On first glance, Michiko Aoyama’s What You Are Looking For Is In the Library appears to be a short, simple book with episodes about various characters. Translated from the Japanese by Alison Watts, it’s actually a thoughtful, meaty book that brings the characters together in surprising ways.

The Community House is a building where classes are held for adults. But, the building also has a library where Nozomi Morinaga is a library assistant and Sayuri Komachi is the librarian. Mrs. Komachi spends her time between library users doing wool felting, but her true gift is her ability to listen and learn what people are actually searching for. Then, after providing a list of books, she also presents them with a bonus gift, a felted creation.

There are five library patrons who come to this library looking for answers. One is a sales assistant dissatisfied with her job. One is a young man working in accounting who dreams of owning his own antiques shop. A woman who works for a magazine publisher is demoted after she takes time off for her pregnancy. Hiroya Suda is thirty, unemployed, and still lives at home. In high school, he wanted to be an illustrator. Even after going to design school, he couldn’t find a job, so he gave up. And, one man retires and realizes he had no life outside of work.

On the surface, it appears that these five people have nothing in common, other than their uncertainty. But, when Mrs. Komachi stabs at their dreams, as if she was felting, she loosens something inside each of them that inspires their dreams for their lives.

What You Are Looking For Is In the Library is about dreams and life and purpose, but it’s also about books and the ability of books to find their readers, those who need just what might be hidden. It’s a surprising, inspiring treasure.

What You Are Looking For Is In the Library by Michiko Aoyama, translated by Alison Watts. Hanover Square Press, 2020/2023. ISBN 9781335005625 (hardcover), 304p.

FTC Full Disclosure – Library Book