But they’ve made the last one — The Boy and The Heron was said to be Hayao’s last ever film. (Although, there are rumors that he’s not quite done yet! We can keep our fingers crossed).

For those of us who simply can’t wait to see if anything more comes out of the studio, and who love those cozy vibes, rewatching Howl’s Moving Castle three times a month can only do so much…

Fortunately, we’ve found the perfect solution. Here are six books that feel just like a Studio Ghibli movie.

Sweet Bean Paste by Durian Sukegawa

This story is so moving, I had to put it down and catch my breath a few times when reading it. It was so full of joy and sadness that my heart simply didn’t know if it was coming or going!

The story follows the two (or three, I suppose) main characters: Tokue, an elderly woman with Hansen’s disease, Sentaro, a writer with a criminal record and broken dreams, and Wakana, a young teenage girl.

Sukegawa’s story shows how food brings people together, and once the characters are tied to one another, it goes on to explore friendship, social discrimination, classes, and day-to-day politics in Japan.

It’s got the cozy, lovable characters of Ghibli, tied in with food that you swear you can smell from the description alone and finished off with that darker, deeper level that a lot of Miyazaki’s films are known for.

The Girl Who Drank The Moon by Kelly Barnhill

The Girl Who Drank The Moon was a New York Times Best Seller and the winner of the Newbury Medal, and it’s really not hard to see why. From start to end, the story is just beautiful. So much so that a lot of people have read it in one sitting.

The book follows Xan, a witch who lives in the forest. On one side of her home there is a town that loves her, and on the other, a town that hates her.

The hateful town believes they must sacrifice a child to her each year to appease her, but Xan knows nothing of this, and each year saves the babies and finds them homes! Until one day, she accidentally feeds a baby moonlight, giving the infant power, and decides to keep her. Luna, the child, and Xan stay together with their misfit little family.

Eventually, the town that hates the witch decides to take control, and things get very tense very quickly for the woodland misfits. It’s a story about identity, found family, real love, and what it means to believe in something.

Sounds pretty Ghibli — right?

Welcome To The Hyunam-Dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-Reum

This tale is comforting and heartwarming, and is all about prioritizing your own wellbeing and accepting yourself as you are — however that might be in the moment.

The story has moments that are tear-jerking, characters that you cannot help but fall in love with and root for, and all against the backdrop of a gloriously cozy little bookstore.

A large part of what makes people fall in love with this book is its characters. There are so many characters, from so many walks of life, all of whom find solace and refuge in this little bookshop in the center of Seoul. They’re all handling very real, very heavy issues, from the main character Yeongju’s burnout and divorce to other excruciatingly plain human experiences.

The book is full of connection, of troubled pasts, and at its core is a delightfully sweet, character-lead tale of change and new beginnings. It feels like a good cup of tea on a cold winter’s day, and I’m not sure what else we could ask for!

Days At The Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa

Another Japanese translation, this story is short and easily readable. It looks at love, loss, courage, and hope, and how all of those things come together to push us to strive for what we really want, all while following a heartbroken woman who finds herself in amongst the stacks of a bookstore.

The story sees Takako move into the room above her uncle Satoru’s bookstore after a devastating betrayal from her boyfriend. Hoping to hide away from the world and ignore life until she feels better, Takako accepts.

Only, once she finds herself there, things don’t go that way. She finds out that actually, there’s more to healing than hiding away, and that maybe she and her book-obsessed uncle have more in common than they thought.

Yagisawa explores family, love, and new beginnings in this book, and it’s the perfect antidote for a long, lonely day or a dark evening — just like a Ghibli film.

The Little Prince by Antoine De Saint-Exupery

A much older book than some of the others on this list, The Little Prince was originally written in 1942 by a French author, Antoine De Saint-Exupery.

The story has been a classic for a long time, being translated into over 300 languages and given to many students when they’re learning French for the first time. But it’s more than just an aid to help learn a language, there’s much more going on than that.

The story follows a pilot who is stranded in the Sahara Desert. Whilst he tries to get his wheels back in the air, he meets the Little Prince, who has come to Earth in search of a friend. The two of them get talking, and the pilot soon learns all about the Little Prince’s exciting and bizarre journey to the desert.

Through the Little Prince’s stories, Antoine De Saint Exupéry shows readers, or rather, allows us as readers, to see the world through the eyes of a child again. Through the prince’s connection with the pilot and the endeavors he makes to make friends with everyone else, it explores compassion and connection.

It’s a heartwarming tale, and one that will stick with you for years after you’ve read it.

The post 5 Books That Feel Like Watching A Ghibli Movie appeared first on Magazine.

With some books, we can even find ourselves completely transported to places we’ve never been. We can find ourselves imagining the water of a small Brazilian island lapping at our feet or the smell of the wine as we swirl the glass around beneath our nose as our protagonist visits a winery.

So why not pick your destination? Why not set out this year and ‘visit’ as many countries as you can, all without needing to worry about lugging a great big suitcase through the airport?

And where better to start than the city of love: Paris.

Half-Blown Rose by Leesa Cross-Smith

This captivating tale follows Vincent, who grew up in a family of artists. The story finds her, at 44, living in Paris. She teaches at an art museum and is very suddenly thrust into an exciting turn of events, where she catches the eye of a younger man.

Unfortunately, Vincent is still tied to her husband, whom she left when she moved to Paris. Agreeing to see him again at their son’s wedding, Vincent is left with a decision: what does she really want out of her life?

Explore Paris, the passion of the city, the culture and everything in between with Leesa Cross-Smith’s book. Rated a 3.9 on Amazon and a 3.4 on Goodreads, this is a great place to start when it comes to exploring Paris through literature!

The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

Our main character, Jess, is jobless and completely penniless. She makes the decision to go and crash at her brother Ben’s apartment in Paris — just until she gets back on her feet.

When she arrives at Ben’s apartment in Paris, Ben’s nowhere to be found. Upon further investigation, he doesn’t seem to have left the apartment, but he’s not there, either. Days go by, and Jess hears nothing from her brother. She becomes suspicious, and, as the story unfolds, determined to track down her sibling.

With a 3.6 star rating on GoodReads and Amazon, Lucy Foley’s book is a brilliant mystery for anyone who wants to explore Paris but isn’t quite feeling the city’s stereotypical love and passion. Instead, you can explore the dark secrets of the busy city’s back alleys and dark corners.

Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin

An LGBTQ+ favorite, Giovanni’s Room follows a young man caught in the Parisien grasp of lust and love. It’s a moving, highly controversial story written in the 1950s that is based right in the heart of Paris, with an interesting cast of expatriates. It’s a cult classic and one that anyone who is happy to explore all sides of Paris should definitely add to their reading list.

Giovanni’s Room has a whopping 4.34 stars on GoodReads, and 4.4 stars on Amazon!

One Summer in Paris by Sarah Morgan

An unlikely friendship is at the core of this novel by bestselling author Sarah Morgan. Grace, the protagonist, booked a trip to Paris to celebrate her and her husband’s 25th wedding anniversary — only to find out that he wants a divorce. She takes the trip anyway, desperate to find some peace in the whirlwind that has taken hold of her life.

On the trip, she meets 18-year-old Audrey, and the two women become close friends, exploring the city of Paris in the heat of summer, and learning from one another.

The story is one of power, hope, and sisterhood. It’s got a whopping 4.6 stars on Amazon, and 4 stars on GoodReads, and comes from an author notorious for her brilliant writing.

Good Morning, Midnight by Jean Rhys

Set in 1930s Paris, Jean Rhys’ beloved Good Morning, Midnight, follows a young woman who has escaped some intense personal tragedies. Choosing to travel to France, Sophia Jansen is determined to find courage and seek out independence.

From dyeing her hair blonde to changing her name, the story shows Paris through the eyes of someone desperate for connection, for a new beginning. It’s painful, cynical, and incredibly moving — like much of Jean Rhys’ work.

The book has received a brilliant 4.3 stars on Amazon and 3.9 on GoodReads, making it a highly rated recommendation for anyone looking to transport themselves not only through space but through time, too.

PS From Paris by Marc Levy

Two Expats living in Paris, both with complicated, heavy pasts and even more complicated presents. The two of them meet, and an instant spark ignites between them. Despite their clear and almost palpable chemistry, Paul and Mia decide to stay just friends, even if it means coming up with ridiculous strategies to ensure they don’t blur the boundary between friendship and something more.

Most of the story takes place on the streets of the city, with recognizable monuments and street names, perfect for anyone who dreams of a romance in Paris.

The story has 3.7 stars on GoodReads and Amazon, and is a great choice for anyone who loves the frustration that comes with characters that are so clearly made for each other.

Vernon Subutex 1 by Virginie Despentes

Originally written in French, this book is truly unique. It’s set in 2014 in Paris and was published just before the Charlie Hebdo incident. The main character is somewhat unlikeable Vernon Subutex, a middle-aged man who once owned a record store but, following the move to digital, had become jobless and penniless. After having his state unemployment benefits cut, Vernon’s only way of surviving comes from a generous famous friend — who then dies.

The book starts with desperation. Vernon Subutex is completely without help. He’s subjected to sofa surfing and living rough on the streets of Paris. Until he realizes he has something left, one thing of value: the last filmed recordings of his famous friend. Suddenly, things pick up, and thousands of people are on his trail, desperate to get their hands on his one last valuable.

Vernon Subutex was shortlisted for The Man Booker International in 2018. With a respectful 4.1 stars on Amazon and 3.9 on GoodReads, it’s a great choice for anyone who wants to experience Paris with a backdrop of 80s nostalgia and satire!

The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George

Somewhat reminiscent of Before The Coffee Gets Cold, The Little Paris Bookshop follows Monsieur Perdu, the ‘literary apothecary’, who heals others with books. With the belief that there is a book for everyone, and each book can heal someone’s pain, he serves his customers with an intuition like no other.

Unfortunately, though, the only pain he can’t heal, is his own. Heartbroken after the love of his life disappeared, Perdu simply cannot get past his history.

This book is heartfelt, and a love letter to books, stories, and even our local bookstores. It’s rated 3.5 on Goodreads and 4 stars on Amazon and provides the feeling of Paris. The love, hope, and deep connections that the city is filled with are all found in this heartwarming tale.

The post 8 Books That Will Transport You To Paris appeared first on Magazine.

1. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…”

2. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

“All this happened, more or less.”

3. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

“It was a pleasure to burn.”

4. The Secret History by Donna Tartt

“The snow in the mountains was melting and Bunny had been dead for several weeks before we came to understand the gravity of our situation.”

5. Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

“Ships at a distance have every man’s wish on board.”

6. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

“It was a queer, sultry summer, the summer they electrocuted the Rosenbergs, and I didn’t know what I was doing in New York.”

7. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”

8. Moby Dick by Herman Melville

“Call me Ishmael.”

9. Notes from Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky

“I am a sick man, I am a spiteful man, I am an unattractive man.”

10. The Color Purple by Alice Walker

“You better not never tell nobody but God.”

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