What You are Looking For is in the Library focuses on a mysterious librarian who helps individuals to find passions and direction in their lives. Sayuri Komachi is a figure in white at the reference desk and when people venture to her desk, they receive a list of the books that will help them find out more on their chosen subject, as well as another book that seemingly has no relation to what they asked for. Sayuri also gives them a little ‘bonus’ – a felted object which again has no obvious link to what they are looking for. But through the book, each person finds meaning and the ability to change their lives for the better.
The story is told in the first person from five different individuals across the five chapters. Tomoka feels at a loss at her job in her department store but finds joy through an unexpected children’s book. Natsumi used to be a magazine editor, but after her maternity leave finds her work downgraded and motherhood not what she envisioned. Ryo finds his work unfulfilling and wants to open a business of his own, but isn’t sure how to go about it. Hiroya doesn’t work, after being downtrodden in his first job. But the library helps him to find his place in society and regain confidence. Masao is newly retired and at a loss – who is he now? But he finds direction in the next phase of his life in an unexpected way.
It’s an interesting idea: a series of individuals are drawn to visit a community library. It’s staffed by a nervous but friendly trainee and a mysterious, large, middle-aged former special-needs teacher turned librarian (with a penchant for Japanese honey dome cookies, and a felting obsession). We encounter each library visitor at a crisis point in their lives.
In each case, the random book and felted object help them to realise three truths: that there is always more than one way of looking at a situation; there are always other choices of direction; and that everyone draws their own message from any particular book.
However, as the book progresses, there are glimpses of connections between the previous chapters’ characters which is a nice touch. The story is simply told and is translated well by Alison Watts – it doesn’t lose the Japanese way of life (such as greetings, politeness and courtesy to elders). It offers hope, even if the characters think it’s too late to change – it isn’t. A gentle, warm story that is a mood booster.
Each chapter had it’s own gentle lesson to bring – from the reminder to develop your gratitude and sense of wonder with Tomoka in Chapter I to the exploration of new purposes with Masao in Chapter V. Each character has their own issues and concerns, whether those are societal or familial expectations or simply inside their own minds – throughout the novel we see each of them pursuing other routes to achieve fulfilment. It is a timely reminder that happiness can be found in many unexpected places.
‘What You Are Looking For Is In The Library’ is a feel good book, written in a simple but touching narrative, one that can be picked up when you are hitting a ‘reader’s block’ which many people experience at some point. If you don’t know what to read or not in the mood to do so then this book will steer you back into the literary world; its short, simply written with a heart warming plot. We have given it 8/10.
Quotes:
“Readers make their own personal connections to words, irrespective of the writer’s intentions, and each reader gains something unique”.
“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.”
“When I buy a book, I also become part of the process as a reader. People working in the book industry are not the only ones who make the publishing world go round; most of all it depends on the readers. Books belong to everybody: the creators, the sellers and the readers. That’s what society is all about I believe.”
“Singles are envious of those who are married, and married couples envy those with children, but people with children are envious of singles. It’s an endless merry-go-round. But isn’t that funny? That each person should be chasing the tail of the person in front of them, when no one is coming first or last. In other words, when it comes to happiness nothing is better or worse—there is no definitive state.”
“Books will always be essential for some people. And bookshops are a place for those people to discover the books that will become important to them. I will never allow bookshops to vanish from this world.”
The Author:
Michiko Aoyama, 青山美智子 was born in 1970 in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. She worked as a journalist after graduating from university for an Australian newspaper in Sydney for two years then she moved back to Tokyo. In the capital she was working as a magazine editor before she decided to start her journey as an author. Her debut novel, Cocoa on Thursdays (木曜日にはココア) was the winner of the 2020’s Miyazaki Book Award (宮崎本大賞). Consequently, both in 2021 and in 2022 she came second with her novels What You’re Looking For Is In The Library, お探し物は図書室まで and Red, Blue and Sketches, 赤と青とエスキース respectively at the
The Translator:
Alison Watts beautifully translated Aoyama’s novel from Japanese to English. You can find her website here, including additional titles she was working on. She has also won many prestigious awards including the inaugural Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation Prize for translating Hase Seishu’s novel titled: The Boy and the Dog.*
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Genre: Fiction, Contemporary, Magical Realism
Publication date: September 5, 2023
Publisher: Hanover Square Press
Type: Book, Japanese Literature, Short Story Collection
Original Title: お探し物は図書室まで
