“With the untimely death of third-generation bookseller Emon Koumoto, a small Tohoku town loses its last bookstore. On the eve of its closing sale, however, high schooler Musubu Enoki shows up out of nowhere claiming that the late owner had entrusted him with all the texts in the shop! As patrons come from far and wide to say their goodbyes to the store during its last week of operation, Musubu uses his ability to converse with books to reunite people with their most treasured tomes. But can these nostalgic, interconnected encounters lead him to the truth behind Emon's demise?” (Yen Press)Â
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Part of the “Bond and Book” series, the most recent entry from Mizuki Nomura is a work that stands on its own–a new story with the student who can speak to books, Musubu Enoki, playing the role of host to endearing and tragic short stories around the love of books. As such, each chapter presents a new visitor to the bookstore looking to capture a moment of their life that resonated with a particular work of fiction. This is explored through an overarching narrative that uses some of the visitors to frame the mystery of what happened to the previous owner–a mix of episodic with an underlining narrative that binds the story together.
The mini-stories, which are presented as ‘side stories' between chapters, are the real highlight of the book, drawing these wonderful connections between people who reflect on their past in both the books store and the small coastal town where it exists. The strongest example of the strength of Nomura's prose comes from a young couple who meet after decades apart, finding themselves holding the same book that serves as a reminder that they were too shy to admit their feelings in their youth. The way that Mizuki Nomura is able to encapsulate the two individuals' lives leading to this moment is masterfully executed, capturing the wonderment of youthful romance, the disconnect with age, and the profundity of it all coming back years later. The side stories, undoubtedly, are where Nomura shows her skill as a writer.
The main story does lack the same emotional punch, as it spends too much time with characters that there is a numbness to moments that are supposed to be poignant or visceral. Primarily, a focus on an actress and a famous author act to have strong introductions that start to fizzle out the more time is spent with them. Not to say these segments are a complete loss, and the book's ultimate conclusion is not without its own strengths, yet the ‘side stories' prove to be the most effective at both showing the skills of Nomura as a storyteller and in grabbing the readers attention.
This release is the perfect companion piece to the recently released “The Miracles of the Namiya General Store“, capturing the beauty of shared moments intertwined through time. Both works also relate the wonderment of the joint experience and the importance of community–not to mention the emotion-inducing narrative that can leave the reader floored. At the same time, comparing the two titles, “Namiya General Store” has consistent masterful prose and a sense of profundity that sometimes escapes “The Last Book Store”. If you like one, check out the other but Mizuki Nomura's work definitely falls into the light novel category while Keigo Higashino's hit novel reflects the best of modern Japanese literature. Regardless, both hold that spark of humanity that makes it appealing to immerse in the romanticization of the miraculous randomness of human interaction.
“The Lost Bookstore” certainly has moments that make it an engaging read, this sentiment is sevenfold in those that worship the written word, but it is not necessarily a consistently strong outing. Regardless, Mizuki Nomura has crafted a sincere love letter to literature and the way it can bind people together–It is certainly worth the journey and a place on the shelf.
