This is one of the most readable books I’ve picked up. Reading it felt like watching the Heidi cartoon series. The story follows a girl facing a personal crisis who has to move away to a relative’s bookshop, she stays there. There, everything falls into place, her life improves, and she falls in love with the environment.
The heart of this story is undoubtedly the Morisaki Bookshop. The book describes the protagonist’s journey as she begins working at the shop and how meeting certain people makes her life far better.
Books possess a certain healing power. It doesn’t matter the format—whether it’s a website on a screen that emits irritating light, an e-reader that avoids that glare but still isn’t a physical book, or a traditional paper book, which is one of the best things you could ever own. Books simply have the power to heal.
The protagonist is guided by fellow readers. Perhaps the author wants to communicate that readers have lived tens, hundreds, or even thousands of lives through the pages they’ve turned, and thus possess a deeper understanding of life. The author may also be suggesting that there is great value in forming genuine friendships with fellow book lovers.
Guided by these readers, the protagonist eventually finds her way and manages to pick herself up after a fall.
It’s a warm read—truly heartwarming. I believe everyone should read this book. Though it’s a work of fiction, it is a piece of art and is very well-written. The original is in Japanese; I read the English translation, which is excellent, and I found it impossible to put the book down.
I hope you enjoy it too, and if you do, please leave a comment below!