Days at The Morisaki Bookshop Review

Note: there will be no spoiler so feel free to read to the end of the post.

The main reason I am getting this book is because of the cover. It is so nice, looks calming, and has a strong, good anime vibe. It is just like a movie poster. This book also introduced me to quite a few Japanese novels that seem to be booming recently. There are quite a lot of Japanese novels that have been translated into English, and they are easier to read than Haruki Murakami novels (to be honest, I only read 1Q84, and I feel it is too abstract for me).

So why do I like this book? It has a nice cover, as I mentioned above! Had the publisher or writer used a different cover, it might not have caught my eye. The book is also short and very easy to read. However, it has a sequel called "More Days at Morisaki Bookshop," which I haven't read but that is also quite short. The story also doesn't have too many characters or complicated plots.

Next, the story revolves around a bookshop. I can say that one thing I want to do in my life later, if I have enough money, is to have my own cozy bookshop. Although I am not a super heavy reader, I like to hoard books and I enjoy the convenience of grabbing an interesting book anytime I want. You can visit my house to see shelves and shelves full of unread books.

I wish I could open a good bookshop in a good place with many nice collections of books. Hopefully, it can generate enough money to sustain the business too. Despite the advancement of digital media such as ebooks and, of course, short videos, which have taken over our shorter attention spans, some people, including me, still enjoy physical books. Many recent studies have also found that physical books are a better medium for focused information consumption with no distractions.

Third, the reason why I like this book is that there is some family value in the story. The novel mainly tells the relationship between the main character Takako and her uncle, Satoru. In the beginning, they are not that close. But at the end, their relationship grows closer after Takako gets to know her unconventional uncle better. Satoru has been spending his life managing the bookshop and traveling instead of living a conventional life, such as becoming a salaryman.

All in all, it was a good read that you can finish just in 2-3 hours. As an additional note, besides the rise of many Japanese novels among international readers (by having them translated into English or other languages), I also noticed there are plenty of book-themed novels. Another one that is quite popular too is "The Midnight Library," which is next on my reading list.