Wow, I actually managed to squeeze out a book review post. Most of the entries here have a theme: they’re stories about bookshops and libraries.
Because they carry this similar theme, I decided to read them one after another, thinking that the transition from each book to the next would be minimal. Here are my thoughts, plus some more books I’ve finished in this two month time span.
Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop
By Hwang Bo-reum, Translated by Shanna Tan
Since I started reading the Before the Coffee gets Cold series of books, I’ve immensely enjoyed the niche of “cozy books.”
They have essentially become my form of therapy. They are self-help books delivered through fictional stories. Some may not like how slowly these stories are being told, but they are perfect for calming my nerves. My brain is erratic and fast-paced so when I get to read, it feels like meditation.
This book has been praised many times in the reading forums I frequent. After finishing a bunch of horror and surreal books, I finally picked this up.
I love the way this book is written. It combines a lot of my fascinations, from curating books, writing essays, to brewing coffee. There is also the desire to quit my office job and open a small shop, the exact thing the story’s protagonist does successfully.
In the many chapters of the book, nothing magical or supernatural happens. But the characters undergo experiences that change their outlook on life as the story goes on. The conflict is mental and personal, which I can attest to is the hardest battle in life.
The book does not end in a victory for the characters per se. Instead, it realistically concludes on the characters continuing to live in hopes of a better future. This is very relatable and pretty much the best that we, in our real lives, can hope for.
What this did for me that no previous book has, is put into words how the act of reading helps me at this point of my life. There are lines here that impacted me profoundly and I will take with me on my journey.
This book is really good, especially for those at a point of loss in their lives. There are lots of good reminders here that I can put into action in my day-to-day activities.
In the way that the characters come together to make the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop a real nice place to be, I wish to make changes in my life so that I can cultivate this same feeling whenever I am with the important people in my life.
4.5/5 ⭐
What You Are Looking For Is in the Library
By Michiko Aoyama, Translated by Alison Watts
The last time I visited a library was probably in college, for my academic needs. It was only a process I did out of necessity.
The last time I borrowed a book for my personal enjoyment was back in elementary. In the 2nd grade, I was a quiet kid with few friends. So every lunch time, I would borrow a Goosebumps from the library and finish it in that one-hour break. After this, I lost the appeal of reading and only rediscovered it when I was already a working professional.
I don’t know the state of local libraries today. While in other countries I’ve visited, libraries are state-of-the-art buildings, I don’t even know where my city’s public library is (or if we even have one). Even if I eventually find one, the metro’s layout and transportation options will surely make visits a challenge.
This book makes me wish I had an accessible community house as well. It tells the story of people whose lives are loosely connected through this place. What they have in common is that they are looking for something in their lives. A visit into this library gives them a push into figuring out the answers.
Just like Welcome to Hyunam-Dong Bookshop, this book tackles the personal struggles of the characters, from motherhood, unemployment, retiring, to work changes and personal development. Some of these things I find relatable as well.
Each character has their own standalone story, but the callbacks and character reveals in the book are fun to discover, like Easter eggs. They rewarded me with a dopamine hit as I recalled characters from previous stories. It’s like hearing that an old friend is doing well.
It’s quite hilarious though, that there was a repeating emphasis on the librarian’s physical characteristics in every chapter. But I guess it made her even more memorable that way. The writing is easy to digest and I found it hard to put this book down.
I hope that the author revisits this library again. I can definitely see this as an ongoing series, very similar to Before the Coffee gets Cold, but without the supernatural time travel.
4/5 ⭐
Days at the Morisaki Bookshop + More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop
By Satoshi Yagisawa, Translated by Eric Ozawa
Not as compelling as the previous entries, but still a relaxing and brief read. I finished this in a day during a downtime at the office and was left feeling satisfied.
There isn’t any grand lesson to be learned in this story, aside from the wonders of being immersed in books. What’s here is a heartwarming story between family bonds as well as the importance of connections between one’s self and the community. Most of the characters in the story are very wholesome. The entire story is being told in a way like a close friend updating you about their life.
The book is divided into two parts with the first one being more to my taste. The latter part of the story moves into a different lane which I wasn’t particularly drawn towards. I was able to finish it, but only because I was already invested in the characters.
At one point, the characters take a hike on a mountain near Tokyo and upon researching it, a new destination has been added to my bucket list. This is why I read stories set in Japan. It brings me a lot of joy to read about places I can potentially visit in the future.
This relaxing read can last you a couple of afternoons, at least. It really fits with my desire to escape the corporate life and open up a simple business outside of the hustle and bustle.
The sequel follows the story a few months later and still dealing with the same characters. I liked this more because the events that happen are more impactful than in the first one. The characters are already established and I have some form of emotional investment with them already. So when the incidents in the book happen, it feels that there is more at stake.
These two books aren’t profound. The plot is easy to follow, but there’s something about the slow pace and straightforward happenings that give me comforrt when I read them.
DatMB: 2.5/5 ⭐
MDatMB: 3/5 ⭐
Earthlings
By Sayaka Murata, Translated by Ginny Tapley Takemori
This was a wild ride. Coming from her previous work, Convenience Store Woman, I thought I knew what I was getting into. I was so wrong. It’s best to go into this book blind.
The themes explored in this book are almost parallel to the ones in her previously-mentioned book. We have a main character who is once again a woman that finds herself unable to assimilate with normal society. Forced to be a (faulty and unwilling) cog in the machine, we follow her attempts to deal with this dilemma.
The story tells of her friction with the expectations and demands of modern civilization. From her early childhood and traumas to her extraordinary marriage setup in the present, the narrative spans her entire life and is filled with things that will make you read some paragraphs twice. Please take note that this story includes parts with sexual and physical abuse, so it’s not for sensitive readers.
While Convenience Store Woman ends on a hopeful tone, this book ends in something I can only describe as “insane”. I don’t want to spoil anything but I highly recommend this book if you’re looking for something different.
I enjoyed this book immensely and the whiplash I got was crazy. I want a sneak peek into the wonderful and scary mind of Sayaka Murata.
4/5 ⭐
Strange Houses + Strange Pictures
By Uketsu, Translated by Jim Rion
This author is currently a hit in the reading forums I frequent and it’s not hard to see why.
These mystery thrillers are gripping and very hard to put down. Thankfully, they’re short and can be easily consumed in a single sitting. This is what I did. I just blocked off an entire afternoon and read.
I love how Uketsu includes diagrams and pictures to help explain the story. The plot gets complicated and it feels like the images are not just companion pieces, but vital parts of the story as well. Don’t be fooled though. Everything is clear, but you will still be surprised by the twists that Uketsu weaves.
The puzzles in each story are self-contained and differ wildly from each other. But you’ll be possessed to keep reading and find the answers each time. There are so many ways that the story can go, I eventually found myself just enjoying the journey and not thinking about who could be guilty.
I preferred Strange Houses just because of the ominous Afterword. Those couple of paragraphs after the story finished made me wish that the book had more to offer.
The perfect blend of creepy and mysterious; this really hit the spot for someone who watches “Mysterious Unsolved Cases” videos on Youtube.
SH: 4/5 ⭐
SP: 3.5/5 ⭐
Aside from books about libraries and bookshops, another common theme among these are that they are translated from Korean or Japanese authors. These kinds of books are very popular now, especially in the cozy Japanese genre.
I believe that this is a really good movement and the fact that even light fiction books are getting translated means that there is enough demand. Being able to take a peek into the minds of authors from different parts of the world is a good thing and I can’t wait to read more.
Thanks for visiting and let’s travel well through all these pages.
-jgzn
