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A review by _sofiia_
What You Are Looking for Is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama

funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing fast-paced
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

 i forgot that books can bring something other than existential angst, loss of faith in marriage (well, in men), questioning of own self, and other stuff that, sure, is though-provoking, and deep, and in its own way beautiful (-ly depressing), and makes me feel like a french lady trying to wash down my early-twenties crisis with another sip of coffee, hoping to look mysterious to that guy across the room... 

BUT. 

sometimes books bring joy and make me unquestionably tick all the positive adjectives on the storygraph review prompts.

i loved the way in which some of the characters were present in others’ stories, it created a sense of community around this…well, Community House, and the reading and cookie industry. the book balanced the collectivist themes with the ideas of having personal responsibility and impact on own life to evoke change. this balance will help me heal in the upcoming year. 

though the characters were of varying ages, i felt connected to all five, there’s certainly something to take from each: 

  • Tomoka (21): being confident in that there is something out there for you if you try 
  • Ryo (35): being honest with yourself about procrastinating on own life and then deciding to take matters in own hands, a day at a time 
  • Natsumi (40): being open to a career change and believing in your * transferable skills * 
  • Hiroya (30): being brave yet humble in giving your dreams another try and accepting that everything big starts small 
  • Masao (65): being proud of what you do/had done and being a part of something bigger - felt like an antidot to individualistic drive to make something of yourself by yourself and by yourself only 

and, together, the characters give rise to a sort of * ciiiiircle ooof liiiiiife * - you’re unsure what to do, you try, you find something you like, you’re unsure if you can/should do it, you try, you might be doing really well, but then life happens, but then you reinvent yourself, or re-surrect your old dreams, taking it easy and building something big eventually, only to step away and be proud of what your journey has been, being hopeful what it can still hold for you…

...because the last two cookies are no different from the previous ones. (though, the law of diminishing returns dictates otherwise, but i believe there is no room for economics in this charming little universe, so go on, enjoy every cookie and maybe don’t eat them all in one go). 

bottom line: i am healed and ready for 2025, and if i will start to lose it, i think i’ll learn felting and will process my emotions through meditative wool stabbing 

p.s.: i need a little felted figurine plssss!!! 

[went to google “how to get into felting”]