Japanese novels rarely disappoint, and I’m glad I listened to my Librarian, Mr. Kinni and borrowed this book on his recommendation. After reading it, I realised that a good librarian can truly gauge what the reader would like to read and make a suggestion that leaves the borrower smiling at the end of the read.
Yes, Mr. Kinni, much like Sayuri Komachi, the librarian at the Hatori Community Centre, very rarely recommends a book that I don’t like.

You may say that it was the book, but it’s how you read it that is most valuable, rather than any power it might have itself

Quote from the book p.136

In a series of five chapters which are actually short stories in themselves, Michiko Aoyama creates a wonderfully knitted novel where the lives of each of the characters are interwoven, not only through the librarian, but also by chance meetings with one another. I loved the way this book pans out like a delightful patchwork quilt.

Each story is charming with ordinary people leading dull everyday lives and secretly harbouring dreams that would lead to a more enriched existence. This book will definitely resonate with many people.

Equally interesting are the pearls of wisdom that are scattered in each story as each book borrower finds out the answer to their ‘;problem’.

We all have our moments of self doubt or reasons for not doing what we really want to do and after reading this book, I too found certain answers to my own confused questions.

Not only would I recommend this book to a casual reader, but also to book clubs that are always looking for a good book to discuss.

So if you’re looking for a good weekend read, go for this one!

Ciao,

Some Gems from the book

• In a world where you don’t know what will happen nexr, I just do what I can right now.
• if ‘one day’ are magic words that keep a dream alive, what do i need to say to make it real?
• From big things to little, there are some things we simply cannot force to go to plan, no matter how hard we try.