at the Morisaki Bookshop” makes for the perfect wind down.
I give this book a solid 8/10.

Wishing you a relaxing read,

Janx ❤

Picture Credits: missgreenfroggy on Pinterest