Taking A Small Reading Break
Heartwarming Movies And A Visit To The Book Fair
Hello my lovely readers!!!
Welcome back to my little bookish corner of the internet where I talk all things books.
How’s your reading going? Mine isn’t going well. I’ve had a lot on my plate this week and as a result, I fell behind in both my read-alongs, which had me panicking. I wanted to read A Tale Of Two Cities, but I felt like I couldn’t because I needed to catch-up with my read-alongs first. And then I kept putting it off because it wasn’t fun.
That reminded me of when I was in school. Every year, as soon as I’d get my textbooks, I’d read them all. It was fun. But later, when I had to study the same books, for my lessons, I’d find them so boring, so boring, I didn’t want to even look at them. Yes, the very same books I’d found interesting just months ago. The difference was in reading freely, and reading because I had to.
I don’t want my reading to become that type of ‘I have to’ reading, driven by schedules and deadlines. So, I decided to take a break from reading and watched three movies. Now, I was a bit unsure whether I wanted to talk about movies in a newsletter that’s about books. But then I decided I did because all the three movies are adaptations from books, and two of those books are extremely popular on bookstagram. And it might be just me, but I consider reading-breaks a part of reading as well.
All three of them are Japanese movies, so if you’re looking for some Japanese movie recommendations, here you are
Café Funiculi Funicula
Based on Toshikazu Kawaguchi's novel Before The Coffee Gets Cold.
This movie is set in a café where if you sit on a special seat and get a serving of hot coffee, you can travel in time. But there are several rules regarding this time travel and you must finish the coffee before it gets cold. Otherwise there will be consequences. But even though you can travel back in time, you still can’t change any event that has already happened. However, you can change people’s hearts and thus, build a better future.
Call Me Chihiro
Based on Hiroyuki Yasuda’s manga series Chihiro San.
This movie is about Chihiro, a former sex-worker who now lives in a small sea-side town and works at a lunchbox shop. She’s very upfront about her past and tries to live in her present. She befriends the lonely people who come her way and tries her best to comfort them, while deep down inside, she battles her own loneliness. She has a strained relationship with her family and struggles to find people she can truly connect to.
Days At The Morisaki Bookshop
Based on Satoshi Yagisawa’s novel Days at the Morisaki Bookshop.
This movie follows Takako, who quits her job after learning that her co-worker boyfriend has another girlfriend and is getting married. That’s when her uncle invites her to come live at his place. Takako accepts his offer and arrives at his place, where he runs a small secondhand bookshop. She starts working at the bookshop. Although awkward at first, soon, she starts discovering a love for books and making acquaintances in the small town.
I’ve watched a ton of Japanese movies and dramas and I’ve come to love how they capture the beauty of fleeting moments. In all the three movies, the big picture doesn’t change. Yet, focus is put on the small encounters that despite being short-lived, change lives forever. There’s a certain warmth and comfort in that.
Apart from the movies, I also visited the book fair on Thursday. It’s been forever since I went to the book fair, so that was fun. I bought only one book, The Master And Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov which I can’t wait to read.
What about you? What do you do when you’re taking a reading break? Don’t forget to let me know.
For more of my bookish ramblings, you can also find me on Instagram
Also, if you’d like me to write for you, you can contact me at joyiewrites@gmail.com
That’s it for today, I'll be back in your inbox next week.
Until then,
Joyie 🌻