by Michiko Aoyama
Hanover Square, 2023. 304 pages. Realistic fiction
What are you looking for? This is the question routinely asked by Tokyo’s most enigmatic librarian, Sayuri Komachi. She has read every book lining her shelves – but she also has a unique ability: for anyone who walks through her door, Komachi can sense exactly what they’re looking for in life and provide just the book they never knew they needed to help them find it. Each visitor comes to her library from a different juncture in their careers and dreams, from the restless sales attendant who feels stuck at her job to the struggling working mother who longs to be a magazine editor. The conversation that they have with Sayuri Komachi – and the book she lends each of them – will have life-altering consequences.
I may have a personal connection to this story in particular, since I am a librarian by profession. This brief book was lovely to read, with five separate yet interconnected stories who find inspiration and clarity in the library. I love when we see glimpses of the author's culture shine through the translation, as they did in this work. I do wish Aoyama had introduced us to Komachi and let us get to know her in a way beyond just her physical appearance. With its simple, digestible writing style, this made for a heartwarming and uplifting read that underscore the importance of libraries and literature.