The beauty of sadness

"Dreams at Morisaki Bookstore" depicts life in the Kanda Jimbocho neighborhood and the Kanda Brazil café. The central character is Takako, a young woman in her twenties who simultaneously loses both her boyfriend and her job, living a life of sadness, sleeping 15 hours a day to forget her present. To help her daughter escape her lonely days, Takako's mother asks her uncle, Satoru, a childhood friend, to have her look after the Morisaki used bookstore. Wanting Takako to enjoy a long break at the Morisaki bookstore, Uncle Satoru helps her "explore" the Kanda Jimbocho neighborhood with its more than 170 used bookstores, cafés, bars, and more.

As someone who had never been passionate about books, Takako gradually became acquainted with names like Akutagawa Ryunosuke, Natsume Soseki, Mori Ogai… and many famous works of Japanese literature with diverse character fates, gaining a richer and more multifaceted perspective on life. From the world of books, Takako realized: “I haven’t put any period at the end of that story yet. I’m just temporarily setting it aside, waiting for time to erode the memory.” Especially on a chance occasion, while reading Kajii Motojirou’s “Mindscape,” Takako came across a reader’s “empathetic” underline, a bookmark made of dried flower petals… and saw herself more clearly through it. Finally, thanks to her uncle’s inspiration about the love of books, after a period of rest at Morisaki’s used bookstore, Takako gradually opened her heart to new people and learned new habits. Takako gradually heals from things she previously didn't care about.

Reader Nguyen Thi Nguyen from Tien Thanh Ward, Dong Xoai City, shared: "Like Takako, young people will experience periods of extreme sadness and loneliness, but it's very difficult to share with anyone for many reasons. Many people may try to forget their troubles with fleeting pleasures like beer, travel , etc., but ultimately they still can't fully resolve their problems. 'Dreams at Morisaki Bookstore' helped readers realize that only by confronting their own sadness, accepting and overcoming it can they find a better version of themselves. Takako and her cousin helped me realize that books are an effective remedy for loneliness, helping me understand myself more deeply and see more joy in life."

While Vietnamese people easily express their emotions, Japanese people often hide them behind a facade of composure. Some appear calm on the outside, but inwardly harbor turbulent emotions. With a gentle writing style, the author guides the reader to explore the mysteries of the human soul, a place no one can be sure they fully understand. Reading "Dreams at Morisaki Bookstore," readers will feel a touch of melancholy, but this sadness helps to deeply understand and empathize. As the character Satoru says to his niece: "It's not simply about where you are, but about the heart. Wherever you are or with whomever you are, as long as you can be honest with your heart, that will be the place for you." And thanks to its clear and subtle writing style, the book brings readers a positive and bright feeling with the message that "the road ahead is worth hoping and looking forward to." We invite readers to read and recommend it to others.

"Dreams at Morisaki Bookstore" won the Chiyoda Literary Prize (an award from the Chiyoda district of Tokyo), and was adapted into a film , starring Akiko Kikuchi in the lead role of Takako.

Books - A Good Friend would like to congratulate reader Le Duc Bao, address: 306/4, Vo Thi Sau Street, Vinh Truong Ward, Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province, for receiving a gift for having the correct answer in October.

November prize question: When was the film adaptation of the book " Dreams at Morisaki Bookstore" released ?

The program will accept answers within 7 days of publication in Binh Phuoc Newspaper. The best and most accurate answer will receive a valuable book prize from the Provincial Library.

Participants are requested to send their answers to the email address: sachhaybptv@gmail.com, or to the following email address: “Books Section - A Good Friend, Arts & Entertainment & International Department, Binh Phuoc Radio, Television and Newspaper (BPTV), 228 Tran Hung Dao Street, Tan Phu Ward, Dong Xoai City, Binh Phuoc Province.” Please include your full name and address in the email so the section can send you a gift.

Source: https://baobinhphuoc.com.vn/news/54/164978/ve-dep-cua-noi-buon