Recommendations if you like short, cozy, translated books
As the autumn and winter seasons approach the library receives more requests for cozy books. Here are some of our favorite short, cozy, translated reads.
What You Are Looking For Is in the Library by Michiko Aoyam
This book, translated from the original Japanese, tells the narratives of five interconnected individuals. Each character visits the library at a point in their lives where they are looking for a renewed sense of purpose and direction. This short novel is an insightful and inspiring read. The simple yet elegant prose beautifully captures the essence of the human experience—an ode to the transformative power of literature and the sanctity of libraries.
The Dallergut Dream Department Store by Miye Lee
This enchanting Korean bestseller takes readers on a journey through a department store that specializes in selling dreams, offering a unique perspective through the eyes of a new employee named Penny. As Penny explores the store's various floors, each dedicated to selling different kinds of dreams, we are introduced to the department store’s eccentric employees. The novel's exceptional world-building weaves together a magical and thought-provoking narrative that is sure to captivate the imagination.
Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
This novel is the story of four individuals and their motivations for wanting to travel back in time temporarily; from wanting to correct a mistake, seek closure, or address a regret. The rules of time travel from the small Tokyo cafe are stringent, deterring many people, including a rule that the time traveler must return to the present before their coffee gets cold. Despite this, these four individuals decide that the journey through time is worth undertaking, even though it will not alter the present. It is a concise and introspective novel that delves into the intricacies of human relationships, while also prompting reflection on regret, closure, and missed opportunities.