What You Are Looking For Is In The Library – Michiko Aoyama

Published By: Doubleday
Pages: 256
Released On: 17/08/2023
Translated By: Alison Watts

What are you looking for?

So asks Tokyo’s most enigmatic librarian to the visitors in her library. For Sayuri Komachi is no ordinary librarian. Sensing exactly what someone is searching for in life, she provides just the book recommendation to help them find it.

We meet five visitors at a different crossroads: the restless retail assistant eager to pick up new skills, the mother faced with a demotion at work after maternity leave, the conscientious accountant who yearns to open an antique store, the gifted young manga artist in search of motivation, and a recently retired salaryman on a quest for newfound purpose.

After reading Komachi’s unique book recommendation, they will soon discover what they need to achieve their dreams.

*****

Thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.

I don’t read many translated books – this isn’t a conscious decision, I just don’t – but I have read a few Japanese ones and I cannot explain the hold they have over me. Just knowing this was originally a Japanese books makes it a winner for me. And because it’s about books, obviously! But it must be really hard to translate a book so it makes sense to an English audience, but keeps all the nuances and meanings of the original writer. But these translated books, they just sit within me and I can’t shift them. There’s this, buzz, this other quality that I can’t quite explain, but whenever there’s a new translated Japanese book, I’m confident it’ll find a fan in me. That might be painting them all with the same brush, but until I find one that doesn’t fit the mould, I will continue to believe this.

I love how everything interconnects, it’s so seamless. The different stories all follow the same sort of template, so if you’re after something really shocking and different, then this probably isn’t the book for you, but I love the individual stories and how they link to each other, it makes for a really easy and lovely read.

It isn’t a complex book, it isn’t thrilling, it doesn’t frighten or anger or embarrass, it’s not full of twists and turns and shocks, it just plods on in a very satisfying and enjoyable way and is an instant morale booster.

It’s heartwarming and cosy and positive without being too sickly sweet. It has a poetic quality about it, how each sentence and section is formed, it all flows so well, as individual stories and in the book as a whole.

This book shows the importance of libraries and librarians. We don’t always appreciate librarians and their knowledge, we may not think it’s a very skilful job, and yet what they offer to us is immeasurable and invaluable.

This is all about using books to find your purpose, to find your way, to find your love, and I think this book in itself could be added to that list. It’s so beautiful and so memorable and I really enjoyed it.

It is incredibly uplifting. Yes there are some negatives and down moments in the stories, as in everyone’s life, but overall the message is one of positivity and I think we all need that in life right now.