Book Club Online Discussions-What You are looking is in the Library-Chapter 4

[Donna]

Hi everyone,

We are almost at the end of Michiko Aoyama's "What you are looking for is in the library" What do you think of that magical librarian Sayuri Komachi? She somehow manages to find the book and answers they are searching for in their time of need. The power of a book! We are now at Chapter 4.

Not joining us for this book? That's okay, coming soon will be the next book selection polls to vote for our next book selections. If you don't see the selections you want, you will be able to write-in your suggestion.

Chapter 4
Hiroya helps his mother out by returning to the market to buy items she wanted but couldn't carry by herself. He goes to the community house farmer's market. Hiroya finds a manga toy character while shopping at the market. He finds out that the toy was made by the librarian Sayuri Komachi. He decides to go to the library and meet Ms. Komachi and gets into a deep discussion about manga. Hiroya shares with Ms. Komachi why he is unemployed and can't make a living being an artist, his passion. She finds a book selection for him "Evolution: A Visual Record" and a toy plane to go with it. The book reminds Hiroya of Osamu Tezuka's Phoenix manga. A book containing incredible photos of birds, insects, plants etc. Hiroya is still trying to figure out why Ms. Komachi recommended this book to him.

Hiroya decides to go to his high school reunion. Everyone turns "30" years old this year. Everyone will be retrieving their time capsule contributions. Hiroya was ashamed for anyone to see his piece of paper. Life did not go as he planned. He had planned to be an illustrator. That dream did not happen for him. The reunion class surrounds the area that the time capsule is located. His classmate Seitaro reads his piece of paper that says he will become a writer. While others discount his dream, Seitaro defends his dream and says he wrote his book but hadn't published it. Hiroya is angry at this classmates for making Seitaro feel bad about his writing. Seitaro and Hiroya go for coffee and discuss why things didn't work out for them as they had hoped. Hiroya gives Seitaro encouragement and they agree to keep in touch with each other.

Hiroya visits Ms. Komachi and has another look at the "Evolution" book He reads about Charles Darwin and Alfred Russell Wallace, different personalities, one being fearless, the other more fearful. Hiroya is inspired to draw the Confuciusornis, fossilized bird. Hiroya gets praise from Nozomi and Ms. Komachi. Hiroya visits the library again to read more of the book. Hiroya returns home to hear the news that his brother is coming to visit from Japan. His brother's success made Hiroya feel insignificant. Hiroya became unhappy and struggled and lost his confidence in life. Hiroya returns to the library and has a discussion with Ms. Komachi about Darwin's life. Wallace was the first to try publishing but Darwin, because he had more money became famous and rich when he attempted publishing his books. Ms. Komachi told Hiroya that while Wallace may be less known than Darwin and to some less important in history, as long as others remember his accomplishments that is enough. She said if you remember people, they are not forgotten. Hiroya received news that his friend, Seitaro was finally going to be published. Seitaro was not quitting his job, because he was grateful it carried him during the time he pursued his writing.

Hiroya decides to get the courage to return to drawing and also taking a job at the community house to earn some money. Hiroya stayed on as a contract worker and continue his dream to be an illustrator and find his path.

What do you think of Hiroya's story? He was feeling so hopeless and all he needed was some inspiration and some encouragement from Ms. Komachi, the librarian. He also discovered that he already had the best encouragement from his mother, who allowed him to live with her while he figured out his life. She never gave up on him. While he was ashamed of returning to his reunion, he found his old friend, Seitaro. His kindness gave Seitaro the confidence he needed to reach his dream. Seitaro in turn gave Hiroya the friendship he needed from his loneliness and sadness he was living with all those years. Dreams have no timeline. Don't give up on that dream, no matter how long it takes.

Have a good day.

Sincerely,

-Donna