The Book You Can Buy in a Japanese Bookstore: My Extraodinary Choice

First of all, let me remind you that I’m sharing my experience here in a slightly humorous way, and I don’t intend to convince you to do the same.

Thus, when I finally found an English section in one of the bookstores during our trip, I had only a few minutes to make up my mind. I had already acquired some works by Nobel laureates, so I had been looking for new names. I’ll not tell you other requirements, but here’s the result: ‘When the Museum is Closed’ by Emi Yagi, the author of ‘Diary of a Void.’ It has a bright, comic-style soft fold-out cover in a mix of pink, yellow, and blue colors. The pages are perfectly ivory and rough, and the font is comfortable for reading while getting the ride or flight. And their sound is also perfect, cozy, and satisfying. 

Speaking of the plot, it’s a modern reinterpretation of the well-known story of Pygmalion and Galatea, but with a twist. Instead of the artist, the creator, we have an observer who falls in love with a statue. Here I’d like to say ‘hello’ to Roland Barthes and his ‘The Death of the Author.’ — After all this time? —Always. Love, remember, and cry out loud for missing my uni times. Never mind, I’m joking. Cry silently.

NB. Making the idea short and sweet, Roland Barthes said when the text is finished, readers give their intentions to it and create their unique experience. The author is no longer in charge.

In addition to the main line, there are also questions about self-identity, types of relationships in society, and borders between what we have to do/what we’re expected to do/what we crave to do. Oh, yeah, all these things happen in a Japanese setting. 

In conclusion, it was a delightful and concise read. And I promise, next time I’ll read some big books too.