Hey there! It's been a while! What do you think of the site's new look and layout? I hope you like the changes and that everything works as it should!
(If you run into any issues, don't hesitate to get in touch!)
After quite some time, I'm finally bringing you a book that's the very definition of cozy and comforting.
It's the perfect read for anyone who could use a little kindness in their everyday life, or simply wants to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.
But first, here's a bit of information about its author, Kaho Nashiki!
About the Author & Book:
Born in 1959, Kaho Nashiki is a well-known Japanese author whose success is largely thanks to this very novel, which was also adapted into a film.
Her other works published in Italy include: Yerbi, the guardian of the river (2022), The Lies of the Sea (2023), and The Magic Garden (2025).
"A Summer with the Witch of the West. And Other Stories" was first published in Japan in 1994 and was released in Italy by Feltrinelli in 2019
The story follows Mai, a young girl who has just started middle school.
Because of her family background and her sensitive nature, she struggles to fit in.
Withdrawing into herself until she no longer wants to attend school.
She then goes to spend some time with her English grandmother, affectionately nicknamed "The Witch of the West" by Mai's mother. Living together in a small house in the Japanese countryside, her grandmother gently guides her through everyday life.
There, Mai begins to rediscover the beauty of her own sensitivity while creating unforgettable memories that we relive throughout the novel.
This is a middle-grade work of fiction, consisting of 144 pages.
Review:
Well... I have to say, as fellow witches, we certainly understand each other.
Jokes aside, this wasn't exactly the kind of book I felt I needed at the time, yet it pleasantly surprised me.
The entire story is wrapped in a quiet sense of nostalgia.
I think that feeling comes from looking back on the last summer Mai spent with her grandmother and from her old-fashioned way of living.
Speaking of her, the grandmother is both wise and deeply caring.
Placed alongside a confused Mai, who's still trying to figure out what the right path in life is, she reassures her and shares gentle pieces of wisdom through what she calls "witch training."
Although the story is fairly simple, it's precisely within that simplicity that its most meaningful lessons are hidden.
They give real depth to the novel—even during the moments when I found the plot itself becoming a little repetitive, despite the wonderfully atmospheric setting surrounding it.
There's an almost tangible silence throughout the story, one filled with tenderness and meaning behind every scene.
Perhaps that feeling is made even stronger by the nostalgia that lingers from the very beginning.
I'll also admit that I shed a few tears near the end.
After the tension that slowly builds between Mai and her grandmother, Mai's decision to return home, and her grandmother's passing, the story leaves you with a bittersweet feeling at first.
Yet its ending still managed to make me smile through my tears.
"Bonus" info:
The newer edition includes three additional short stories that make for a truly lovely addition to the main narrative.
If you end up loving the book, I'd definitely recommend watching the film adaptation if you can find it somehow (unfortunately, it's quite difficult to find with Italian subtitles).
Finally, I'm convinced this novel will especially appeal to readers who love Banana Yoshimoto's writing style, or even to anyone who's enjoyed "The Secret Garden" by Frances Hodgson Burnett.
Leave a Reply