What You Are Looking For is in the Library (Penguin Random House 2023) is a charming and endearing novel by Michiko Aoyama, translated by Alison Watts, in praise of all things reading, books and most importantly, libraries.
Each of the five chapters begins by stating the main character’s name (for that chapter), their occupation and age. Each is a complete short story that revolves around that character and their life situation, difficulties and aspirations. We are introduced to: Tomoka, a 21-year-old Womenswear Sales Assistant; Ryo, 35, who works in the Accounts Department of a Furniture Manufacturer; 40-year-old Natsumi, a Former Magazine Editor; the hapless Hiroya, 30, NEET (an acronym for Not in Employment, Education or Training); and finally retired 65 year old Masao.
Each of these very different characters has one thing in common – they all reside in Hatori Ward and they all end up, for various reasons, visiting Hatori Community House, a social complex that offers adult classes and a range of other community activities. It is also home to a small local library. Different reasons draw each of the characters to Hatori Community House, but they all end up in the library, where they meet the sweet and helpful Library Assistant, Nozomi Morinaga, and through her, the formidable Librarian Sayuri Komachi, a magical character (aren’t all librarians?) who has the ability to sense just what the customer needs, no matter what they say they are looking for. She is able to quickly curate a personal list of books that particular customer should borrow to help them with their problem, but there is always one strange, out-of-place, curveball book that doesn’t seem to be related to anything the customer has mentioned. Nevertheless, all the books are borrowed, and while the majority are helpful, it is always the left field book which shifts their life dynamics, and changes (or prompts them to make changes) to their lifestyle, encouraging them to chase dreams that sometimes they didn’t even realise they had. Ms Komachi also always gifts the customer a small, felted item, handmade by her, that appears to have no meaning or relevance, until of course it does.
This is a beautiful, simple book about hope, aspiration, dreams, ambitions and going after what you really want in life. It encourages the characters – and the reader – to assess their life situation, find what brings them pleasure and joy and then helps them to discover ways to achieve those yearnings. It is easy to read and the characters are relatable. Aoyama writes with a deft sense of humour. This is a thoroughly sweet and charming book that will leave you feeling hopeful that magic can still be found in unexpected places, in random experiences and through surprising relationships, and of course, it emphasises that anything you seek in life can really be found in a library, whether it is what you are looking for, or something that you don’t yet know you need.