Days at the Morisaki Bookshop
by Satoshi Yagisawa & translated by Eric Ozawa
The moving international sensation about new beginnings, human connection, and the joy of reading.
Hidden in Jimbocho, Tokyo, is a booklover's paradise. On a quiet corner in an old wooden building lies a shop filled with hundreds of second-hand books.
Twenty-five-year-old Takako has never liked reading, although the Morisaki bookshop has been in her family for three generations. It is the pride and joy of her uncle Satoru, who has devoted his life to the bookshop since his wife Momoko left him five years earlier.
When Takako's boyfriend reveals he's marrying someone else, she reluctantly accepts her eccentric uncle's offer to live rent-free in the tiny room above the shop. Hoping to nurse her broken heart in peace, Takako is surprised to encounter new worlds within the stacks of books lining the Morisaki bookshop.
As summer fades to autumn, Satoru and Takako discover they have more in common than they first thought. The Morisaki bookshop has something to teach them both about life, love, and the healing power of books.
Review by Alex Boris - Social Sciences Librarian
This book was so sweet. The book starts with the main character, Takako, finding out that her boyfriend was engaged to another woman. Heartbroken, she quits her job and begins to sulk. Then, her uncle, whom she hasn't seen in a long time, comes out of the woodwork, inviting her to stay in a room at his bookstore for free as long as she opens the store for him in the mornings. At first, Takako is taken aback by her uncle at every step and unsure how to interact with the customers. As the story unfolds, she discovers parts of herself she did not know and memories of her past with her uncle she had forgotten.
I felt connected in some way to Takako as she navigated her emotions and figured out how to move forward after such a heartbreaking loss. At first, you see her struggle, but slowly, she begins to take it in stride and even makes friends and helps others out along the way. My favorite character by far is Momoko. She brings something vibrant to the story that felt lacking. Her view on life is refreshing and a great reminder of how life is too short to waste on locking yourself in a room forever.
Part healing journey, part self-discovery, this story takes the reader on a cozy journey of life in the Jimbocho district, where customers and store owners come to life. The way I would describe this book is a J-Drama or K-Drama in book form. If you need a palate cleanser book or a short read to reach your reading goal, this book is worth a read!
You can find this book in the Hodges Library Leisure Reading Collection. Check it out and let us know what you think of the book! Make sure to tag your responses on social media with #utksharedshelf so we can see what you think!
* Book Description and image provided by Goodreads
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