Tsubaki Stationery Store

A Novel

By: Ito Ogawa, Cat Anderson — Translator

Narrated by: Hanako Footman

A spellbinding and heartwarming Japanese bestseller about a young woman who inherits a stationery store from her late grandmother and becomes the trusted scribe of the town

You always told me that writing is life itself.

After many years abroad, Hatoko reluctantly returns to Kamakura to take over the stationery store left to her by her late grandmother. As the custodian of the store, she also inherits the profession of public scribe, a role Hatoko trained for as a child under the guidance of her strict grandmother.

As the locals seek out Hatoko's help, she takes on all manner of requests: writing letters of greeting, condolence, farewell, love, and more on behalf of those who come to her. A local community forms around Hatoko and the store, and when the secrets of her late grandmother begin to unravel, Hatoko learns that the role of the scribe requires much more than putting ink to paper.

Set to the rhythm of the four seasons and the Japanese rituals and festivities that come with them, Tsubaki Stationery Store is a charming story about the importance of community and the reconciliatory power of the written word.

Beautifully written and performed feel good book

In these crazy times, I often long for a story that warms my heart as this book did. Throughout the book, many emotions were stirred.
The characters were rich and multidimensional and they began to feel like friends that I wish I had myself.
The narrator did a beautiful reading with her soothing voice.
I truly hope there are more books written about these endearing characters coming our way in the near future.

Lovely story

It was a sweet, calming story with good messages. Very enjoyable to read. It was just the right length.