Of Bookshops and Libraries

 I love bookshops and libraries, and I love books about bookshops and libraries, so here are two that I read recently, one set in a Tokyo library and the other in a Dublin bookstore... maybe.

What you are looking for is in the library By Michiko Aoyama

A charming book of books, the librarian in this novel offers reading lists to her customers, always including one surprise book, and a gift. Book and gift work together on the recipient, causing them to see their problems differently and find new solutions. It’s all told in simple language with a grown-up fairytale feel – lyrical, sweet but never cloying, and gently encouraging. Readers are sure to identify with at least one of the characters in this collection, and the fables are sure to feel real as they read.

The Lost bookshop by Evie Woods

He’s searching for a bookshop to confirm the theory of his thesis. She’s searching for a place to hide from abuse. And a house in Dublin stands with no space beside it for the bookshop to hide.

Meanwhile another story-thread tells of another young woman who loves books, running away from an arranged marriage in the past. The stories are bound to intersect somewhere, and the transitions between them are beautifully timed. But guessing the connections keeps the reader pondering, while a tree grows strangely and past bleeds slowly into present.

Magical realism, beautiful imagery and symbolism, plus that fascinating question of whether a missing book or bookshop can be found – it all comes together beautifully in a well-structured and enjoyable novel. Highly recommended.


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