'A simple girl with simple issues, like one of its readers, may be'—Yagisawa may have thought while writing the not-so-dramatic plot of his book. The journey of personal growth often begins with what might seem like ordinary troubles. Takako, the main protagonist, deals with issues that initially appear petty: recovering from a breakup and seeking escape. Without consulting her, her mother intervenes by arranging for Takako to stay with her uncle, Satoru. The hope is that Takako, by reconnecting with her uncle and their shared childhood memories, will find the space she needs to heal and reflect.
Takako moves into the second floor of the Morisaki Bookshop, owned by her uncle Satoru. The secondhand books that Takako befriends while staying on the second floor of the Morisaki Bookshop serve as a metaphor for her own life. It's as if her past self—the person she was before accepting her stay at the bookshop—left notes within those books, little reminders of things she needed to understand. These notes were meant to be discovered by the "second owner" (Takako), who, after settling into her new life with a relative she hadn’t seen or spoken to in years, gains clarity left behind in those pages.
What starts as a temporary arrangement in the dusty, old secondhand bookstore turns a new leaf for Takako. In the first part of the book, she seeks help, even though she doesn't have the courage to accept it. Her uncle wants her to stay around and lend a little help with the bookshop. Destiny works in a way that both Takako, dealing with the aftermath of her breakup, and Satoru, dealing with the loneliness and unresolved grief from the loss of his unborn child and his wife leaving him, confront their issues and help each other seek closure.
The story's emotional depth reveals itself fully in the second part of the book, where Momoko, Satoru's wife, finally meet him at their child's grave (a very dramatic ending for not so dramatic plot). This emotional moment comes about partly because Takako gives Satoru the courage to seek her out. This mirrors how Satoru had earlier supported Takako in confronting her ex-boyfriend, who had double-dated their mutual office colleague and eventually dumped her. I also feel the writer gives a dramatic resolution to Satoru's story because he embraces life's adventures—whether through books or real experiences—while Takako finds solace in literature and stories. After her time at the bookshop, Takako does experience a poetic encounter with Wada, who eventually becomes her lover. But much of the book focuses on her internal reflections and thoughts, which helps prevent the reader from forming quick judgments of other characters, as it is Takako’s narrative, not the writer’s."
The book is filled with messages about how love manifests in different ways for each character, whether it’s the steadfast friendship between regular customer Sabu and Satoru or Momoko’s constant expression of care through cooking for Takako during her visits. The writer doesn’t shy away from revealing the flaws and weaknesses of the supporting characters. Each of them has their own struggles and imperfections, but they’re not portrayed negatively. Instead, they quietly exist in the background of Takako’s life—small, seemingly insignificant, yet real and essential. Their presence, though understated, plays an important role in her journey, contributing to the novel’s authentic exploration of relationships and growth.
Days at Morisaki Bookshop is more about accepting 'what is' than fighting for 'what ifs'; acceptance of both the written and lived lives that surround us.
About the Reviewer:
Kashish Vikram Singh is a writer and founder of Dakhni, a creative platform for Urdu literature.