Author: Mai Mochizuki
Translated by: Jesse Kirkwood
Rating: 4/5
For those intrigued by astrology—or even just a bit curious—The Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki, translated by Jesse Kirkwood, offers a charming and fresh perspective. The entire story is woven with astrological themes, which play a central role in guiding the characters through their personal challenges.
Although I wouldn’t consider myself an astrology enthusiast, I found the use of astrological insights throughout the …
Author: Michiko Aoyama
Translator: E. Madison Shimoda
Pages: 189 (Hardbound)
Genre: Healing Fiction
Geemiz Rating: 4/5
I have always told myself that this world is huge and small at the same time. I am fascinated by how people are interconnected, and I strongly believe that we are all connected in one way or another. A friend is someone else’s friend who happens to be a cousin of your officemate. A neighbor is the son of …
Author: Claire Heywood
Pages: 322 – Hardcover
Geemiz Rating: 3.7/5
Hi friends, it’s been a year since I last published here. Let me take a deep bow and apologize. I was still reading and even wrote two book review drafts (The Full Moon Cafe and The Lantern of Lost Memories), but I wasn’t able to edit and publish them. They will be scheduled for publication, I promise.
Long-time readers and friends of Geemiz, …
Author: Toshikazu Kawaguchi
Translated by: Geoffrey Trousselot
Pages: 202 – Paperback
Geemiz Rating: 4.5/5
This is the fifth installment of the most loved translated Japanese book series Before the Coffee Gets Cold that brings the warmth and depth that fans of Japanese literature like me love. I am excited to read and immerse myself in various heartwarming stories from the Café Funiculi Funicula customers.
“In life, you bundle up the good and the bad – …
Author: Hiromi Kawakami
Translated by: Ted Goossen
Pages: 121 – Paperback
Geemiz Rating: 2.8/5
I thought this would be another charming Japanese translation read, but it isn’t—though that doesn’t mean I don’t want to continue reading the book. Since I have two hours to spare on my boat ride from Bohol to Cebu, I might as well continue what I started.
This is my first time reading Hiromi Kawakami, so I didn’t know what to …
Author: Hiroko Oyamada
Translated by: David Boyd
Setting: Japan | Rural Japan
Pages: 71 – Paperback
Geemiz Rating: 2/5
The storytelling feels like I am watching a Japanese movie with a sepia tone, and when it ended, I just said, “ Oh! So that’s it?” But, don’t get me wrong, my emotions were stirred at the last part during the interaction between the old lady and the husband because I can relate to the couple.…
Author: Hisashi Kashiwai
Translated by: Jesse Kirkwood
Setting: Tokyo, Japan
Pages: 149 – Paperback
Geemiz Rating: 4/5
It took me a while to read the book because I initially thought it was another typical investigative story. While the investigative genre is my cup of tea, I’m currently trying to diversify my reading. You might ask why I didn’t read the plot summary first—well, I accept your criticism and agree with you on that, hahaha. By …
Author: Satoshi Yagisawa
Translated by: Eric Ozawa
Setting: Jimbocho, Tokyo, Japan
Pages: 176 – Paperback
Geemiz Rating: 5/5
I’m at a loss for words because More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop is such a great narrative. Maybe I should just tell anyone to read this to go get their copy of the book and read it. And a note to Satoshi Yagisawa: Thank you for writing this story, sir, and I look forward to more …
Author: Elif Batuman
Setting: Harvard University and Hungary
Pages: 432
Geemiz Rating: 3/5
This is another book review that no one asked for, but I will keep on writing because I love to.
I chose this book because, first, it is a Pulitzer Prize finalist, and I get the impression that Pulitzer novels are difficult to read and contain interesting topics that I find cringe-worthy or difficult to digest, and I like challenging myself by …
Author: Hwang Bo-Reum
Translated to English by Shanna Tan
Setting: A neighborhood in Seoul, South Korea
Pages: 301
Geemiz Rating: 4.8/5
Starting this book was the best decision I have made since I wanted to read it cover to cover in a day, two, or even a week. Unfortunately, I was delayed for a month because life happened. It was a pleasure to dive headfirst into reading this novel, which is my first Korean …