Willow in Winter

Do you ever blink and realise two whole months have gone by? I haven’t posted anything on this blog since May 1st. My break from blogging was an unconscious choice. We bought a house and had to move during May, and in June, I went to Edinburgh to see the Eras Tour, and then I got covid (for the first time!).

Between the chaotic and neverending move, which included most of the possible issues one could have when moving, and my partner and I being ill for what felt like weeks, two months had gone by!

My parents visited us in the first week of July, and they helped me with stuff around the house. It’s only now, almost three months later, that I can finally feel like I’m going back to my routine. The house is nearly finished (we’re still missing the sofa), but at least we have internet and a bookshelf for my books!

The move and the process of buying a house felt overwhelming, as did my trip to Edinburgh. I usually lead a very simple, repetitive life, and I like it like that. I like having a sort of routine: my 35-minute walk to the office, the tea I make when I get home, listening to a podcast while I paint, being in bed by 8 pm reading a book or watching a show with my partner… These little things make a difference in my life, ground me, and make me feel stable.

But these past two months, I didn’t really have that. While I enjoyed the novelty of change, I found myself reaching for books that provided the cosiness and slow life I was craving.

Slow living books

According to Wikipedia, slow living is a lifestyle which encourages a slower approach to aspects of everyday life […] a slower pace encourages enjoyment of life, a deeper appreciation of sensory experiences, and the ability to ‘live in the present moment’.

I discovered a lot of new authors while looking for books that resonated with me, and most of them were translations from Asian writers.

I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue

Set in Canada. Topics: Office life and coworkers, loneliness, and a chaotic protagonist. 

Imagine you could read what your coworkers think about you. Imagine they all hate you, and now you know the reasons why.

Why I liked it: I related to the different office dynamics, and the characters felt so real and flawed. It was like reading a book about real people in a real office. I found it calming in a way.

Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-Reum, Shanna Tan (Translator)

Set in South Korea. Topics: Burnout, changing your career path, slowing down, books.

It is a story about a woman who opens an independent bookshop and all the activities, events, and visitors that make her shop thrive.

Why I liked it: This book was so cosy and warm. It felt like an episode of Gilmore Girls to me. It’s just ordinary people interacting in a bookshop, with the owner trying different things that will make her shop successful. The stakes are low, the characters are likeable, and it was a very chill read.

What You Are Looking For Is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama, Alison Watts (Translator)

Set in Japan. Topics: unpursued dreams, self-improvement, community.

It is a collection of short stories about people in the same town who are unhappy with their current lives but need help moving forward. Turns out all they need is a life lesson from a librarian.

Why I liked it: Each short story made me root for a different type of person, though my favourite was the first story. I related to the feeling of being lost and not knowing what to do with my life.

The Kamogawa Food Detectives by Hisashi Kashiwai, Jesse Kirkwood (Translator)

Set in Japan. Topics: pursuing lost memories, the power of a good meal, and Japanese culture.

A retired detective and his daughter run a mysterious restaurant where they recreate dishes from the customers’ past.

Why I liked it: Each person who visits the restaurant has a different memory or issue they’re trying to fix, and by tasting a particular meal from their past, they’re able to move forward.

Now that my life has returned to normal, I’m looking forward to reading more fantasy books and thrillers, but I still have some other slow living books I want to read.

On my TBR list:

• Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa, Eric Ozawa (Translator)
• Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata, Ginny Tapley Takemori (Translator)
• She and Her Cat: Stories by Makoto Shinkai, Naruki Nagakawa, Ginny Tapley Takemori (Translator)
• Sweet Bean Paste by Durian Sukegawa, Alison Watts (Translator)

As I finish this post, the sofa still hasn’t arrived. I had a very long day at work, and now all I want is to re-watch Friends for the hundredth time while I eat some popcorn. Life can be slow or fast, quiet or intense. It depends on what makes you happy. For me, this autumnal weather we’ve been having in England has been exactly what I needed. I know I’m in the minority, but the sound of summer rain and gloomy skies makes me happy.

I don’t want to stay away from this blog for too long. I’ll try to be more active from now on.