THIS BOOK IS A LOVE STORY TO BOOKS.
A love story to climbing all the way down a book’s rope, free diving to its bottom, and then resurfacing at its close, ready to breathe a different kind of air.
Nanako Hanada’s life is in crisis. Recently separated from her husband, living in youth hostels and internet cafes, her work is going no better. Book sales at the eccentric Village Vanguard bookstore in Tokyo, which Nanako manages, are dwindling. Fallen out of love in all aspects of her life, Nanako realises how narrow her life has become, with no friends outside of her colleagues, and no hobbies apart from reading and arranging books.
That’s when Nanako, in a bid to inject some excitement into her life, joins a meet-up site where people meet for 30-minute bursts to find romance, build a network, or just share ideas. She describes herself as a sexy bookseller who will give you a personalised book recommendation. In the year that follows, Nanako meets an eclectic range of strangers, some of whom wanted more than just a book, others she became real friends with.
Written with a subtle but sharp sense of humour, The Bookshop Woman is a heart-warming book about a bookseller’s self-discovery. It offers a glimpse into bookselling in Japan and the quirky side of Tokyo and its people. Books, once again, offer inspiration and serve as channels for human communication.
Format: Hardback
Pages: 224
Imprint: BRAZEN
Publication date: 11/06/2024
The Bookshop Woman
By Nanako Hanada
Review by Kazia
When my co-worker saw me reading this, he commented that books about bookselling appeal to our egos and that I had shamelessly fallen for the trap. I must warmly dissent and argue that this book will appeal to anyone looking for stories of connection and fulfilment-seeking (though yes, fine, the bookselling aspect is very much what called me to this memoir in the first place as a non-memoir reader).
Hanada’s retellings of her encounters were hilarious, often awkward and even more-so touching. This was the perfect cosy read while also serving as a wonderful illustration that life is not set in stone. A kind reminder that while trying something new can be terrifying, more likely than not, everything will turn out okay.
Readers looking for a similar vibe in fiction might enjoy Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-reum or What You Are Looking for is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama.
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