Michiko Aoyama "What you are looking for is in the library"
I'd like to start with one of the quotes I can't forget:
People find meaning in the bonus gifts for themselves. It’s the same with books. Readers make their own personal connections to words, irrespective of the writer’s intentions, and each reader gains something unique.
A collection of novellas about people united by one question: “What should I do with my life?” and felt toys. Each of them is stuck in a different life situation, and each finds their way—somehow—through a random but fateful visit to a library.
Surprisingly, I liked every single story. Even though the protagonists' lives and problems vary widely, the core question remains the same: what to do now?.
We meet and see opening their souls:
- Tomoka, a young woman who left her small hometown for Tokyo in search of a better life and now works in a clothing store thinking she may want to change her job but doesn't even know what she could be capable of.
- Ryo, an office worker who has dreamed of owning an antique shop since he was a teen but now struggle to even start.
- Natsumi, a former magazine editor who lost herself in motherhood and is trying to get her life back.
- Hiroya, unemployed and convinced the world has failed to appreciate his potential, who tries to find any place to accept him as he is.
- Masao, a recent retiree who no longer knows what to do without the comfort of his work routine.
Each story is titled with the character’s name, age, and profession—creating a crisp first impression. But these introductions only scratch the surface. As we turn the pages, the characters unfold and deepen, gaining nuance and emotional weight. Even if we’re skeptical about them at first, we end up rooting for their small and large victories alike.
At the heart of each transformation is a gentle push from the mysterious librarian Ms. Komachi. With her snowy white face and quirky hobby of making felt toys, she offers more than just book recommendations—she quietly nudges people toward their next steps. She tells them, that they had already started their way having the idea of changes in their heads and they would bear the fruit later.
Throughout the stories, we notice little intersections between characters—familiar names, shared spaces—which are minor but still feel like easter eggs for attentive readers. Each character’s outcome varies—some may seem modest to the reader, others significant or even life-changing. This book is perfect for anyone in need of motivation, feeling stuck, or searching for a way to move forward.
A few quotes that hit close to home for me:
I know that now. Just as every day is equal in value and no less important than all the others. The day I was born, today as I stand here now and the many tomorrows to come.
Until now, I have always thought of things in terms of whether or not they could be useful to me in some way. But that may have become my stumbling block. Now I know the importance of the heart being moved, I have a list of things I want to try.
How much had my own thinking limit my opportunities? It’s weird how ideas keep springing into my head now, as if a stopper has been removed. Yet when I had all the time in the world, I never had a single idea.
"Yes. I want to try and change. Thanks to this book." - A broad smile lit Ms. Komachi’s face. “You may say that it was the book, but it’s how you read a book that is most valuable, rather than any power it might have itself.”
That reminds me of one more thing I learned since retiring: if you don’t work, there are no days off. Never again will I enjoy the anticipation of freedom and feeling of release at the thought of taking time off work.