"Don’t be afraid to love someone. When you fall in love, I want you to fall in love all the way. Even if it ends in heartache, please don’t live a lonely life without love. I’ve been so worried that because of what happened you’ll give up on falling in love. Love is wonderful. I don’t want you to forget that. Those memories of people you love, they never disappear. They go on warming your heart as long as you live."

Days at the Morisaki Bookshop is a heartwarming tale of love, family and self-discovery. Takako perfectly portrayed what it means to be a woman in her twenties figuring out life and its purpose in between the complexities of it all. The bond between Takako and her uncle, Satoru, was very heartening and as someone who believes in the power of reconnecting with the good of the past, this tale is one of many examples that I adore—more so with the familial aspect that comes along with it.

The storytelling was very much uncomplicated and child's play for beginners with an intent to take a dip in the genre of translated fiction, as well as for advanced readers alike. But despite the simplicity of its writing, the characters felt very well fleshed out and each were very complex with their own individual characteristics. All incorporated very well with a bona fide build up of the atmosphere that surrounds these interesting cast of characters. The more you read, the more you felt as if you were in the Morisaki Bookshop itself, browsing, perhaps overhearing Takako and Satoru's conversation or perhaps theirs with the regular customers. Or perhaps you started imagining the ambience of a café with the strong scents of coffee beans hitting your nostrils and the sound of pages turning, rapidly or leisurely. Oh, to be in such a world right now!

Like many other translated fictions I have been privileged enough to read and experience, Days at the Morisaki Bookshop prompted such intricate questions and reminders into our existence in the world and our purpose to not just ourselves but also to others. There were simply so many parts in the book as well as conversations that I resonated with in both the present and the past. I related to Takako so much when she was detailing her experience with depression after her life had wholly turned around from what she once knew. The feeling of not being able to even get up from our beds, the energy we once had simply disappeared into thin air, hard to grasp nor see that all one could do with their whole being was to sleep. I was brought back to May to early of August last year when I was deep within my own depression. Unable to get up, missing classes because I simply felt like the world around me was crumbling at every step. But with the right support and coping mechanisms—in this case for us, it's books—you could overcome such battles one baby step at a time. You don't need to go about life so quickly without processing whatever grief you find yourself feeling to show the world you are strong. You are stronger when you acknowledge the pain and the chaos that comes after a hurricane and moving forward, you'll find yourself to be filled with more empathy towards yourself and towards others. And I think Takako's character truly showed that in the second part of the book.

All in all, it was a meaningful read to me and I'm so glad to have broken out of my procrastination to finally finish this after weeks of picking it up and absorbing word-by-word into me slowly but surely. So many lessons in such a short tale and yet I cannot leave you without recommending this immensely beautiful book for you to read in your own time. I cannot wait to hear your thoughts on this one, dear readers.

My love and gratitude goes out to Definitely Books by Pansing Distribution as always for sending me such great titles as this for me to pour my honest thoughts on for others to consume. Thank you thank you thank you!

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