What You Are Looking for is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama
Reviewer: Deb Alig, Circulation Assistant
Genre: Japanese fiction
Suggested Age: Adult
What is this book about? There are five chapters in this book, and each chapter is about a main character who desires change in his/her life. The characters vary in age and occupation. They all live in present time Hatori, a fictional ward in Tokyo. There is Tamoka, a 21-year-old girl who recently graduated from junior college and now works at a women’s clothing store, but who desires to do more with her life. Then there is Ryo, aged 35. He works in the accounts department of a furniture manufacturer, but he dreams of one day owning an antique shop. Natsumi, aged 40, works as an editor for a popular magazine but gets demoted when she returns from maternity leave. She does not regret having a baby, but she one day dreams of working in publishing again and creating books. There is also Hiroya, a 30-year-old man who still lives at home, reads manga, and does not have a job. He is very artistic and would like to be a designer. Mostly, he wants to feel accepted. Finally, there is Masao, a 65-year-old retiree who feels bored in his retirement. On his last day of work he asks himself, “What am I going to do now?”
The one thing all of these characters have in common, aside from wanting to make changes in their lives, is that they stumble upon the Hatori Community House library where they meet Mrs.Komachi, the enigmatic reference librarian who asks them all, “What are you looking for?” Based on their responses, Mrs. Komachi types up a list of book recommendations on her computer. Unique to each list is a book about some random topic that doesn’t seem to have anything to do with what the patrons are looking for in the library. Yet, these random books, I think, prove to be the most helpful to them. Mrs. Komachi also gives each character a sort of charm that she creates using a needle and a ball of wool, a free gift for visiting the library.
My Review: I really enjoyed reading this book about a community library and its patrons. The Hatori Community House library is a lot like ours. Its entryway is inviting, the shelves are packed with books, people who reside in the community can get a free card, and the staff, though small, is friendly, helpful, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic. I was especially touched when I read about Hiroya. He was the patron in the book who felt like he didn’t belong anywhere. But once he started visiting the library, he happily thought, “It’s okay. It’s okay for me to be in this place.” He finally felt accepted. That’s how I want all of our patrons to feel when they come through our doors—welcome, safe, and comfortable answering the question, “What are you looking for?”
Three Words That Describe This Book: charming, inspirational, inclusive, magical, heart warming
Give This a Try if You Like: Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa, Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi, Everything in Its Place: A Story of Books and Belonging by Pauline David-Sax
Rating: 5/5
