Our rating: 4.7 / 5

How this book made us feel:  🥰 💛🫨

Themes: Relationships, depression, belonging, betrayal, healing

Have you ever felt like a small boat being helplessly tossed by the giant waves of life? Have you ever experienced a phase where life feels like a series of unfortunate events? What's the best thing to do when we're caught in that kind of pickle? Satoshi Yagisawa's Days at the Morisaki Bookshop is a tender and evocative novel that explores the value of taking a long pause, the therapeutic potential of literature, and the journey toward healing. Set in the charming booklover's haven of Jimbocho, Tokyo, the story weaves through the lives of its protagonists, offering a poignant meditation on mental health and the power of relationships.

At the heart of the story is Takako, a 25-year-old woman reeling from the betrayal of her boyfriend, who has decided to marry someone else. Her emotional turmoil is palpable, and her retreat to the Morisaki bookshop, a family-owned establishment now run by her uncle Satoru, sets the stage for a journey of healing and self-discovery. Takako's initial reluctance to immerse herself in the world of books—a world that her uncle cherishes and has dedicated his life to—mirrors her internal resistance to confronting her pain and finding a way forward.

Satoru, who has also been wounded by love, having been abandoned by his wife Momoko five years earlier, provides a mirror to Takako's own struggles. His unwavering commitment to the bookshop, despite his heartbreak, is a testament to resilience, patience, and the solace that can be found in routine and passion. The juxtaposition of Takako’s and Satoru’s experiences illustrates how individuals cope with emotional distress in their own way and the importance of finding personal anchors in times of turmoil.

It's important to stand still sometimes. Think of it as a little rest in the long journey of your life. This is your harbor. And your boat is just dropping anchor here for a little while. And after you're well rested, you can set sail again.

SATOSHI YAGISAWA, Days at the Morisaki Bookshop

The bookshop itself emerges as a character, its shelves filled with second-hand books that hold the collective wisdom and stories of countless lives. For Takako, the shop becomes a sanctuary where she can explore new worlds and perspectives, facilitating her healing process. The books she encounters act as silent counselors, offering insights and comfort that help her piece together her shattered self-esteem and sense of purpose. This exploration underscores a central theme of the novel: the therapeutic power of literature. Books, with their ability to transport readers to different times and places, offer a refuge and a means of understanding one’s own experiences through the lens of others' stories.

As summer transitions to autumn, the changing seasons parallel Takako’s internal transformation. Her relationship with Satoru deepens, revealing the commonalities in their struggles and the strength that comes from shared experiences. Through their evolving bond, Takako learns that healing is not a solitary journey but one that can be supported and enriched by the presence of loved ones. The Morisaki bookshop, with its cozy, book-filled environment, becomes a microcosm of this healing process, symbolizing how places and people intertwined with our past can play a crucial role in our emotional recovery.

Yagisawa’s prose is gentle and reflective, perfectly capturing the quiet, contemplative atmosphere of the Morisaki bookshop and the inner lives of its characters. The narrative pace allows readers to savor Takako’s gradual awakening to the joys of reading and the incremental steps she takes toward emotional resilience. The novel’s conclusion, which sees both Takako and Satoru more at peace with their past and hopeful for the future, reinforces the message that healing is possible and that books can be a vital part of that journey.

In Days at the Morisaki Bookshop, Satoshi Yagisawa offers a heartfelt exploration of the intersections between mental health, literature, and the enduring bonds of family. The novel is a beautiful testament to the idea that in the quiet corners of a bookshop, among the pages of second-hand books, one can find the strength to heal and the inspiration to move forward. For anyone who has ever sought solace in a book or found comfort in the familiarity of a beloved place, this novel will resonate deeply and leave a lasting impression.

Reflection Prompt

When was the last time to consciously decided to step back and take a pause instead of powering through the pain?