Sujoya(theoverbookedbibliophile)'s Reviews > More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop
More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop (Days at the Morisaki Bookshop, #2)
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Sujoya(theoverbookedbibliophile)'s review
bookshelves: netgalley-arc, fiction-in-translation
Jun 30, 2024
bookshelves: netgalley-arc, fiction-in-translation
"Here in Tokyo’s neighborhood of secondhand bookstores is our little bookshop. It’s full of little stories. And it holds within its walls the thoughts and hopes and feelings of a great many people.”
It was wonderful to revisit Tokyo’s Jimbocho neighborhood and the Morisaki Bookshop once again, the story picks up with Takako, her uncle Satoru and Satoru’s wife Momoko who has returned to her husband after years apart. Takako is now gainfully employed in a design studio, having moved on from the events described in the previous book and is now in a new relationship. Satoru and Momoko are running the bookshop, but Takako often spends her free time at the ship and fondly remembers the time she spent living in the apartment above. The narrative follows the joys, sorrows and struggles of these characters, their friends and their customers as they go about leading their daily lives.
But when tragedy strikes, it is up to Takako to remind her uncle how important the bookstore is to everyone around them and how their love for books and reading can help them through the most difficult of times.
“When I’m sad, I read. I can go on reading for hours. Reading quiets the turmoil I feel inside and brings me peace. Because when I'm immersed in the world of a book, no one can get hurt,”
More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa (translated by Eric Ozawa) is a short and simple yet emotionally moving story that revolves around themes of family, love, grief, healing and personal growth, and the of course, the magical power of books and bookstores. Whereas the previous novel focused on Takako’s journey as she dealt with heartbreak and disappointment, the second book in the series revolves around the interpersonal dynamics between people in Takako’s life and the role the Morisaki Bookstore plays in their lives. The pacing is on the slower side and despite the slightly stilted writing, I thought that the story flowed well. I loved the setting and thought that the characters were well thought out. I found the quirky characters amusing and enjoyed the literary references. There were a few subplots that were left unexplored and I certainly hope we get the opportunity to meet these characters again. I wish we had learned more about the neighborhood and the second-hand book business, but this does not detract from my overall experience.
“People forget all kinds of things. They live by forgetting. Yet our thoughts endure, the way waves leave traces in the sand.”
Though this is the second in a series, this book can be read as a standalone.
Many thanks to Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for the digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Connect with me! ✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph
It was wonderful to revisit Tokyo’s Jimbocho neighborhood and the Morisaki Bookshop once again, the story picks up with Takako, her uncle Satoru and Satoru’s wife Momoko who has returned to her husband after years apart. Takako is now gainfully employed in a design studio, having moved on from the events described in the previous book and is now in a new relationship. Satoru and Momoko are running the bookshop, but Takako often spends her free time at the ship and fondly remembers the time she spent living in the apartment above. The narrative follows the joys, sorrows and struggles of these characters, their friends and their customers as they go about leading their daily lives.
But when tragedy strikes, it is up to Takako to remind her uncle how important the bookstore is to everyone around them and how their love for books and reading can help them through the most difficult of times.
“When I’m sad, I read. I can go on reading for hours. Reading quiets the turmoil I feel inside and brings me peace. Because when I'm immersed in the world of a book, no one can get hurt,”
More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa (translated by Eric Ozawa) is a short and simple yet emotionally moving story that revolves around themes of family, love, grief, healing and personal growth, and the of course, the magical power of books and bookstores. Whereas the previous novel focused on Takako’s journey as she dealt with heartbreak and disappointment, the second book in the series revolves around the interpersonal dynamics between people in Takako’s life and the role the Morisaki Bookstore plays in their lives. The pacing is on the slower side and despite the slightly stilted writing, I thought that the story flowed well. I loved the setting and thought that the characters were well thought out. I found the quirky characters amusing and enjoyed the literary references. There were a few subplots that were left unexplored and I certainly hope we get the opportunity to meet these characters again. I wish we had learned more about the neighborhood and the second-hand book business, but this does not detract from my overall experience.
“People forget all kinds of things. They live by forgetting. Yet our thoughts endure, the way waves leave traces in the sand.”
Though this is the second in a series, this book can be read as a standalone.
Many thanks to Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for the digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Connect with me! ✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph
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Reading Progress
Started Reading
June 30, 2024
– Shelved
June 30, 2024
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-34 of 34 (34 new)
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message 1:
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Cara
(new)
Jul 02, 2024 04:07PM
Lovely review, Sujoya💞!!!!!!!!! That cover is just the cutest😍😍!!!!!!!!
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What a beautiful review, Sujoya. I’m happy that you were able to reconnect with the Morisaki Bookstore in a Tokyo neighborhood.
I've yet to read the first book in the series, but this sounds like a beautifully written novel! Japanese novels are a genre of their own.
Glad to see that book two of this series was still excellent, even with a slower pace, and it's fun that it could work as a standalone. Great review, Sujoya!
Cara wrote: "Lovely review, Sujoya💞!!!!!!!!! That cover is just the cutest😍😍!!!!!!!!"
Thank you so much, Cara!💜 The cover is cute!
Thank you so much, Cara!💜 The cover is cute!
Lorna wrote: "What a beautiful review, Sujoya. I’m happy that you were able to reconnect with the Morisaki Bookstore in a Tokyo neighborhood."
Thank you kindly, Lorna!😊
Thank you kindly, Lorna!😊
Rosh wrote: "I love the sound of this series! Will definitely check out both books. Wonderful review, Sujoya! ❤️"
Thank you, Rosh! 💙 It's a nice series. Happy Reading!
Thank you, Rosh! 💙 It's a nice series. Happy Reading!
Barbara wrote: "This sounds beautiful! You find the best books Sujoya! Stellar review."
Thank you kindly, Barbara!😊
Thank you kindly, Barbara!😊
message 21:
by
Sujoya(theoverbookedbibliophile)
(last edited Jul 06, 2024 06:52AM)
(new)
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rated it 4 stars
Kat wrote: "Charming review, Sujoya! I enjoy books set in Japan. This sounds like a lovely story! 🩷"
Thank you, Kat!💜 I'm a fan of contemporary Japanese literature too. It is a sweet story.
Thank you, Kat!💜 I'm a fan of contemporary Japanese literature too. It is a sweet story.
Lori wrote: "I've yet to read the first book in the series, but this sounds like a beautifully written novel! Japanese novels are a genre of their own."
I agree about Japanese novels. They possess a special charm. I hope you enjoy this series!Happy Reading, Lori!😊
I agree about Japanese novels. They possess a special charm. I hope you enjoy this series!Happy Reading, Lori!😊
A wrote: "Glad to see that book two of this series was still excellent, even with a slower pace, and it's fun that it could work as a standalone. Great review, Sujoya!"
Thank you, A!😊 It's definitely a nice series.
Thank you, A!😊 It's definitely a nice series.
message 27:
by
Sujoya(theoverbookedbibliophile)
(last edited Jul 08, 2024 01:01PM)
(new)
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rated it 4 stars
Angela wrote: "This sounds like a beautiful read. Stellar review, Sujoya! 🤗💕"
Thank you , Angela!😊💛 If you are fan of Japanese contemporary fiction, I would definitely recommend it!
Thank you , Angela!😊💛 If you are fan of Japanese contemporary fiction, I would definitely recommend it!
Esta wrote: "This sounds like a moving and heartfelt read. I loved reading your review Sujoya, wonderful one! 🧡"
Thank you kindly, Esta!💕 It is a charming read!
Thank you kindly, Esta!💕 It is a charming read!
message 31:
by
Sujoya(theoverbookedbibliophile)
(last edited Jul 26, 2024 12:07PM)
(new)
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rated it 4 stars