#BlogTour – #BookReview of #TheLibraryOfHeartbeats by Laura Imai Messina @LaImaiMessina @ZaffreBooks @bonnierbooks_uk @Tr4cyF3nt0n

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Jan 8

For my first blog post of the year, I'm delighted to welcome you to my stop on the blog tour for the unique and beautiful The Library of Heartbeats by Laura Imai Messina. Thank you to Tracy Fenton and Zaffre Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this moving book.

About the book:

.On the peaceful Japanese island of Teshima there is Shinzo ̄-on no A ̄kaibu, a library of heartbeats, a place where the heartbeats of visitors from all around the world are collected. In this small, isolated building, the heartbeats of people who are still alive or have already passed away continue to echo.

Several miles away, in the ancient city of Kamakura, two lonely souls meet: Shuichi, a forty-year-old illustrator, who returns to his home-town to fix up the house of his recently deceased mother, and eight-year-old Kenta, a child who wanders like a shadow around Shuichi's house.

Day by day, the trust between Shuichi and Kenta grows until they discover they share a bond that will tie them together for life. Their journey will lead them to Teshima and to the library of heartbeats . . .

About the author:

Laura Imai Messina (Author)

Laura Imai Messina was born in Rome and moved to Tokyo at the age of 23. Her international bestselling novel The Phone Box at the Edge of the World was published in 31 countries. Laura teaches at some of the most prestigious Japanese universities, as well as writing for newspapers and working with the Japanese National TV Channel NHK.

Lucy Rand (Translator)

Lucy Rand was shortlisted for the TA First Translation Prize for The Phone Box at the Edge of the World which she translated while living in Japan. She has also translated novels by Italian authors Paolo Milone and Irene Graziosi, and is the editor of the guided audiobook app, Audrey. She now lives in Norwich.

My Review:

The Library of Heartbeats by Laura Imai Messina is a unique, moving but ultimately uplifting book that took my breath away. Like The Phone Box at the Edge of the World before it, it is a beautifully written and mesmerising story of love, loss, friendship and hope that I know will stay with me for a long time to come.

In the ancient city of Kamakura, Shuichi, a forty year old illustrator, returns to his home town to fix up the house of his recently deceased mother. There he encounters eight year old Kenta, a child who wanders like a shadow around Shuichi's house.

As the trust between Shuichi and Kenta grows, they discover they share a bond that will tie them together for life. Their journey will lead them to the Japanese island of Teshima and to the library of heartbeats, a place where the heartbeats of visitors from all around the world are collected. In this small, isolated building, the heartbeats of people who are still alive or have already passed away continue to echo.

The Library of Heartbeats is a powerful and thought provoking novel that moved me beyond words, bringing to mind my own personal losses as I allowed myself to be swept away on a journey of love, loss, friendship and hope…

Laura Imai Messina has a beautiful and distinctive writing style that is skilfully brought to life by translator Lucy Rand. A beautifully written and unique book unlike any I have ever read before, The Library of Heartbeats is an emotional tale that really did touch my heart. I loved every word of this beautifully written and thought provoking book and can't recommend it highly enough.

The Library of Heartbeats by Laura Imai Messina is available to purchase now:

Check out what these other fabulous bloggers have had to say about this book: