Days at the Morisaki Bookshop series by Satoshi Yagisawa

Format: Paperback

Publication Date: 4 July 2023 / 4 July 2024

Author info: Goodreads

💭 My thoughts...

4/5 stars

Both books in this series (Days at the Morisaki Bookshop and More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop) were so cozy and easy to read that I kind of just melted into them.

The books are about everything and nothing all at once. They focus on two main characters, Takako and her uncle Satoru, and we explore the human condition through their experiences in the Japanese bookshop neighbourhood they live in. The books were both so gentle, covering hard-hitting topics such as grief, mental health, fertility, death and relationship dynamics without ever feeling heavy or confronting.

I loved the reverence that the author showed the art of reading - he treated it as a lifestyle choice and a way of navigating the world rather than merely a hobby or pastime, and I really related to that.

My only hesitation in giving these books 5 star reviews (because I picked up the second in the series almost immediately after finishing the first), is that the translation from the original Japanese writing made things feel a little stilted at times. I get that this is a natural side-effect of the translation itself rather than anything to do with the writing, but it still made things a little challenging to read at times.

Overall, I would recommend this series to anyone, as it is so all-encompassing that it has something for everyone as literary fiction goes.

📖 Synopsis...

Takako has just found out that her boyfriend is marrying someone else, and is struggling to cope, so she moves in to her Uncle Satoru's bookshop while she gets back on her feet. While there, she discovers a love of reading that helps her navigate life's challenges in a new way.