What You Are Looking for Is in the Library cover art

What You Are Looking for Is in the Library

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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

The heartwarming Japanese bestseller for fans of Matt Haig, Fredrik Backman and The Cat Who Saved Books.

'Library. What a nice-sounding word. So comforting. I feel like I'm a student again. Library... Am I allowed to borrow books?'

'What are you looking for?' asks Tokyo's most enigmatic librarian, Sayuri Komachi. She is no ordinary librarian. Naturally, she has read every book on her shelf, but she also has the unique ability to read the souls of anyone who walks through her door. Sensing exactly what they're looking for in life, she provides just the book recommendation they never knew they needed to help them find it.

Every borrower in her library is at a different crossroads, from the restless retail assistant - can she ever get out of a dead-end job? - to the juggling new mother who dreams of becoming a magazine editor, and the meticulous accountant who yearns to own an antique store. The surprise book Komachi lends to each will have transformative consequences.

Magical and uplifting, What You Are Looking for Is in the Library is about the wondrousness of libraries and the power of books for change. Highlighting all the tiny comforts of being alive, it is a story that no listener will ever forget.

©2023 Michiko Aoyama (P)2023 Penguin Audio Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Magic Magical Realism World Literature Fantasy Feel-Good Heartfelt Inspiring Cats

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Overall I give this book 3/5. It had some nice moments I could relate myself to, but it's a bit too "hopeful & happy go lucky for me". That said, that doesn't mean somebody could not find a better connection with this book, that's the beauty of reading - everyone can take out what they need from a book they're reading.

Hopecore read

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An interesting and engaging novel, split into five stories about five different characters who encounter life challenges and overcome them with the help of a wise librarian.

Gentle, engaging philosophy about overcoming difficulties and becoming the best version of ourselves.

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I really enjoyed this book. The simple interwoven stories felt so heartwarming and life affirming. A wonderful antidote to life at the moment. I felt more hopeful after reading this

Loved this book

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Thought provoking and uplifting story translated from Japanese. An ideal book for a readers group and one that I am recommending to my friends.

Delightful

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A gentle but intriguing read, separate chapters which all subtly link. Thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Unusual and thought provoking.

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very interesting little stories, easy to digest. I like how the characters connected and the librarian is so wise!

love this book

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Great stories that may be based in Japan but they could be from any where in the world. So real and so heartwarming.

Lovely characters

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Absolutely delightful set of stories. I was left smiling at the end of each one thinking the next couldn't possibly be as good but I was proven worng every time. I fell in love with all characters. There was something to resonate with me in every story.

absolutely delightful

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This is a great story but the actors’ accents got progressively worse until almost every word was mispronounced - eventually I couldn’t listen anymore. I might get the book because the translation is well written but the actors really don’t speak English

Great concept but the accents were so broken I gave up

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A collection of intertwining stories involving a local library. I guess if you're bored or down on your luck or looking for inspiration. Your library is the place to go!

Gentle read

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