The Garden of Words

I recently watched The Garden of Words film for the first time and was pleasantly surprised. When I saw there was a book, I ordered it right away and must say I am not disappointed. The book fleshes out the story in greater detail and provides needed back story. Other characters are given their own chapters and I found myself sympathetic toward them while I disliked them in the film. I found myself able to relate to many things in the story and it really hit home in some places. I've already recommended it to a few friends. For being a translated work, the writing is excellent. I didn't find any awkward or confusing passages. I could feel the translation stayed true to the author's vision of both the novel and the film. While the story does focus on a host of emotional issues, I found it to be an overall calm and comforting read that I enjoyed. There's wasn't a sense of urgency to pull an all nighter and finish it. I was able to pick it up and dive right back in over the course of a few days. At the end, it felt like things came full circle. A very satisfying read. I would definitely recommend.

*WARNING: Contains Spoilers*I pre-ordered the novel a month or so ago for the English release on 25 August. Including the epilogue it's around 250 pages so it made for relatively easy read. 10 Chapters each told from a character or character(s) point of view with poetry from the Man'yōshū at the end of chapter to show the feelings being conveyed by the character or character(s) narrating the chapter.Similar to the movie, the novel centered around the internal and emotional struggles being faced by Takao Akizuki and Yukari Yukino. However, we also see the story through the eyes of other characters only glimpsed at in the film and we see their struggles as well. We see Takao's brother and mother, Shouta Akizuki and Reimi Akizuki, the student at the center of rumors that forced Yukari from teaching Shouko Aizawa, and Souchirou Itou Yukari's ex and another teacher at the school.For the story itself, it's relatively the same as the movie, but to me the movie served as the foundation for the novel. Shinkai himself even mentioned in the Afterword that if the novel was made into a movie, it could last about 2 hours instead of the 46 minutes that viewers received.The novel adds so much more depth to the characters and expressions that are simply difficult to animate or the movie was not able to portray. This can be seen when Takao and Yukari are interacting with each other. Knowing what they're thinking adds a new dimension to their characters. For Takao, we know how he feels about Yukari when he confesses to her in her apartment. From Yukari's perspective, the movie shows us that she's visibly moved by the confession but we don't truly know what she's thinking. The novel confirms that she truly indeed loved him, but she had subconsciously pushed her feelings away up until that moment.The movie ends with Takao in the garden during the winter reading a letter from Yukari and a promise by Takao to himself that one day when he's able to walk on his own he'll go see her while showing us the shoes he made for her. The novel builds upon this promise. It takes a step further than the movie by showing more of the aftermath of their separation. We see Takao does make the shoes for her but requests a review from his mother, causing her to pick up on the fact that her son is in love due to her deduction that the shoes were made not for profit but for someone. Additionally, we learn Takao had decided to pursue a career in shoemaking by moving to Florence while exchanging letters then eventually emails with Yukari while she's in Shikoku but omitting aspects of their personal lives from them.Finally, we get to the epilogue of the novel. To me it's a true epilogue and one that I had been waiting for since the film had left me with the feeling of wanting more for Yukari and Takao. After 5 years apart, Takao finds himself returning home to visit Tokyo while Yukari planned on being in Tokyo around the same time. Both plan on arranging to meet where it all began, the garden. The epilogue is told from both of their eyes as their feelings of longing for each other surface. Both reflect on the words Takao spoke in the garden about making shoes for an unnamed woman. A moment that they both believed to be a promise to each other that they'd see each other again. The end of the epilogue is simple yet beautiful. It's told in a way that's extremely similar to the beginning when Yukari and Takao first meet in the garden all those years ago. Only this time when Yukari notices Takao under the arbor, her "near-tearful expression slowly dissolves into a smile". This reunion implies that the two lost souls that had longed for each other are now ready to take the next step into the future now that they had learned to walk on their own.

To start it off, this book was an amazing journey from start to finish. Having already watched the movie (which I would highly recommend watching as well) a few years back, I expected some extra details compared to the movie considering this is a light novel. To my surprise, there were so many extra details on not only the characters but as well as the world-building. Makoto Shinkai beautifully illustrates the daily lives of each character by dedicating a chapter to each individual, giving more details on why they behave a certain way and whatnot as well as showing us their thought process, and how they interact with others and dives into their past. There is a lot more to include in this review but it's like 3 am and I wrote this review because I forgot to do so after I finished the book last week. Overall, if I could I'd rate this book 10 stars and would recommend anyone who is new to Makoto Shinkai to pick up this book if possible as a first read.

I first saw the movie and become an instant fan. Makoto Shinkai has been declared Miyazaki's heir and you can see this by the way he does his scenery. Especially impressive was a short of real life scenes compared to what was in the movie.I didn't know this manga was in print and of course had to obtain it.Overall, it follows the movie pretty well. Some differences but it's pretty close. We of course start with Takao skipping first period as he likes to do when it rains. He loves a gazebo in a park. This time he happens on Ms. Yakino who is also ditching work. She is an interesting woman as she is drinking beer and eating chocolate. A warning sign that a woman is having a bad day. But a teenager would not know this. He does his usual of drawing shoes and starts using her feet and shoes for ideas. He of course tries to be secret about it. Over time they start becoming friends. Sharing food and talking. She starts eating normal and stops having her morning beer and chocolate. He has more confidence in this quest. There is an age difference and it all goes comes to a confrontation and a resolution.As I liked the movie; I liked this printed version. Midori Motohashi is the artist and there is a few addons at the end. I did like how Takao became fascinated with shoes. Sort of bitter sweet. I did like the addons as it added more. I wanted more at the end of the story and this gave a little more insight especially a drawing of Takao and Ms. Yakino.

Absolutely perfection. Read this after watching the movie and it was worth it. One of my most favorite books and romance manga - Another masterpiece by Makoto Shinkai

Great book. Movie's amazing too. Age difference is sus as hell though

Highly recommended, One of this amazing stories that make you wish for a sequel.

Muito boa a edição.

Der Manga orientiert sich sehr stark an den film und umgekehrt. Der Zeichenstil des Manga ist wie im Film wunderschön und gefühlvoll.Eine wunderbare Ergänzung und für jeden Fan des Films ein absolutes Muss und nur zu empfehlen.