What You Are Looking For Is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama -> Starting January 8th, 2024

[Alaina]

For fans of The Midnight Library and Before the Coffee Gets Cold, this charming Japanese novel shows how the perfect book recommendation can change a reader's life.

What are you looking for?

This is the famous question routinely asked by Tokyo’s most enigmatic librarian, Sayuri Komachi. Like most librarians, Komachi has read every book lining her shelves—but she also has the unique ability to read the souls of her library guests. For anyone who walks through her door, Komachi can sense exactly what they’re looking for in life and provide just the book recommendation they never knew they needed to help them find it.

Each visitor comes to her library from a different juncture in their careers and dreams, from the restless sales attendant who feels stuck at her job to the struggling working mother who longs to be a magazine editor. The conversation that they have with Sayuri Komachi—and the surprise book she lends each of them—will have life-altering consequences.

With heartwarming charm and wisdom, What You Are Looking For Is in the Library is a paean to the magic of libraries, friendship and community, perfect for anyone who has ever found themselves at an impasse in their life and in need of a little inspiration.

[Elaine]

Forgot I have stitch night tomorrow after work so decided to start a day early...

1: Tomoka
I enjoyed this chapter quite a bit, although I wasn't sure at first that I would. (view spoiler)[I loved how reading a picture book changed so many things for Tomoka - it felt a bit like If You Give a Mouse a Cookie...If Tomoka does "a" then "b" happens which leads to "c", etc. I loved her renewed sense of purpose and drive. I also appreciated how the castella cake didn't turn out correctly the first time - I have had so many baking/cooking flops, it was refreshing to read that reality in a book! (hide spoiler)]

[Elaine]

2: Ryo
Another great character...I am enjoying the gentleness and cadence of the chapters a great deal. Good people trying to make sense of the world around them...
(view spoiler)[This particular chapter was more surprising to me in some ways but I am not sure why...

I appreciate the subtle connections between items and ideas that led Ryo on the journey he needed to take to start making his dream a reality. I also like that everyone feels human, even the less likable people aren't caricatures of evil but just plain unpleasant. (hide spoiler)]

[Elaine]

3: Natsumi
Motherhood vs. career woman...an eternal struggle. I appreciate the candor with which this chapter was written. (view spoiler)[I especially felt the part when the daycare called and once again Natsumi's wants were put aside for her daughter's needs. Yes, as a parent you are signing up to put your kids first...but you are also allowed to be human and realize that sometimes you don't want to. That it is hard to feel like the second class citizen who's needs and wants are not as important. (hide spoiler)]

[Elaine]

4: Hiroya
Maybe my favorite chapter so far...
(view spoiler)[Hiroya and I have very little in common and yet somehow this chapter resonated with me so hard...I loved how it was so uplifting without being too perfect. I am also really enjoying the little connections between chapters and characters. (hide spoiler)]

[Kim]

started the audio :)

[Elaine]

I hope you like it!

[Kim]

Elaine wrote: "Forgot I have stitch night tomorrow after work so decided to start a day early...

1: Tomoka
I enjoyed this chapter quite a bit, although I wasn't sure at first that I would. [spoilers removed]"

i also really liked this chapter. (view spoiler)[ it was simple and drama free but also really intriguing to hear how her mindset changed with support from her people and the librarian. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Kim]

2: Ryo - i feel like this book found me; this chapter resonated with me so much! (view spoiler)[ I have often felt similar to Ryo about my job/not enough time to do the things I want (not just reading haha). It's so easy to say that we are too busy but really it's a matter of making time for the things that matter to us and not being easily swept up in the stream of day to day. I don't want to open an antiques shop but it does make me think about what is the overall goal I am working towards. (view spoiler)[

also, how can i find this librarian?! hehe. (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Kim]

Chapter 3: Natsumi (view spoiler)[ typical struggle of woman wanting a career and to be a mother. however, I liked the way it was written. it was more internal discovery than shrill "damn the man" prose. I also wonder if the moon book is real, but I'm doing audio so I couldn't catch the title fully. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Kim]

Chapter 4: Hiroya (view spoiler)[ this was not the chapter for me but I still enjoyed it. I also love seeing the connections between the chapters grow and grow. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Elaine]

Kim wrote: "Chapter 3: Natsumi [spoilers removed]"

There was a list of referenced books in the back of my library book so I think the moon book was real…I already returned it so couldn’t double check to be sure.

[Kim]

Elaine wrote: "Kim wrote: "Chapter 3: Natsumi [spoilers removed]"

There was a list of referenced books in the back of my library book so I think the moon book was real…I already returned it so couldn’t double ch..."

i think i'm gonna do a reread of this because i enjoyed it so much. i'll have to do the physical book to see this list, thank you!!

[Kim]

Finished (view spoiler)[ such a great collection of stories. i'm so glad this book found me 💕 (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Elaine]

I could see this being a comfort re-read in the future for sure!