The Nakano Thrift Shop by Hiromi Kawakami

Some books feel like a warm, heavy blanket on a crisp morning, something you take in soft and slow and while you are getting nowhere fast you are everywhere you want to be. Nakano himself, an original, entertaining, and enigmatic creation whose compulsive mannerisms, secretive love life, and impulsive behavior defy all expectations. But thanks in part to Masayo, Hitomi will come to realize that love, desire, and intimacy require acceptance not only of idiosyncrasies but also of the delicate waltz between open and hidden secrets.Īnimating each delicately rendered chapter in Kawakami's playful novel is Mr. Unsure of how to attract his attention, she seeks advice from her employer's sister, Masayo, whose sentimental entanglements make her a somewhat unconventional guide. Nakano's thrift shop, has fallen for her coworker, the oddly reserved Takeo. Hitomi, the inexperienced young woman who works the register at Mr. If examined carefully, they show the signs of innumerable extravagancies, of immeasurable pleasure and pain, and of the deep mysteries of the human heart. But like those same customers and staff, they hold many secrets. Objects for sale at the Nakano Thrift Shop appear as commonplace as the staff and customers that handle them. Featuring a delightfully offbeat cast of characters, The Nakano Thrift Shop is a generous-hearted portrayal of human relationships by one of Japan's most beloved authors.

The Nakano Thrift Shop by Hiromi Kawakami