Translated by Emily Balistrieri
194 pages
Published 1985; translation published 2020
Read from December 21 to December 26
Rating: 2.5 out of 5
On one hand, it's hard to feel anything but warm and fuzzy toward this book. It was the basis for one of my favorite movies, and besides, my partner R surprised me with this copy a few days before Christmas, which is a lovely association to make.
On the other hand, it's a middle-grade book from a few decades back, and those tend to be indifferent reads at best. The reading level is pitched toward younger grades. And while the skeleton of the Studio Ghibli story is here, the changes made for the movie were entirely for the better. Here, Kiki flies from one random encounter to the next; there are hardly any thematic callbacks or returning characters, aside from Osono and Tombo, who barely receive any characterization. Mostly Kiki seems to meet tired moms who immediately tell her how exhausting motherhood is. The movie's magical interlude with the free-spirited artist in the woods cottage is barely hinted at in this text.
Ah well, it's a sweet little book all the same. It was a nice way to linger in the world of the movie for a little while, at the very least.
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