Welcome to Litsy!

Kindle bargain!
I liked this simple story. The characters were sweet and had slight aur of mystery about them. I liked how they interacted and had odd snippets of each other's lives.

This was a pretty tame novel about Mr. Nakano (the thrift shop owner) Masayo (his sister), and his two employees Hirotomi and Takeo. I enjoyed reading about their everyday lives, and the relationships that transpired. I found myself giggling at a lot of the chapters, and it‘s nice to occasionally read something that isn‘t full of plot twists and big surprises.

Book #16 of the year.

Boring. I almost bailed reading this, and I couldn‘t figure out what‘s the point of this book?

- 1⭐️

As much as I like slice of life stories set in Japan, there were times when reading this felt like a chore. It wasn't because there was no linear narrative, but more because I felt no attachment to the characters. 🤔 maybe I just wasn't in the right frame of mind to read this. Would still recommend this as a light read though. 🙂

⭐: 3

This was what made love so difficult. Or rather, the difficult thing was first determining whether or not love was what I wanted.

Not my favourite by Kawakami.

A interesting insight into Japanese culture and life. Not much really happens, a bunch of awkward and unsociable characters thrown together to run a thrift store, bumbling through life unsure of themselves or each other.

Another easy read from Kawakami-san. Not as good, imo, as Strange Weather in Tokyo but a nice uncomplicated story. About the life of the owner and staff of a thrift store in Tokyo run by the stingy Nakano-san and mainly focuses on employee Hitomi, her crush on the strange Takeo and the daily goings on in the store. 3.5 out of 5.

This was a very “Meh...” read for me. The main character wasn‘t very engaging, and the story was bland. As a concept I thought it was fun, but the execution left a lot to be desired.

Of the 3 Kawakami I‘ve read, this is my favorite. A great character study and a glimpse into Japanese culture. 4⭐️.
And I‘m finally out of my reading slump....yahoooooo!

Some of my favorite reads of 2020. Happy New Year!

When I scrutinized love, I still found myself in a world that felt empty. My mind wandered through these thoughts.

I didn‘t expect to bail on this one, since I really enjoyed Strange Weather in Tokyo. I got about a third of the way through before giving up. I enjoyed the writing style, but I couldn‘t relate to how casually Mr. Nakano‘s marital affair was treated. That‘s not a plot spoiler, by the way. You‘d find that out within the first couple of pages. I just didn‘t expect it to be brought up over and over. It bothered me. I didn‘t like his character.

I don't know how I forgot to post this one! I loved it. It touched on so many small moments that make working in a small store intimate and special.

Charming and endearing, the idea of a business affecting and influencing a group of characters makes this a pleasant read. Similar to How to Fall in Love in a Bookshop and Love and Other Consolidation Prizes, the book is laced with sweet sentimentality and quirky characters that layers the story into multiple themes like marriage, friendship, relationships, sex, business, family, and romance.

I‘m on page 70 and I can‘t seem to get into it.

I don‘t know why but I can‘t seem to relax into a book lately. Possibly it‘s hormones (3 months postpartum) or that my husbands really rough assignment is over which changes the balance at home.

This would be the third or fourth book in two months that I‘ve bailed on. Is it me or the book? Does it matter?

Help!

1. Mrs. Saint and the Defectives
2. 🍕
3. ⛅️ Cloudy. Again. Again. Again.
@rachelsbrittain Thanks and have a happy weekend, rain or shine! #weekendreads #greatdayforrreading

My favorite way to start the day: book and latte in the reading chair with Pele.
The tagged book is my second by Hiromi Kawakami. Sucked me right in, just like Strange Weather in Tokyo. I can‘t put my finger on what I like so much about her writing or character development. It‘s just quietly alluring. #readaroundtheworld

Its #WomeninTranslation Month!!

This is my first book for #WIT month this year. It's a cute story about a girl's time working at a thrift shop and a little of how the people she meets there intersect in her life after. I love the way it gives depth to the time we spend at jobs that aren't the careers we aspire to but that let us tread water while we figure out what we're doing. For me it was the Barnes and Noble Cafe and I still miss it.

I‘ve been quiet here lately, mostly because I‘ve been traveling. My husband taught a class in Rome, and my 6yo and I got to go along. It was amazing. Here are some of the books I bought there, although my luggage is missing, so many of these are not actually in my possession at the moment :( Hopefully they arrive today.

Another day, another flight delay. Only 3 hours this time! Sigh. I'm about to finish my current read, so I bought myself a new one. I'm technically on a book-buying ban, but I feel like it's extenuating circumstances.

I had a hankering for another Japanese novel so I tried this one. It‘s an odd little beastie where nothing much happens. A bunch of quirky characters who are never really sure of their own meanings or anybody else‘s meaning, thrown together through their work in a second hand shop, having awkward conversations and interactions with each other. I kinda liked it but most people I know would biff it across the room 😂😂

I really wanted to like this book but I just couldn‘t get into the plot or the characters or the writing style 🤷‍♀️

Found this at our local indie bookstore only an hour and a half away! Fairhope Alabama. #pageandpallette

Though billed as an unlikely romance between two employees at the Nakano Thrift Shop, the book is really more about the lives of the odd & eccentric family made up of shop owner (and his latest mistress), the owner‘s sister (an artist), & the two employees, Hitomi & Takeo (both awkward in navigating life & relationships) & how they intersect in various ways. Originally published in Japanese, the story holds up well in English. A fun, quirky read.

Currently reading...

This was my airport bookstore find yesterday morning—I didn‘t get to it, though I did read two other books during my 11 hour flight, so to the top of the TBR pile it goes!

Finally got around to reading Nakano Thrift Shop! I read Manazuru by the same author, and although the two books are quite different, I loved them both. Now I‘m looking forward to reading Strange Weather in Tokyo!

About a second hand store owner, his sister, and two employees.
Each chapter‘s title an item that passes through the shop
Interesting exploration of human relationships

“I felt a momentary surge of happiness. You idiot, I thought, while still thoroughly enjoying the feeling.”

My current read!! 😁😁😁

I‘ve reached the halfway point and I‘m giving up. I like the Japanese setting, but the novel in general makes me feel vaguely irritated. Normally I‘m okay with awkward and hapless characters, but this trio of coworkers is really bugging me. On top of that, I find the sexual content distasteful and annoying. The only reason I lasted as long as I did is because it was the only ebook I happened to have downloaded on my phone.

Brown sugar soap? 🤔

You ever finish reading a book and wonder what on earth you just read? Yeah, this would be one of those. While the premise isn't that unusual (the day-to-day goings on of the owner and employees of a strange thrift store in Japan), the writing style was completely unlike anything I've read in quite a while. Perhaps that's the translation? Odd and quirky.

#unreadshelfproject2018

Caspian is a squirmy book model. #catsoflitsy

Tonight's reading brought to you by "This item cannot be renewed" message.

Coffee and a book at my favorite coffee shop! Happy Saturday 😊

Congratulations @Cinfhen 🥂🎉📚
I would love to read these two books by Hiromi Kawakami! #crushingongiveaway

Set in a thrift store in Tokyo, I'd say this fits the bill for #thisisnotamerica. Not a lot happening, but the characters are great.

#SeptemBowie @Marchpane @Cinfhen

#fivestarpredictions Hoping to get to all these before the end of the year!

Thanks for tagging me @kspenmoll 😊
I'm tagging @readsusieread @LibrarianJen @Yournewfriendsams @Lindy @Lmstraubie if you're up to it 🙌

More book buying in Minneapolis. This time at Magers & Quinn. Also a picture of my view for a bit of Lake Calhoun from where I sat while reading.

Hello everyone!! I've been away for a while. I've missed Litsy!! This past week has been B A N A N A S. My son was in the hospital for croup, then I got sick (still sick 😷), my husband and I are insanely busy at work because school is about to start. It's Saturday and I have to go in to the office. So I'm taking a little me time this morning to sip tea, slow down, and start this beauty. It's my pick for #womenintranslationmonth.

We're still celebrating #WomeninTranslationMonth and I just had to share a photo of my copy of THE NAKANO THRIFT SHOP. You can hear our discussion on Ep. 28 where we also talk about THINGS WE LOST IN THE FIRE.

https://www.readingwomenpodcast.com/blog/2017/8/16/ep-28-the-nakano-thrift-shop-...

What a quirky little book. Set in a suburb of Tokyo, this novel tells the story of the people who work in a small down-on-its-luck thrift shop. Each person who works at the Nakano Thrift Shop feels as lost as the objects in the store. No one knows what they need or how to get it. Search for self awareness, awkward encounters, and questionable customers—all of these things make up a funny and a, surprisingly, meaningful story.
#witmonth

What a quirky little book. Set in a suburb of Tokyo, this novel tells the story of the people who work in a small down-on-its-luck thrift shop. Each person who works at the Nakano Thrift Shop feels as lost as the objects in the store. No one knows what they need or how to get it. Search for self awareness, awkward encounters, and questionable customers—all of these things make up a funny and a, surprisingly, meaningful story. - K
#thereadingwomen

New books! @readsusieread and I took a friend to the airport and we couldn't resist stopping by the bookstore. 📚😍

Thanks Target! You had this before the library!

It took me a couple chapters to get into this but once I did I really liked it. Each chapter is named, and incorporates, an item relating to the titles thrift shop. The employees are an interesting and enigmatic set of characters. I enjoyed this one! And how can you not love this cover!

A couple of other books I got today! I've read other books by these authors before and thoroughly enjoyed them, as I expect I would with these two 😊

Also finished this off today. It's a little study of the owner and employees of a local secondhand store in Japan. The characters are well drawn and interesting. The events of the story are normal, slice of life events. There are no great ups or downs, no huge upsets or disasters. But you become invested in the characters' lives as if you're watching friends. Probably best describes as a pleasant book.