Days At The Morisaki Bookshop
Ratings224
Average rating3.6
Bland and forgettable to a scary degree. I finished this book maybe an hour and a half ago and already had to refresh myself on what happened. Not a whole lot, as it turns out. The title of this is actually a bit misleading, since this book really isn't about the bookstore at all, which also has me a little sore.
Takako, doormat, discovers her boyfriend had been cheating on her, and also lost her job at the same time. She's saved from having to make any tough decisions though, by her divorced uncle calling her up and inviting her to stay at his bookshop out of the city. She stays in an upper room above the bookshop, minds the store for her uncle, and meets some of the locals. She still pines for her old boyfriend though, and even when confronting him still seemed like she just wanted to pretend nothing happened. At one point in the book she starts pestering her uncle about why her aunt left him, and suddenly the book is not about Takako trying to grow a spine, but about her aunt and uncle reconciling. The book ends.
This is not about the bookshop or books really, beyond a casual plot point of Takako rediscovering her love of reading. The writing is flat, the characters are flat, and it's hard to actually feel anything for any of these characters if the writing isn't selling them to you. I also felt like the book spent time trying to build up Takako/the bookshop that it felt jarring when suddenly the point of the book shifted to Takako/the aunt/reconciliation.
Plus I sort of hated the scene early on between Takako, her uncle and the boyfriend. Her doormat personality made it hard for me to actually like her.
A perfectly readable book, but bland and forgettable by the end.
I didn't really enjoyed the book but yes readers who like Before the Coffee Gets Cold will appreciate it, but it didn't live up to my expectations (I don't know why it's so overhyped). It's a cheerful, fast-paced book that ends very quickly. Furthermore, I felt that the characters were poorly portrayed and lacked nuance. However, I will read the novel's sequel to see if it does justice to (Days at Morishaki Bookshop). I'd also like to know what you think of the book.
The story was intruging and the characters were witty (not to mention the coziness of a bookshop and cafe) but the overall writing style seemed a little bland at times. The perfect book for a cat and a cup of tea!
This novel is a captivating read that enchants with its lovable, well-built characters and leisurely pace. The novel's setting, a quaint bookshop, adds a layer of charm and warmth, creating a cozy backdrop for the unfolding story. While the pace is gentle, it allows for deep character development, making readers feel truly connected to the protagonists. The author masterfully balances simplicity and depth, ensuring that every page turns smoothly, yet with meaning. This book is a delightful escape, perfect for those who appreciate a thoughtful, character-driven narrative in an endearing setting.
A love letter to reading and Jimbocho, literally immediately went on my bucket list for Japan. Also I love this sort of theme that I have discovered which is the reclaiming of life after being burnt out by work or a mundane tragedy such as a breakup in the beginning of this book.
I think in a time where I myself am beginning my young professional work life, these books give me comfort in that there is always simple solutions to heal again.
Comfy/10 heh
Amazing book. It truly captured the essence of reading and the people who love it. The story just flowed, and I finished it before I knew it. Don't be mistaken though, this book is not just about reading. It also showed the journey of our protagonist in moving on from the heartbreak and finding her own true self. Also, the second part of the book did a really good job of fleshing out the existing characters and giving us a new perspective on those said characters.
I wish I get the chance to read all the authors mentioned in the book!
Days at the Morisaki Bookshop is everything but what the title says. A 25 year old female protagonist, going through a terrible breakup, moves into her uncle's second hand bookstore and has a “seemingly” life altering experience in the first half. The second half completely revolves around why her aunt left her uncle 5 years ago without so much as a word. Do we care? I don't.
The characters are flat, dull, boring, and lack any depth. The interactions between the characters are boring, and dry. The author tries real hard to put an emotional spin to the whole thing, but honestly, it was really hard to care. The writing is overly simplistic, immature, and the narrative style was so boring, I actually fell asleep twice while reading this book. At some point, it starts to read as a teenager's journal entry, than a novel.
I really wanted to like it. I really did want to like it. I thought this will be my perfect cozy read in between other ‘heavier' works. But it just did not do it for me this time. I just do not see the appeal of this book.
Why 2 stars? Well, the cover is gorgeous! But please, do not judge this book by it's cover!
I was in a terrible reading block and this book helped me reconnect with my passion for stories. Mr. Yagisawa has a beautiful way of portraying the journey of a young woman trying to move on, for whom, unexpectedly, a bookstore becomes the lifeline that allows her to reach the shore of a new beginning. For me, who usually turns to books when I feel lost in life, the pages that make up this story were a breath of fresh air in the midst of a storm.
Days At The Morisaki Bookshop was a quaint and charming read, somewhat like The Morasaki Bookshop itself. I really liked the idea of this book, I just don't think it was executed all that well. I found myself wanting more depth in the characters and more meaning behind the actual plot. Don't get me wrong, it's good for what it is, but don't go into it expecting depth, you will be disappointed.
A book written chronicling the quarter-life crisis of a japanese woman and showing how to overcome it and learning how to give second chances to the right people.
The book is divided into 2 parts, both focus on two types of relationships.
The author emphasizes on two women both at different spheres of their life. Both have regrets, insecurities, yet a completely different way of dealing with things.
According to me, the first part of the book expertly depicts feeling lost and letting life pass by without any interest.
The second part easily pales in comparison.
A light and easy wholesome read. I read it as an e book but could have read way faster as a book.
Decided to read it due to the cover and it didn't disappointed.
It was just like I expected. Nothing too special but yeah still alright.
The book highlights what we love about looks and makes spot on observations. That was really enjoyable to read.
Plot wise I liked the first half more than the second. Also the sequel is finally available in the country, can't wait to buy and read it.
truly a calm and heartwarming read with a cup of coffee by your side. i love how the story revolves around the bookshop and the saveur. takako's uncle, satoru, is one of my favorite characters since he's so sweet and loving. i love it when he encouraged takako to fall in love and when he stood up against takako's ex. he's also a sweet husband to his wife, momoko, and i love that gentle affection for her. not my usual cup of tea, but this book is great for break times and coffee shops.
I wish I liked this book more than I ended up liking it. To be fair to it, I started it in something of a lackadaisical mood and that hurt my impression of the first half, which was by far my favorite part of it. Reading about the bookstore itself and exploring two disparate but connected humans finding out about one another was very fun and exactly what I was hoping for in the book. The second half of it, however, completely lost me, and it's really a shame because I wish I knew why, too. I think I lost interest in the "new" character introduced and explored there, and was really looking forward to spending more time with those in the first half of the book. By the end of the book I felt sufficiently done with this story, which did leave me feeling sad. I give this overall a review right down the middle because when I liked it I was really thriving but when I did not like it I was just wholly uninterested, and it felt like that was squarely half and half.
This is a translated book, and the prose was not what I was expecting. It was very simple and tell not show, which annoyed me at first but I got over. The narrator's internal monologue and reactions are strange and don't seem to meet the moment, but it might be a cultural difference.
This is a cozy little book that is about estranged family relationships, grief, and how we deal with it. It's broken into two parts, the first is more about books and the bookstore, the second focuses more on the relationships.
Pairs well with tea.
I gave this only 3.5 stars because while I enjoyed reading, I felt like it ended too soon, without a satisfying conclusion to everybody’s story. There were some parts here and there in Part 2 of the book that felt very slow-paced. It’s quite understandable since the book focuses more on characters rather than the plot, but even then I feel like the characters still aren’t as fleshed out as I would like. But that isn’t to say I didn’t enjoy reading the book. I truly did enjoy the experience and it was very relaxing. I just felt like it lacked some things still.
I would still give this a reread nonetheless. I have a certain connection to this book that I can't explain. Especially in Part 1.
I was nodding yes to everything when it started then it went downhill when the wife came back. I get her struggles but I got confused why it was even titled Days at the Morisaki Bookshop when most of what happened on the second part onwards was not in the bookshop. I mean???
I listened to the audiobook version; the narration was good. I was hooked onto the story for the entire first half where Takako finds herself taken advantage of, she falls into a sad lull of life, she discovers the joy of reading, she discovers the happiness of meeting and interacting with people, and she discovers herself and her voice so much so that she is able to shout at her shitty boyfriend who was double timing her earlier. The second half of the book was slow and pointless that I suddenly found more interesting stuff to do than listen to the audiobook. It took me 4 days to finish a 4-hour book and I have earlier finished listening to 10-hour audiobooks in less than 2 days. Not a fan of the second half but the first story was cute.
I really enjoyed this book. It is a nice and short book and centred around second-hand bookshops and what books can be and do for you. I liked the characters and the story a lot.
There was quite a bit packed into such a tiny book. Two family members and two intertwined stories that all center around familial love and healing. Forgiveness and knowing when it's time to step away for good. Going back to Japan is on my mind at least every day. Next time, I will be visiting Jimbocho to see all the bookshops!
Ok I actually enjoyed this a lot more than I initially expected. The story felt. Warm. Cozy. And Refreshing? Breezy? Regardless, it's a 3.5 for me. I wish I read more on the romance between the mc and Waku :c. But what replaced the romance there was instead replaced with the complicated yet heartfelt love story between her uncle and aunt.