Book Review - The Library Of Heartbeats by Laura Imai Messina

Someday we will find out what it is exactly about Japan-based stories that make them so soulful, poignant and heartbreaking all at once. 

In an island named Teshima, there is a building that has the recorded heartbeats of people from all over the world. Some visit to listen, some to record theirs. This building is named Heartbeat Archive. (I checked on the internet, and this indeed exists). The Library of Heartbeats is centered around this archive, although it makes a brief yet unforgettable appearance in the whole narrative. 

Shuichi is in his forties and is struggling to cope with the death of his mother. As he sorts out her house, stowing away all of her stuff to be disposed, he finds that someone is tampering with the stuff. He installs a camera in the garage where the stuff is stored and finds that the person moving through his mother's items and helping himself to some is none other than a small boy. For reasons unknown to him, Shuichi befriends the boy when he comes to know that he was a regular visitor at his mother's house, and that his mother had often helped him with his studies. Thus begins a beautiful friendship between Shuichi and the boy named Kenta. 

The story navigates between the past and the present and at times, there are new and nameless characters suddenly appearing in the story. But they do have their roles etched out for them in the later chapters. The story has been written at leisure and reflects the unhurried efficiency typical of Japanese lifestyle. It deserves to be read so too. 

There are several beautiful moments in the story that invoke strong emotions. I had to gulp down the lump in my throat several times throughout the story. There is grief, but it has been portrayed beautifully, if I may say so. Shuichi's inner reflections and conversations with other people are deeply insightful and show the various aspects of the human psyche. 

The story moves at a slow pace but nowhere did I feel like giving up, for every chapter was deep in essence and emotion. 

I would definitely recommend this book to all those looking for poignant reads. This is one of the best books I have ever read.