Translated

What You Are Looking For Is in the Library / Michiko Aoyama

/ Alisha Helms / Leave a comment 
What You Are Looking For Is in the Library
By: Michiko Aoyama, Alison Watts (Translator)
Genre: Fiction, Japanese Literature
Number of Pages: 304
Published: September 5, 2023 (1st Published November 9, 2020)
Publisher: Hanover Square Press
Dates Read: October 4, 2023 - October 6, 2023
Format: ARC / eBook

Everyone who walks through the doors of the small community library in Japan, has a desire to somehow change their lives. From a sales attendant who feels stuck in her job, to a struggling working mother who longs for the career she lost, to an artist who feels like no one will ever care about his drawings – they all get led to Sayuri Komachi, the reference librarian who loves needle felting. After having a conversation with them, Sayuri Komachi gives them a book list, all with a surprising book at the end, and a bonus gift. What they don’t realize is how much of a life changing conversation that would be.

I’m going to be honest, I kind of went into this a little blind. I saw it was for fans of The Midnight Library and Before the Coffee Gets Cold and registered it’s about a library. I’m a librarian and I’m always interested in books about either libraries or books so I asked for an ARC on NetGalley without really looking too much into it. Because of this, I didn’t realize how the set up would be for the story going into it. The first story’s voice threw me off just a little bit because of how young she was. I didn’t know if I wanted to read a whole story with that voice – but obviously it changes with each chapter.

This novel is such an ode to libraries and librarians and how they can help transform people’s growth, no matter what stage in life they are in. This novel is so  heartwarming and touching that I feel like everyone would be able to connect to it on some level. I’ve said this before in my reviews, but Japanese literature just has a way of capturing the human experience in a way that never disappoints.

I’ll be highly recommending this novel to so many people. I can’t give this enough wonderful praise.

*Thank you Hanover Square Press and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

The Love Report / BéKa & Maya

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The Love Report
By: BéKa & Maya
Genre: Middle Grade, Graphic Novel
Number of Pages: 192
Published: June 13, 2023
Publisher: Astra Publishing House
Dates Read: June 12, 2023
Format: Paperback

BBFs Grace and Lola try to figure out the mystery of romance by observing those around them at their middle school.

This was cute. Was it the best story I’ve ever read? No. But, it’s middle grade kids figuring out what love means to them – it’s cute. Plus, the illustrations are vivid and adorable to look at.

The girls learn about all types of other female characters and their history. Even learning about their prejudgement of some simply based on rumors. The boys’ characters aren’t as flushed out, but since this is the first book of a series, I’m hoping to know more about them later on.

This book was originally written in French and set in France. Even though it was translated into English, I still thoroughly enjoyed the background, especially the lunch/park scenes as those are very French.

I’ll be looking out for the next book of this series to read for sure. It’s adorable and there is much room for the characters to grow.

*Thank you Astra Publishing House and Publishers Weekly for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Daughters of Snow and Cinders / Núria Tamarit, Jenna Allen (Translator)Daughters of Snow and Cinders /

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Daughters of Snow and Cinders
By: Núria Tamarit, Jenna Allen (Translator)
Genre: Graphic Novel
Number of Pages: 216
Published: May 9, 2023 (1st Published May 4, 2022)
Publisher: Fantagraphics
Dates Read: May 3, 2023 - May 4, 2023
Format: ARC / eBook

Fleeing her fire and war-torn homeland, Joana travels to the New World in search of gold to rebuild her life. Along the way she meets friends, foes, and an unlikely companion who may turn into her good luck charm. But the men in this New World are greedy and bloodthirsty for gold and along with a fearsome beast that’s lurking in the shadows, Joana has a lot to look out for if she wants to return home.

The themes of this graphic novel are of nature and protecting and living among/with it, human violence and what colonization has done to the plant.

The art of this is beautiful and interesting. I first saw this book as an ARC, so it was in black and white, and even then I knew I needed to read it in full color. Also, I’m a sucker for three legged animals and Peg had my heart within seconds, so I knew I needed to know her adventure.

I can see myself recommending this ecofeminist graphic novel to quite a few people.

*Thank you Fantagraphics and Edelweiss+ for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

First 2 Books of 2023 Read

/ Alisha Helms / Leave a comment

I started my new year with the last two books of a manga series I started at the end of last year. A Silent Voice by Yoshitoki Oima. I originally found the series at a Barnes & Noble as a full volume set back in December. I’m a conversationalist in American Sign Language (definitely not fluent by any means, but can still have a conversation). I have always been curious to see how authors portray Deaf characters – and how they show them when it’s graphic novels or manga, so when I found out what this was about, I immediately put the whole series on Hold at work.

A hand is holding up two manga books from the series, "A Silent Voice" by Yoshitoki Oima. They are volumes 6 and 7.

Overall, this was a good series and I enjoyed it quite a bit! There were some slow parts and some redemption arcs that didn’t quite hit the mark, but I still can still see myself recommending it and possibly purchases the collective volume in the future too!

An image of "A Silent Voice, Volume 6" by Yoshitoki Oima. A girl with purple/pink hair and an arm sling stand in water, looking sad.
A 4 Star Gold Rating
A Silent Voice, Volume 6
By: Toshitoki Oima, Steven LeCroy (Translator)
Genre: Manga
Number of Pages: 184
Published: April 19, 2016 (1st Published October 17, 2014)
Publisher: Kodansha Comica
Dates Read: January 4, 2023 - January 5, 2023
Format: Library Book / Paperback

With Shoya in a coma, Shoko tries desperately to fix what she made wrong with her friends, who are also desperately struggling with their own stuff.

This volume focused on nearly everyone and their emotions a little bit at a time as they waited for Shoya to wake up. Each chapter focused on someone differently. While some chapters allowed me to understand the character a bit more – others made me hate the character more. It just kind of goes to show that no one is perfect and people react to stuff in different ways. Example – I still don’t like Naoka and Miki’s chapter didn’t redeem her for me either.

Oima did a wonderful job at Shoko’s struggle with communicating with hearing individuals and showing how much she misses and struggles.

I have loved the journey so far and can’t wait to see how this all comes together in the last volume.

!!SPOILER!!

I was nearly having a heart attack at the end of the volume though when I thought Shoya had died

An image of the manga "A Silent Voice, Volume 7" by Yoshitoki Oima. A teen boy with spiky black hair, a nice white shirt and tie with dress pants on stands next to a teen girl with long hair, white shirt and a black skirt with tights stand together and wave.
A Silent Voice, Volume 7
By: Toshitoki Oima, Steven LeCroy (Translator)
Genre: Manga
Number of Pages: 190
Published: May 24, 2016 (1st Published December 17, 2014)
Publisher: Kodansha Comics
Dates Read: January 5, 2023
Format: Library Book / Paperback

Shoya reunites with Shoko and the group works on finishing the movie together even though there is a strain in their relationships.

This was a good ending to the series. I felt like Shoya actually grew as a person and we were able to see his redemption arc. Though, personally, I don’t understand his life journey he’s planning on going down, but it was left a bit open ended, so I can always play around with that.

I still do not understand Naoka and her storyline… she’s still a jerk and she physically assaulted half the group (and Shoko multiple times), and yet everyone is okay with her?? I know we get her background and story but none of that was redeemable to me. It just kind of made me dislike her even more.

I was really happy about where we left off with Yuzuru and I’m so proud and happy for her journey she will be going on. I honestly hope she gets everything she ever wants.

I know this is somewhat marked as a romance, though it was more teen puppy love I feel like… it didn’t necessarily end with people getting together, but that they understood how important the other person was to them. That’s a good thing to be able to show teens that things don’t always end in a relationship and that that’s okay.

Overall, this is a cute and emotional ride of a manga that I can see myself purchasing for my own collection down the line. I shall be watching the movie at some point in the near future as well.