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I loved the descriptions of bookstores, falling in love with reading, & sharing your favorite novel. Some things felt like they were lost in translation. I didn‘t feel much of an emotional connection to the main characters, but some of that might have been a cultural difference. It seemed like the book headed in a very different direction in the second half. Definitely still enjoyed it, but I was wishing for something I couldn‘t put my finger on.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved its slow pace, loved the quirky characters and also the way that the book seemed to meander. It was a really enjoyable low-key read. Apparently, I really enjoy Japanese literature, because this isn‘t the first one I‘ve enjoyed. Do any of you have any Japanese books or authors you‘d recommend? 📚 💕 I give this one ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!! #52BookClub24

This was lovely. I am 100% here for this trend of bookshop-related fiction from Japan, even if this particular example does not contain cats.

"It‘s only in secondhand books that you can savor encounters like this, connections that transcend time."

I get the hype of this book now, I really do. This was beautiful, and I'm really glad that stories like this exist.

Finished this #audiobook tonight. It was quite different than I expected. Only part of it takes place in the bookstore and the translation seemed quite basic. A few scenes were a bit odd which I attribute to the translation as well. I think there are lots of other books about books and bookstores that are more interesting so I‘d skip this one if that‘s what you‘re looking for in your next read. 🎧📚

One of my very few 5-star reads this year

#12booksof2023

This was a cute short novella, perfect for squeezing in one more book for the year. #wintergames #teamevergreen @Clwojick

Plus family tradition- get ice cream and Chinese food for New Years Eve. The ice cream is my oldest‘s favorite tradition of all the years traditions.

Plus family tradition- staying up to watch fireworks

925 pts

Isn‘t that a lovely cover? Book has a good premise..a young woman works at her uncle‘s bookshop for room & board after her breakup with her boyfriend & left her job. I like the message of rediscovering oneself, falling in love with reading, the importance of family. But I did not feel connected with the main character or moved by the overall story. 1st part about the second hand bookshop town, ⬇️

I wasn't going to read this but I guess I will now!

Sweet little novel about how books and bookshops can give us the necessary impetus to transform and grow in our lives. Through this novella, I could travel the lanes of Jinbocho in suburban Tokyo, amid used bookstores.😊

Bk4 of my October #BookMail is another translated novel, this one from Japan. In Jimbocho, Tokyo is an old wooden building with a shop filled with 100s of secondhand books. 25yr old Takako has never liked reading, although the bookshop has been in her family for 3 generations. The pride & joy of her uncle Satoru since his wife left him so when Takako‘s boyfriend reveals he‘s marrying someone else, she moves in to a tiny room above the store.

Still confused, I crossed an intersection that was salarymen on their lunch break and walked down the street of bookshops. Following my uncle's directions, I left the main road crowded with and turned into a little backstreet called Sakura. This brought me to an area of secondhand bookshops. I murmured to myself, "This is a wonderland of secondhand books."

This is one of those cute and charming reads that are so easy to fall into. I love how Japanese authors tell a story. Their writing is so very lyrical. This is a short read, barely 100 pages.

Takako has fled to her Uncle Satoru‘s bookshop after her life crashes around her: she loses her boyfriend, her friends, her job, and becomes so depressed she sleeps all day. #bookshop #safeharbor

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⭐️⭐️⭐️½
"For a long time, I'd let myself feel like I was totally alone in this big world, but all along there was someone close by, thinking about me, looking out for me. That made me immensely happy." (p. 62)

Yes, this is a book for book lovers, but it's also for anyone hoping to be reminded that someone, somewhere, has your back. It's about human connection and not judging others too harshly until you know their whole story. (Cont. in comments)

Excited to start this, I love books set in bookshops (largely due to my dreams of running my own one day) so hoping this doesn‘t disappoint.

It was ok 🤷‍♀️ felt like 2 separate short stories though.
A quick read.

Did some #audioknitting last night with this. It was a cute story, perfect for a read-through in one sitting. But it wasn‘t about books.

This was a very sweet story. I think in translation it was a little awkward at times and at first the main character was annoying. But I love books about books and books about the love of books. This is short and sweet quick read! Get it from your library! You won‘t regret it.

Ozzie is unimpressed with my desire to take a picture of my current read. He has beaten Gatsby out for prime position on my lap though so he‘s luxuriating in that.

The first part of this book centres on Takako, how she moved into the bookshop, met the patrons and neighbours, and became an avid reader. It was very charming.

The second part of the book introduces another character and takes the story into a different direction. It works seeing it as a sequel, but it wasn't as cosy and charming as the first part.

#ARC #ALC #MountARC #NetGalley #audiobook

Low pick

Finished this earlier today . . . And, yeah, I don't know.

The first part was excellent, drew me in, was everything I was expecting. Loved it!

The second part kind of felt misplaced? Almost like a sequel, but completely unexpected. It wasn't bad, per se, but it completely broke the rhythm of the story. It felt extraneous and, at the same time, unfinished.

But the cover? 💯💗

Saturday morning reading ☺️

At just under 150 pages, this book was short but still so powerful!

The book is separated into 2 parts. The first part focuses on the main character, Takako, and her life working at the bookshop, which I found very charming and cute. If you‘re a bookworm and a bibliophile, this part will definitely resonate with you!

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2023/08/30/review-days-at-the-morisaki-books...

A very sweet little book. I didnt get that invested in the characters but i loved the setting. I think it would be a nice reread for me actually - it felt quite calming reading it.

This is book is a balm for the soul. It‘s sweet and kind and lovely and a little sad and wistful. It‘s the kind of book that makes me fall in love with books all over again.

A young woman‘s life comes to a bit of a detour and she finds herself living above her uncle‘s used bookstore and helping out in the shop. She discovers a heretofore unknown love of reading and gets her life back on track. I found this little book charming and a great palate cleanser after a chunkster.

Where do you go when it all falls apart? Takako goes to work at her estranged uncle‘s bookshop. Her uncle, Saturo, has had losses of his own but has managed to find a home for himself in a small community of book lovers. The characters are unique. Stay for them because there isn‘t much of a plot.

I was attracted to this by the cover (#booksonthecover #52books23) and it didn‘t let me down.

It‘s definitely more ‘cute‘ Japanese than ‘slightly weird‘ Japanese and I preferred the first half, which was set more in the bookshop. The second part introduced a new character that took the storyline in a different direction.

Great if you want recommendations of Japanese literature to read. (Looking at you! 👀 @BarbaraBB )

Few little treats for me today! 🥰🥰

Forgot to post about these on Monday, or perhaps I was too exhausted after spending the day with @julesG and her two lovely, talkative teens! 🤣 😘

We visited the Ripon Bookshop and I couldn‘t resist the gorgeous cover of the tagged book, plus a matching bookmark.

I loved Nelson‘s new book but hadn‘t read his first one, so picked it up as well.

I've got a soft spot for Japanese cozy stories right now. So of course I had to read this book as soon as I set eyes on it 😁

It's a lovely story that could've focused more on Takakos relationship to books and literature in my opinion, but it was a nice read anyway. If you're interested in Japanese literature this might be interesting for you, since quite a lot of authors and works are mentioned.

Trigger: no cats in this book.

A slice-of-life novel about a woman recovering from a bad breakup and reconnecting with family members. It‘s very sweet and easy to read and the characters were lovely.