With one weekend of rain underway, I'm ready to be on the couch, mug of tea in hand, reading a book that matches my mood. I'm looking for maximum coziness and though you can find cozy fantasy, cozy mystery, and even cozy horror, I've been diving into translated Japanese and Korean cozies, with a distinctly different tone. These books tend to feature settings like bookstores, libraries, and cafes, and cats, tea, and a little bit of mystery abound. Check out some of my favorites and new releases!
The book that started my interest in this arena is What You Are Looking for Is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama, translated from the Japanese by Alison Watts. This delightful story, perfect for librarians, features several individuals who are all at a point of transition in their lives. We meet a 20-something retail worker trying to figure out what's next in her life, a new mother returning to work after having a baby, a retiree unsure how to fill his time; all of these figures and others end up in the library at the Tokyo Community House. There, they meet Komachi, a larger-than-life librarian happy to provide the exact answers to their question, plus a little something extra that manages to answer the question they didn't know how to ask.
Continuing with books, Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-Reum, translated by Shanna Tan, introduces us to Yeongju. After leaving her high-pressure job, Yeongju realizes her dream and opens a bookstore with a coffee shop in a residential Seoul neighborhood. Her anxiety doesn't abate, however, until she starts connecting with other people in her community and in the store. She hires a barista who becomes obsessed with making the perfect cup of coffee, connects with an unmotivated teenager who finds interest in her reading recommendations, and becomes a pillar of the community and a source of both information and comfort for many. Though the interesting book recommendations and author visits are lovely elements, at its core this is a story of self-discovery and fulfillment, perfect for readers of any age.
I'm not the only one who loves these books, as evidenced by the holds on many of these titles. If you want to get started with a Japanese cozy right away, The Kamogawa Food Detectives by Hisashi Kashiwai, translated by Jesse Kirkwood, is available now as a Peak Pick! Father-daughter duo Koishi and Nagare run a special cafe in Kyoto, nondescript and tucked away from the outside. Once inside, visitors can recount a favorite or lost meal, one that evokes strong memories for them. Doubling as detective, Koishi and Nagare will then go to any length necessary to find the inspiration and ingredients to recreate the meal. The descriptions of food will make your mouth water while reading PLUS there's a cafe cat named Drowsy.
Want more? Check out Before the Coffee Gets Cold, The Full Moon Coffee Shop, and The Dallergut Dream Department Store.
~posted by Jane S.
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