In the final stretch of a long winter, with midterms looming and stress on the rise, what better than a delightful book to keep you going? I have chosen these three books for their ease, speed of reading, and comfort.
Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa
In all honesty, I initially bought this book because of its pretty cover: this doesn’t always end badly. Days at the Morisaki Bookshop is short and easy to read in a few hours, but its effect lasts much longer. The novel follows twenty-something Takako, in the wake of a difficult break-up, as she accepts an offer from her uncle, Satoru, to live in his second-hand bookshop. Their previously estranged relationship is rekindled as Satoru introduces Takako to the world of books and shows her a love and kindness which she hasn’t felt in a while. Set against the backdrop of a peaceful book-lovers district in Tokyo, the novel explores questions of life and love, and highlights the value of books in healing a broken heart.
The Summer Book by Tove Jansson
For those longing for summer during these cold winter months, Jansson’s novel can transport you to the serene seas and forests of an island in the Gulf of Finland. This book follows young Sophia and her grandmother sharing their summer on the island, at either end of their lives, brought together by their love for one another and the island. Jansson seamlessly blends humour with deeper questions about life, as Sophia and her grandmother learn new things from one another. The Summer Book is an absolute delight to read, leaving you with small pockets of wisdom from two very different perspectives, managing to be simple yet profound.
Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton
You have undoubtedly heard of this one, but I had to include it as it’s one of my all-time favourites. Alderton perfectly outlines the journey from adolescence into womanhood, blending witticism with raw and painful truths. Although grounded in its time of growing up in the 90s and early 2000s, the book still manages to remain timeless with its universal experiences of girlhood and love. It focuses most heavily on the close friendship between Dolly and Farly, and how they navigate growing up and changing alongside one another. The story has messy and upsetting moments, but it adds to the realism of Dolly’s memoir and makes for an utterly wonderful read.
“bench” by Wil Collins is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0