The Book Report Episode #11
Episode #10
Days At The Morisaki Bookshop By Satoshi Yagisawa
Warning! Some Spoilers, Ahead!
The Book
This book was first published in Japan in 2009. It was quickly snapped up and made into a movie in 2010. Satoshi Yagisawa also won the Chiyoda Literature Prize. But it wouldn’t be until 2023 that Eric Ozawa translated the book into English. It has also been translated into multiple other languages by other authors, so the rest of the world can enjoy this book.
The story is about a Tokaka living her life like any other mid-twenties young lady in Tokyo. Until she finds out her boyfriend is getting married, which is nice. As everyone involved works for the same company. She quits and goes into a deep depression until she receives a call from her uncle. Who invites her to come and stay at his bookshop for a while.
What Did I Think
It’s been a long time since I have got emotionally involved with any characters in a book. Although, the story was generally not what I would usually read. But I got drawn in by the human nature of the book. The betrayal, the depression, the living and working in a bookshop is a dream. Well, to some people.
I would generally leave this type of book to the wife as this is her sort of thing. But I needed something a little simpler to relax my mind, a little from what I typically read.
The characters in this story are just average. Nothing is special about any of them. There are no grand schemes of adventure or evil villains plotting.
I’m Sorry. But She’s A Bitch
It’s just people living their life, and sometimes things happen except for one aspect, which did piss me off. This would be the character of Momoko.
Momoko is the wife of Saturo, Tokaka’s uncle. Her arch is the disappearing wife. One day, she leaves a note saying she is going away and not to follow her. And then returns five years later like nothing has happened. And Saturo merely accepts it.
Momoko has some problems that she can’t resolve and has to live with and accept them. But thinks disappearing is the answer. Instead of doing the usual thing of… I don’t know… Speaking to her husband. Or get some counselling. Not disappear for five years, come back and then disappear again for another year. I know the Japanese people tend to be very proud and honourable. But come on!
There’s nothing wrong with speaking to your husband. That’s what they are there for. To help lift some of the burden.
But that seems to be the theme of this book: Holding on to bad memories and being stunted by emotions, letting things hold you down, not being able to move on. And instead of creating mental health problems. This is where I feel connected.
Tokaka, with help from her uncle. Does find some closure. This bit annoyed me a little as well. It’s the, are you going to listen to your own advice and confront your own problems?
The ending of this story was also a bit weak. It is a ride into the sunset, sort of ending. Everyone is happy, but everything isn’t completely fixed. Again accepted but not resolved.
Would I Recommend
As much as I have complained about this book. I got involved with the story. And for me, that rarely happens. I generally wanted to give Momoke a piece of my mind and then slap Saturo for allowing this to continue. This is probably why I liked it so much. Just humans being humans.
Yes. I highly recommend this book. Whenever you get a chance, give this book a read. I only found this book by chance while walking around Waterstones. And I am glad I did.
A sequel to the book is being translated and will be released around September 2024. So, I will have to wait nearly ten months from when I wrote this blog.
Would you like to purchase your very own copy? Try these shops: Amazon UK USA. Waterstones. AbeBooks UK USA. eBay UK USA. Or maybe your local bookshop. Or maybe try your local library.
