Book Review: 'Days at the Morisaki Bookshop' by Satoshi Yagisawa

✰✰✰✰ Twenty-five year old Takako is an office worker in Tokyo, who has secretly been dating a colleague. Having assumed they would get married, she is shocked to learn of his upcoming marriage to someone else in the office. Crushed and embarrassed, Takako quits her job and hides in bed all day. Soon she is unable to pay her rent and must make an agonizing decision: return home to Kyushu or move into the small, spare room above the Morisaki Bookshop run by her eccentric uncle. It's a decision that will change her life. Her gentle uncle gives her space in return for her watching the store once in a while. As the days, then months, go by, Takako surprises everyone, but especially herself. She becomes a voracious reader, starts to meet like-minded people in the Jimbocho book district, and may even be able to help her uncle, who has a dilemma of his own to solve.

The Bottom Line: This slim novel brought back fond memories of my trips to Japan many years ago. With an emphasis on family, compassion, and literature, this novel was a gentle read and made me nostalgic for simpler times. Highly recommended for fans of books about Japan and Japanese literature. This is a very quick and enjoyable read.

Details: Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa & translated by Eric Ozawa. Paperback published by Harper Perennia in 2023. 160 p. ISBN: 978-0-06-327867-7 

Book Review: 'The Cat Who Saved Books' by Sosuke Natsukawa

✰✰✰✰✰ Nerdy Rintaro Natsuki is a high school hikikomori (a person who has decided to shut themselves away from society). All Rintaro wants is to be left alone, so he can read books. However, when is grandfather dies shortly before Christmas, Rintaro suddenly finds himself more alone than he ever thought possible. Soon he'll be expected to pack up his home and his grandfather's bookshop to go live with a distant aunt he barely knows. As Rintaro finds solace in stepping into his grandfather's shoes and managing Natsuki Books, he is startled by an ordinary looking tabby with an extraordinary skill. The cat can talk, and it needs Rintaro's help. Rintaro is intrigued, and because he has nothing to lose, he agrees to help. He follows the cat into a labyrinth and is confronted by a challenge in a seemingly different dimension. Although Rintaro is plagued by self-doubt, the cat is there to bolster his confidence. 

As Rintaro completes each labyrinth, he learns to believe in himself more and more. And although not everyone can hear the cat talk, it turns out there is someone else who can, his classmate, Sayo. As they pair up with the cat to solve more challenges and rescue more books, Rintaro comes out of his shell. Just when he thinks the adventure is over, it turns out the most challenging labyrinth awaits, and the stakes are higher this time. Rintaro must solve the challenge alone if he wants to save his new friend. With time running out, Rintaro must use every bit of knowledge, courage, and feeling he has or risk losing it all. 

The Bottom Line: I don't often read fantasy fiction; however, this book reignited my interest in the genre. This quick read whisks one away to a completely differently world filled with riddles, young love, angst, self-doubt, and learning to find your calling. The main character is an unwitting hero as he helps save books from an awful end. Along the way he learns to trust his gut and also learns to trust others. This book was enjoyable and the translation kept some Japanese words, which I appreciated. This story is a bit reminiscent of Greek mythology with the use of the labyrinths as well. Highly recommended reading for those who enjoy Fantasy, Japanese literature, and mysteries. I would love to see this made into a movie. 

[Note: Added notes from both the translator, Louise Heal Kawai, and the illustrator, Yuko Shimizu, were interesting, and I wish more books included this kind of additional information.] 

Details: The Cat Who Saved Books: A Novel by Sosuke Natsukawa. Translated by Louise Heal Kawai. Hardcover English translation edition published by HarperVia in 2021. [Original published as Hon wo mamorou to suru neko no hanashi by Shogakukan in 2017.] 208 p. ISBN: 978-0-06-309572-4 

Book Review: The Care and Handling of Roses With Thorns by Margaret Dilloway

✰✰✰✰ Galilee "Gal" Garner lives for her roses. As an amateur rose breeder, Gal's world revolves around her precious hulthemias. The challenge of breeding the perfect rose consumes her every waking hour when she is not teaching or undergoing dialysis for a chronic kidney disorder. Gal's world is quite predictable, which she finds comforting. Then one day Gal is called out of class to discover that her 15 year old niece Riley has arrived unexpectedly. With nowhere else to go, it's soon settled that Riley will temporarily stay with Gal.

Although Gal teaches high school, she is completely unprepared for the challenges of raising a teenager she hardly knows. Gal is unaccustomed to the demands of parenting and soon finds herself in over her head as she juggles her teaching career, her health issues, and her new role as a guardian to a teen all while aiming to create a rose that will be the envy of the rose society. While Gal is as thorny as her roses and difficult to get to know, her journey changes her from an inflexible spinster into a nurturing caregiver. Along the way, Gal is given the opportunity to start actually living her life instead of living through her roses.

The Bottom Line: This is a beautiful tale told in the first person; it celebrates love, forgiveness, and the bonds of family. Although it is a bit predictable, it was a joy watching Gal's character blossom. This is a fast read, making it perfect for the weekend. Once you pick this one up, you won't be able to put it down. Enthusiastically recommended for those who enjoy contemporary fiction about family dynamics. This will also appeal to those interested in roses and gardening. Additionally, The Care and Handling of Roses with Thorns would also be a great pick for a book club.

Details: The Care and Handling of Roses with Thorns by Margaret Dilloway. Hardcover published by G.P. Putnam's Sons in 2012. 368 p. ISBN: 978-0-399015775-2 Note: I received a complimentary uncorrected proof from Putnam Books in exchange for an honest review. This was made possible by the Early Reviewer program at LibraryThing.

Book Review: Amaryllis in Blueberry by Christina Meldrum

✰✰✰½ "Dick is dead." Thus, begins Meldrum's latest novel, Amaryllis in Blueberry. Set mostly in the 1970s, we follow the Slepy family as they escape their secrets and head off to Africa. The Slepys aren't your average family. There's Seena, who is self-absorbed and doesn't pay much attention to her family. Dick, the father, is obsessed with Seena to the point where he must have total control over her. Then there are the three daughters all named Mary, each with their own secrets and rebellions. The youngest, Amaryllis, is different from all the rest. Not only is she dark complected with blueberry eyes, but as a synesthete she sees things the others don't.

As the family grows accustomed to their new life in Africa, each member begins to unravel. Follow the twists and turns of this story to discover how Dick ends up dead as the story begins with the end. This is a book with a little bit of everything: murder, infidelity, secrets, lies, an unplanned pregnancy, and inter-racial relationships. In fact, it's the secrets that propel this story forward.

The Bottom Line: This book moves back and forth between two worlds, Michigan and Africa, and seems to shift time and space with ample flashbacks. It is told from multiple points of view; as the narrators change, the story builds. Each person adds a little piece of the puzzle. At times I found this dysfunctional family to be both fascinating and repelling. While the imagery is vivid and beautiful, I found it difficult to like the Slepy family. This is a challenging read, but worth the effort for those who enjoy contemporary, literary fiction and coming of age tales. There is a strong use of symbolism with references to both religion and mythology. This book was different from anything else I've read, which made it interesting. It would be a great pick for a book club; a reading guide is included with discussion questions and a conversation with the author.

Details: Amaryllis in Blueberry by Christina Meldrum. Paperback published by Gallery Books in 2011. 384 p. ISBN: 978-1439156896 Note: I received a free copy from the publisher for review purposes.