Author: Keigo Higashino
Translator: Sam Bett
Publisher: Yen On
Publication Year: 2019
Language: English
Format: Hardback
Pages: 320
When three delinquents hole up in an abandoned general store after their most recent robbery, to their great surprise, a letter drops through the mail slot in the store's shutter. This seemingly simple request for advice sets the trio on a journey of discovery as, over the course of a single night, they step into the role of the kindhearted former shopkeeper who devoted his waning years to offering thoughtful counsel to his correspondents. Through the lens of time, they share insight with those seeking guidance, and by morning, none of their lives will ever be the same.
By acclaimed author Keigo Higashino, The Miracles of the Namiya General Store is a work that has touched the hearts of readers around the world.
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Atsuya, Shota, and Kohei had just done a robbery and they're looking for a
place to hide. Earlier, one of them found a seemingly abandoned store in a
secluded area. Planning to stay there until the morning, suddenly a letter
fell through the mail slot in the store's shutter. Curious, they read the
letter only to find that it came from someone asking for advice. At first,
they were suspicious and wondering if someone or the police knew about their
criminal activity. So they replied the letter. Then they became invested in
the letter that they ended up corresponding back and forth to follow up on the
advice. It was not the only letter they received that night. They figured out
that the place they're hiding had some kind of magic hidden within. As they
corresponded with these mysterious people while waiting for the morning to
come, they learn some valuable insights that would change their lives.
The Miracles of the Namiya General Store consists of several chapters which
go back and forth between the past and present time. The structure of this
book reminds me a lot of Before the Coffee Gets Cold if you're familiar with
that book (perhaps I associate the two because of the time travel aspect and
the overall vibe given). Each chapter focuses on a specific story. The
timeline can be confusing at first, especially because of the flashbacks and
flash-forwards. Moreover, there are many characters to keep track of since
each has their role to play in the overall story. But as we go through the
stories, we'll learn how they all interconnected and form one big complete
picture. What I love about Higashino sensei's writing is, he manages to tie
all these neatly. This also happens with his other book which I read
previously. It feels so satisfying to me when it all concluded nicely in the
end, like finishing a puzzle.
In the beginning of the book, we are introduced to three characters, Atsuya,
Shota, and Kohei. Not much are known in the beginning except that these
three had just done a criminal activity and hiding out in the store. As we
read through, we'll be introduced to many characters from the past who may
seem random but as I explained previously, their lives interwove to one
another unexpectedly. If you read carefully, you'll realize that there is a
common thread to these people that would kind of explain a little bit the
miracles happening at the store. Although we only read a glimpse of each
character's life, I still feel like I get different perspectives from them.
With Atsuya, Shota, and Kohei, though I only learn about their background
near the end of the book, they have different personalities that I could
sense through the way they react to the letters and giving advice.
Overall, I don't have one big point that bothered me while reading this
book. I must say, like I previously mentioned, this book reminds me a lot of
Before the Coffee Gets Cold. Maybe because I read it not too long before
reading this one. Still, there are some elements that are similar between
the two such as the time travel, the interconnection between characters, and
the overall vibe given. It's not a bad thing though, at least for me. After
reading Before the Coffee Gets Cold I've been looking for books which have
such a wholesome and heartwarming story. In spite of the fact that there is
mention of abortion and suicide in this book, it still delivers a
heartwarming story with an uplifting ending. In conclusion, I highly
recommend this book to read if you're looking for a book with positive vibe.
In most cases, they already have an answer to their problem. They're asking for advice because they want to see if other people think they're making the right decision.
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