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kind linden
fervent path
🧹
worn coralBOT
@kind linden,@opaque sinew,@frigid flame,@stoic mortar,@native dirge,@turbid dome,@fervent path,@undone mortar,@marble onyx,@torpid parrot,@twilit hedge,@loud radish,@plain cradle,@stoic mortar,@hardy sinew,@feral coral,@ripe marsh
Hey friends👋, today is the First day of this Br, so questions to warm up :
feral coral
plain cradle
fervent path
kind linden
Ch 1 : The Beginning of the story
|| So Kiki 
has a witch mother Kokiri and a normal father, interesting 
I understand her mother's deception as Kiki doesn’t want to learn how to stir options and make healing spells, but her mother shouldn't force her to do it, as if Kiki doesn't do it with passionately it wouldn't do her any good probably.||
kind linden
Illustrations makes this book even more enjoyable 
Ch 2 ||coming of age : I think that it's important to follow you heart and do things with passion 
, as Kokiri told kiki, but it is also important to keep a certain standards, so I definitely understand why Kiki's mother is a little conservative and doesn't let Kiki change clothes and things like that.
||
kind linden
Ch 3 : || I appreciate humane people a lot either in real life or in fiction like Mrs Osono 
, I'm sure she will be a great mother, glad someone was nice to Kiki on her First day as a withc in this new town 
||
kind linden
Ch 4 : || Glad Kiki didn't give up after being patient a week 
, and was able to get few customers after that, the lady in the forest seems like a nice person, helping Kiki to get back the stuffed Cat and all. 
||
stoic mortar
Chapter 1-3 maybe? The book doesn't use numbers. || I was a little disappointed with the writing prose. But the book vastly improved to the style of Lemony Snickets, without the darker themes (not that darker themes aren't good). ||
stoic mortar
Chapter 4 || A much more interesting chapter. I do like the amateur to expert story, where people start working their first job, failing a task, muddle through it, and eventually become great at it. ||
kind linden
Chapter 4 || A much more interesting chapter. I do like the amateur to expert st...
Likewise my imaginary friend || it shows you like without perseverance and hard work nothing comes easily in life ||
kind linden
Chapter 5 : || Stealing someone's belongings is never a good idea 
, glad Kiki 
was able to save Jiji and the boy nonetheless.
||
kind linden
Chapter 6 : || Glad people of the city started to get used to kiki 
, Trombo seems like a good friend, tying to help Kiki deliver the painting with flying balloons 
||
stoic mortar
Chapter 5-6 || Seems like Kiki is starting to help around town. This is becoming a cozy story. I've never watched the anime, or if I did, I wasn't paying attention too much to remember it. ||
stoic mortar
Chapter 7 || Kiki peeked. Yet it ended amicably. Perhaps the author thinks it's okay to be curious or be a rascal. That it may be okay to snoop if good intentions are involved. ||
stoic mortar
Chapter 8 || Problem solving and critical thinking on Kiki's part. Thinking outside the box ||
stoic mortar
Chapter 9 || Kiki didn't steal and she solved the problem without any underhanded tactics||
stoic mortar
Chapter 10 || A great scene involving instruments. Also a bit dangerous riding against the train. It occurred to me that each chapter are very episodic ||
stoic mortar
Chapter 11 || Reunion with Mama, was sweet. Kiki has grown up||
Ending thoughts || Initially I didn't enjoy the novel for its simplistic prose. But it improved greatly. The illustrations in the book looked great. Some of the stories were touching, interesting, and even magical. There were strong classic children's story vibes. Some lessons here and there. It was a quick pace and I enjoyed myself. Overall a good book with good cozy feels at the end. I changed some of my wording to sound less like a grumpy old man. 
||
kind linden
Chapter 7 : || Although is unethical from Kiki to look into another's person private letter 
, at least she apologized and made up by not getting any payments for her delivery ||
kind linden
Chapter 8 : || much respect to all mothers 👩🏽🍼 , always taking care of their offsprings 
||
feral coral
I wish I was a little more like Kiki. I'm really enjoying this read so far. I think if I had not been born the eldest I definitely would've been. Being the eldest meant having more responsibilities and not being able to be so carefree.
stoic mortar
I'm not sure Kiki was all that carefree.
kind linden
Chapter 9 : || That's very considerate from Kiki to not steal 
the gear so that the town can celebrate the new year with the pinkie promise.||
feral coral
I'm not sure Kiki was all that carefree.
I'm comparing her to myself. So when compared to me she was. If compared to another individual then you are probably correct 😊 this goes to show my idea of carefree is different from most bc of how I had to live as a child when I was her age just bc of how my culture is when it comes to girls and women.
kind linden
Chapter 10 : || Kiki is really mature for her age 
, I liked how she kept her calm when the musicians complained 
||
kind linden
Chapter 11 finished 
: ||Kiki seemed more grown up than when she left her hometown a year ago 
, and friendships she built with mimi and trombo were really nice to see. ||
feral coral
I just finished reading this and I must say I loved it better than the movie. I wonder if they will ever do another adaptation and if so would they do all the books? 🤔 Now I want to read all of the ones in the series. I'm curious to read about Kiki's other adventures. It was fun and it was just lovely. Made me wish I could live in ||a town by the sea.||
stoic mortar
I just finished reading this and I must say I loved it better than the movie. I ...
The Studio Ghibli film was made a long time ago and they don't make sequels.
feral coral
The Studio Ghibli film was made a long time ago and they don't make sequels.
😆 when I said they I didn't mean Studio Ghibli specifically. I meant it as someone in the world who may consider doing another adaptation. I was speaking generally not specifically. There are other companies out there and unless Studio Ghibli still owns the rights any other company can do their own adaptation. The author is the one who states how long someone can own rights to turn their work into a film and whether or not they give full rights for creativity. While I'm not aware of the agreement b/w Studio Ghibli and the author, I did assume enough time had passed for someone else to take a turn. It would be unusual for an author to give over that much power to another company, but not unheard of, so it could very well be that Ghibli are the only ones who can make this adaptation.
stoic mortar
😆 when I said they I didn't mean Studio Ghibli specifically. I meant it as some...
It's possible for an anime studio to adapt the entire series as a tv show.
worn coralBOT
@kind linden,@opaque sinew,@frigid flame,@stoic mortar,@native dirge,@turbid dome,@fervent path,@undone mortar,@marble onyx,@torpid parrot,@twilit hedge,@loud radish,@plain cradle,@stoic mortar,@hardy sinew,@feral coral,@tough blaze,@thorn laurel
hey guys👋, we have reached half of this Br, some questions for people who finished or close to finish reading : (Finished reading so far : Your Imaginary friend, Lil Chimp
1.if you watched Ghibli movie, was it better than the book or the opposite ?
2.is this coming of age tale can be helpful to kids to choose their path in life ?
stoic mortar
I didn't watch the Ghibli film in its completion, but what little I saw, it was a good film
The writer seems to support Kiki's personality of being morally upstanding but not afraid to break cultural norms or "cheat"
feral coral
I wouldn't say one was better than the other. I think they would be able to stand alone on their own as good works of art.
I think it all depends on how the child is raised and the maturity of that child as to whether or not this tale would be helpful. Some kids are more mature than others and some kids have delayed learning capabilities due to medical issues they may have. It is also fair to say one must take into consideration different cultures that may or may not consider this story suitable. Personally, if it were me and I had children then yes I would let my child read this book bc I believe it would help them understand life better.
clear dawn
Spontaneous decision, I need something light after my current reads and I have never read Kiki's Delivery Service so I will be joining this one, starting today, tomorrow? 👀
stoic mortar
You should, it should be a fast read.
feral coral
Super fast read for sure
kind linden
Welcome Intro 
clear dawn
<@1066318838746054727>,<@198521454579548160>,<@907276216682291240>,<@45622657779...
clear dawn
This author's note 
Chapter 1 ||Obviously a bit simple but we have a charming tone, magic is fading and all we need is a flying broom... and a cat! ||
Chapter 2 || "It's in your blood" but Kiki told herself, No, it's not just that. I decided for myself" 
||
feral coral
Yeah that was my favorite part in ch 2
kind linden
This author's note <a:ablobmeltsoblove:580593529219448832>
The notes are so catchy haha, I loved reading them a lot 
clear dawn
Chapter 4 ||We get some action, actually a lot. Glad to see it's slowly working out for Kiki even if it's maybe a bit too convenient with Mrs Osono, she is so sweet. Jiji is a fun addition 
||
Chapter 5 ||I wish there were more repercussions for the boy stealing someone’s belongings 
Or hopefully, he’ll apologize or help more in the future—this isn’t okay!||
clear dawn
Chapter 7 ||Another thing I wish had more consequences: reading someone’s letter is not okay, and then after they’ve told you it’s a secret, is even more not okay. I know it’s a kids’ book, I wish it emphasized this more. She did apologize, which is good, but it still feels like it wasn’t enough.||
clear dawn
Chapter 8 || "Something for my mom and dad... Belly bands of course. That's a wonderful idea!" Okay that was pretty funny ||
clear dawn
Chapter 9 ||Yay, that is what I wanted. No stealing, still coming up with a good solution, very nice||
Finished! Overall, I liked it! It’s a charming, nostalgic read with lots of meaningful lessons and enjoyable stories, though it had some issues that stood out to me. || Like I mentioned in Chapter 5 and 7. Just wish that sometimes the book could’ve shown how wrong it was more clearly. That said, there were also chapters I loved like no stealing the clock, good and creative solution. Belly bands making me laugh, sweet visiting home and parents. It’s simple overall, but that simplicity gives it its nostalgic charm, especially since I kept thinking about the movie while reading. Also, the pictures in the book are so cute—especially the last one, which was my favorite, thanks Chimp for posting it! Despite some frustrations, it’s a sweet and heartwarming story, and I’m glad I picked it up! || Very cozy, exactly what I just needed 
feral coral
While I do agree with you on ch 5 and 7, I think the author may have been going for was "parents talk to your kids about this." But not all parents read with their kids, so a child may miss the lesson if they aren't paying attention. So still a good point made.
graceful saddle
Hellooo, I'm joining this br very very late , but I'll start reading this book today 🙂
opaque sinew
I think there's a week and a half left on this so not late at all!
clear dawn
Yeah I finished it in a day, it reads pretty quick
graceful saddle
I haven't watched the movie (I'll see it on weekends ) , but as a reader , I always have the urge to read the book first 😂 ( but yk studio ghibli is at another level , on top ! So it's an exception )
So I read the first three chapters and here are my thoughts:
|| I love how Kiki is determined to follow her own path instead of following the profession like heritage 👏
Those town people were so mean to her 😦 this is sad
I'm glad that the bakery owner trusted her , she will be such a good mother as she understood how troubling it would be for the customer and her baby ||
graceful saddle
I'm comparing her to myself. So when compared to me she was. If compared to ano...
Seeing this now , I can say we have a pretty similar situation 😦 . But don't lose hope 🍀
twilit hedge
Starting, author’s note ||this is so cute though. I’ve seen the movie but idk if I realized that all she could do magically was fly. That’s really cute she wrote it for her daughter tho and wanting people to find their natural abilities 
||
twilit hedge
46% ||This is a fun little story. The context of the author’s note, that she wanted to write a story of a young girl having to use her wits, really enriches my enjoyment of this story. It’s transformed from just a narrative of random events, I’m really pulling for Kiki.
That guy who stole her broom was a real jerk, but I’m glad he’s helping her now deliver the picture. Love the emphasis on batter and trade and accepting what people can pay her. It makes this cozy fantasy a little more fun and not just “watch me do a capitalism” as I heard someone call it on a tiktok recently||
native dirge
Spoilers:
||“I’ve come to believe that everyone has some type of magic inside them. If a person can find their magic and lovingly cultivate it, they’ll truly feel alive every day.”||
||What the heck man, I absolutely loved this book 
I wouldn't have even called myself a diehard fan of the Ghibli film - sort of like how I've seen this and Howl's once before but I was intrigued to read the books this year. The cover is absolutely charming and captures the exact vibe one would expect for this book - I only found out recently that it was only recently translated into English even. ||
||When a witch turns thirteen, she is expected to take her black cat and leave home and start her journey in a new town she has chosen. Kiki and Jiji fly until they find a bigger town by the seaside; a town that doesn’t have a witch and doesn’t think they need one. As Kiki connects with and aids the townspeople over the year, connections are formed and Kiki and her delivery service become a widely appreciated (and needed) part of the town. Almost every chapter is a new task, as the reader watches Kiki and Jiji come of age, and each task is just a little bit ridiculous in a way that makes you smile. From needing Jiji to pretend to be a rambunctious boy's plushie after a botched delivery to putting a bellywarmer on a steamboat to transporting instruments to a bunch of ornery musicians to ring the Spring in.||
||While everything about this book is precious, Jiji hands down steals the show. Kadono nails the cat aura and his snarky, yet loving(?) attitude feels like the complete embodiment of a feline. He has some of the best, both hilarious and (sometimes) heartfelt, lines, and the perfect cat attitude. Kiki is wonderfully charming, believable and cute in her own right; she's smart to come up with a way to utilize her best witch skill - flying - to endear her to the people of Koriko. Although she's sweet, helpful and generally kind she's definitely no push over - ready to stand up for herself. I also loved her quick thinking when it came to problem solving - I feel the best testament to her nature is the solution for the clock tower being broken during New Years - Instead of robbing a neighbouring town of their New Year festivities, she pushed the hands of the clock herself to ring in the celebrations 
||
||All in all this is a very resonating book that's about growing up, trying to find your place in the world and generally maturing while trying to keep your own 'magic' alive. After her year is completed in Koriko, she returns to her parents with the intention of saying 10 days but after only a brief visit she realizes that she misses the life she has carved out for herself, wondering about whether her customers need her and more specifically about Tombo - the strange boy with a fascination with witches brooms and a special fondness for Kiki. 
It's here we see that Kiki's journey has reached it's end but also it's only just beginning.||
||I think that this combined with #1148522262887145522, this is the kind of healing balm I needed this week. I've been feeling more than a little melancholy but these two books combined worked as a hug. In my opinon this might as well join my roster of perfect Christmssy books. I loved every second of reading this; I loved the characters that existed in Koriko, I loved the translation, I loved Kiki and Jiji's friendship, I loved the kindness of Osono in giving Kiki a start, I loved Kiki's parents and their obvious care but trepedation in her going out into the world. Basically I spent my whole time smiling and feeling emotional I want a belly warmer now, it sounds so toasty. 
But suffice to say, this book is very special, I feel like it could speak to any girl at any age and I'll likely be rereading this again in the future as a source of comfort during Wintry months!||
twilit hedge
Def agree with Vaude. It was the little things about this book. I didn’t expect a ton of world-building but I was pleasantly surprised by the small touches ||like how strange Kiki finds the town compared to her small village, the different towns and how they celebrate New Years was a fun addition, and then the witch lore was cool. So many witch/magic fantasy books feature the concept of magic fading over time, but this is the first time it didn’t feel depressing or like a bad thing. It just felt natural, like maybe witches didn’t need so many powers because it made them rely on other people more and form bonds. Like reading a fantasy book after all this time and hitting upon a new idea just makes me 
Loved all the additional details and stories that the movie couldn’t have included. I was a little skeptical about this, cause I def thought it would just be a rehash of the movie, but I really don’t think I got the message when I watched the movie, but it was so well-done and a little subtler in the book. Yeah this was a big hug and I loved it!||
native dirge
Def agree with Vaude. It was the little things about this book. I didn’t expect ...
||I really liked the idea that magic was just fading because there wasn't any true dark anymore - technology has advanced and witches are just losing some of their specific powers. It's sad but it's not treated as devastating, just that time is advancing and witches seem more focused on the thing they're specifically good at now. Like Kiki's mom and her medicine! ||
twilit hedge
Amazing, spectacular
turbid dome
quote from Kiki's Delivery Service: ||"Without even thinking about it, I used to be able to fly. Now I’m trying to look inside myself and find out how I did it."||
stoic mortar
||I really liked the idea that magic was just fading because there wasn't any tr...
|| It kind of reminds me of the ancient types of medical training in China from acupuncture, herbal medicines, yin and yang, and feng sui. As medical technology and western medicine improves, the art of Chinese Medicine starts to dwindle and possibly disappear with each generation. ||
native dirge
|| It kind of reminds me of the ancient types of medical training in China from ...
||I read an article about that recently actually! Great comparison 
||
kind linden
||I read an article about that recently actually! Great comparison <a:nod_slow:1...
And just like with kiki || traditional medicine is still used to heal some patients, it didn't disappear completely like magic in Kiki's story haha ||
graceful saddle
46% ||This is a fun little story. The context of the author’s note, that she wan...
What do you mean by "watch me do capitalism" thing ?
twilit hedge
So a lot of cozy fantasy right now is geared towards open a coffee shop/book store/flower store. And it’s just all different variations of the same thing. It’s kind of boring and it can be summed up in a slightly reductive way to “fantasy meets small business”. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it, it’s just that the concept has kind of flooded the market right now
Interestingly enough, it’s also an idea that used to very much be a fanfiction thing, like all your favorite characters from whatever source material working at a coffee shop or whatever, which is a fun idea for like 10-15k word count little fic. But making it these full concept books imo kind of takes the fun out of it and with OCs you don’t even have the advantage of seeing all your favorite characters in the treatment. It’s another example of fanfic being mainstream-ized but that’s a topic for another rant lol
kind linden
So a lot of cozy fantasy right now is geared towards open a coffee shop/book sto...
Legends & Lattes comes to mind directly 
twilit hedge
Exactly!
kind linden
turbid dome
Finished!
|| Kiki’s Delivery Service is my third favorite of all the SG films ever, and reading the book that inspired the film was such a delight. Kadono tells us the story of a 12-year-old witch as she takes us on an interesting adventure with her only magical power: to fly on a broomstick with her talkative black cat. Since I watched the film first, I already knew what to expect. It was a bit surprising that quite a few scenes and settings were different here, but I took them as separate lovely experiences. I'm glad the film was faithful to Kiki as a character—charming, a bit giddy, and an excited young girl determined to discover what's in store for her in this not-so-perfect world on her own. It was fun, a breath of fresh air, a warm hug, a ray of sunshine, and a simple but adorable story. Suitable for kids and kids at heart. ||
native dirge
So a lot of cozy fantasy right now is geared towards open a coffee shop/book sto...
You're 100% right with this and it's actually bleeding into other things too; I've had tabletop games that have been held up because for some reason the adventurers in my fantasy game only want to frequent and run coffee shops. It's fine for like a session but it became such an ongoing problem that I was considering burning the place down. It's cute but I think my problem with fantasy like this is that I would like something to happen.
twilit hedge
Exactly! Slice of life def does have its appeal, but eventually a farming sim gets old and I want to stab something. In game of course, lol
But yeah, not to get off topic, I think this book def avoided that getting stale issue. And it kept the stakes high ||because it’s very important to Kiki that she do well and succeed at her new venture, even though it’s low-stakes in the sense that no one’s going to die, or evil won’t triumph if she doesn’t deliver something on time||
native dirge
But yeah, not to get off topic, I think this book def avoided that getting stale...
Oh yeah sorry I didn't want to get too off topic but this is the exact sweet spot for my optimal enjoyment. I'm genuinely really happy that I can say that I've found a 5 ⭐ cosy read 
twilit hedge
No it was my fault and I was self-correcting
opaque sinew
Hey friends👋, today is the First day of this Br, so questions to warm up :
1....
Starting now and the illustrations are super cute
Chapter 1: ||Being asked to move away from home by yourself to a town you don’t know that needs a witch, presumably for protection, is such a scary task||
||Are the cats magical too or do they get magic from their witch because they seem to live an awful long time if it’s until their witch is an adult and finds another (presumably person-like) companion||
Chapter 2: ||I feel like not practicing flying might be a mistake for Kiki||
||The cat talks? That’s cute||
||I half want Kiki to branch out on her own and do things differently like not wear black all the time etc but I don’t know if it’s that kind of story||
opaque sinew
Chapter 3: ||Stop, the illustration of Kiki and Jiji is so cute||
||She has to be away from her parents for an entire year and only after that can she visit them? That seems like a lot for a 13 year old to deal with||
||Kiki finding somewhere to stay was a little convenient but I'm glad she's not going to be on the streets. I'm worried enough about her as it is||
Chapter 4: ||Can the people in this town stop being so prejudiced please? 🙏 ||
||I'm glad she's starting to establish herself here. I hope it works out for her.||
opaque sinew
Chapter 5: ||See, this is why you should have practiced flying more! I highly doubt a boy is going to drown in this though so she must be able to make the cheap broom work somehow even if it is full of water||
||I don't like that Kiki is laughing at this kid who wants to be a witch. That seems a little mean spirited||
||Can't she do anything to fix her broom? Why is she giving up so easily?||
Chapter 6: ||I mean it's good that she has enough work to be able to refuse silly jobs, unless it's only her conscience that is making her do that||
Chapter 7: ||I get she's young and hasn't had certain experiences but she doesn't need to be so judgemental and rude||
||I hope she respects this customer's wishes and doesn't tell Ai who the present is from||
||You don't need to look at something that isn't meant for you! Mind your own business||
||See, this is karma for being so nosy||
||I'm glad she owned up to what she did but she should have never done it in the first place||
||Also the naming in this seems really simple/similar which I know is by design buy I do wish there was a little bit more variety considering we have a Jiji, Kiki, and Mimi now||
Chapter 8: ||Lowkey think her copying that old woman is unintentionally mocking her ||
||I don't get how she's able to be self-sufficient if she keeps doing trades with people as payment for her delivery services but this is a kid's book so I'll just accept it at face value||
||She really is going on some big adventures here 
||
Chapter 9: ||I like how she's trying to keep up with the traditions that she had at home whilst also embracing the traditions in the town she lives in now||
||I'm not sure about the mayor making her an unknowing accomplice in a crime||
Chapter 11: ||This year is going so fast for her. I can't believe she's going to visit home already.||
||It's sweet that Osono has baked some bread for Kiki to take to her parents||
Finished. ||Okay so this was a pretty cute cosy fantasy. It's not my favourite genre in the world but this one really worked for me. It was basically a connected series of stories with a few recurring characters just because of the nature of her deliveries but it was full of charm. There were moments where Kiki did things that I didn't like, but I do think this is a great book for kids that explores how to be independent and also that maturity can mean that you own up about any mistakes that you've made and try to make things right. I loved the bond between Kiki and Jiji. This overall was just super sweet.|| 4.25 ⭐
Also I had a look and has only the first book been translated into english?
opaque sinew
hey guys👋, we have reached half of this Br, some questions for people who finis...
but I might do considering how much I liked this
kind linden
1. I haven't watched any Ghibli movies <:sadBear:1093499678152216727> but I mig...
||life's all about improvement||
graceful saddle
Hi everyone, I finished this book today and here are some of my thoughts and ratings 🙂 Rating: 4.25/5 Thoughts : I haven't watched the movie, but now I will definitely watch it on the weekend || such a lighthearted, cozy and relaxing read, like someone mentioned here, the setup was different than most of the "cozy" marketed books ( they limit it to coffee shops , cafes etc ) and yes that trope has become overused now ) about Jiji ( even tho I am a dog lover ) I loved this cat's humor lol . Seeing that the book was translated so late, I am sad that we can still not access the other books in this series (I would love to read those ) . My favourite thing about this book was that each chapter was very short and can be read as a short story . i wonder if Japan thought of making an anime series of this book. it would be wonderful if they did so . my favourite quote from this book is when kiki meets her mom and says this : (picture) || at the end I want to thank the leader who arranged this br, it was a fun experience 🍀
feral coral
Glad you posted that passage in green highlight bc when I read it I felt it was really relatable in today's world no one talks to ppl any more when ppl take a subway they're too afraid or uncomfortable to look across the aisle ppl would rather stare into their phones than to look around so I felt oh this passage is really needed sometimes just talking to someone can help open our minds up just a bit one of my favorite passages from the book we have isolated ourselves from each other and now don't even know how to interact
graceful saddle
Glad you posted that passage in green highlight bc when I read it I felt it was ...
Omg same thinking!! The fact it was written in late 1900 . I'm glad the author included this paragraph bcz as an awkward introvert , this is my mantra for social interaction hehe
opaque sinew
I thought it was written in the 80s?
kind linden
Yess January 1985, almost 40 years ago 
graceful saddle
I thought it was written in the 80s?
Oh sorry I mixed up the date
torpid parrot
Super late Ik but I’ve been reading this, just started today
marble onyx
Omg!!! I missed that this ends today 
It’s been on my tbr so long… is anyone still reading?
@kind linden Can Hanzy and I get can extension? I can read it tomorrow evening
torpid parrot
Yeah, an extension would be lovely 
kind linden
<@1066318838746054727> Can Hanzy and I get can extension? I can read it tomorrow...
Sure , I will ask for 1 week extension
opaque sinew
BR extended!
<t:1730983320:D> - <t:1734180120:D>
worn coralBOT
Ongoing BuddyRead
opaque sinew
BR extended!
**<t:1730983320:D> - <t:1734180120:D>**
marble onyx
Kiki Comes Of Age || I like the little touches of the world building and how magic isn’t really understood at all, but seems to be hereditary. I think it’s interesting, how tradition is being challenged by Kiki, which is pretty much the role of every 13 year-old everywhere. Seems like there’s commentary here about technology advancing and affecting change too, making magic obsolete. I thought the parting with her dad was really sweet, and I think I was just like her once upon a time, trying to make my own way. But I was 24 when I jumped in my little red car and drove across country, looking for somewhere to land lol ||
Kiki Lands in a Big City || It’s been a really long time since I’ve seen this movie but I feel like some of this dialogue is replicated there pretty much word for word. The meeting with the other witch in the sky was pretty funny considering how “experienced” she now is after one year on her own. lol I have a feeling that the cat is going to become annoying, but I’m glad that he’s there looking out for her. Of course, the baker dude doesn’t think the pacifier is important, but he’s gonna learn! This actually kind of makes me wonder if it’s common for Japanese kids to go to boarding school or something at age 13, and have to make their own way in the world without parental guidance ||
marble onyx
Kiki Opens a Shop || This is just so cute. I like the way Kiki is so humble and honest about how witch trade works. I think her cat is going to continue to provide comic relief to these adventures. I’m glad that her first assignment ended up well||
Kiki Finds Herself in a Tough Spot || I love the sea, and I think like Kiki I would’ve loved to have settled in a town by the sea, but I actually don’t enjoy the beach very much at all. I did like the nod to Oz about the possibility of witches being vulnerable to water. Imagine being 13 and never having worn a swimsuit. lol I would’ve been way more angry with this kid that stole the broom and she is tho. I wonder if they’re going to figure out how the magic works||
torpid parrot
Oooh I've finished this too!! Sorry for my lack of engagement on the BR . This was a reread for me and I loved it just as much as I did the first time around. I'll come back here with my annotations and final thoughts soon-ish 
marble onyx
Kiki Gets a Little Irritated || well this chapter is all about being resourceful, isn’t it? First Tombo comes up with the way to manage the painting, which works as advertisement, which then gets her the job acting as a clothes line. Kiki gets irritated about missing her slipper when personally I would’ve been irritated by getting taken advantage by the laundry lady. But I guess this is the way Kiki is learning some valuable life lessons. Seems like we’re moving through the seasons too, so I’m guessing up by the end she’ll be heading back home at the end of her solo year||
marble onyx
Kiki Pries into Someone’s Secrets || Kiki the secret assignment is so not a good idea. Stay out of peoples’ love lives, seriously. Ugh this kind of “girl talk” drives me crazy- this girl just needs to get away. Meh, I guess it’s gonna turn out OK but this feels like it’s gonna come back and bite her in the butt||
Kiki Solves the Captains’s Problem || well this episode is one of the more silly ones isn’t it? I guess the upshot is it’s always good to learn new skills? I can’t imagine a cat keeping something like that on their belly though for very long. Kiki‘s business does seem to be expanding tho, which is nice||
marble onyx
Kiki Delivers the New Year || omg why is everyone asking her to do such unethical things? Hmm. Sometimes it’s not such a great thing to be so traditionally bound. But I suppose cultural bonding is a thing. I maybe just don’t like New Year’s lmao||
Kiki Delivers the Sound of Spring || ok that was ridiculous, but also pretty sweet. Those musicians though. lol I like that all she took for her fair share was the fun of it||
marble onyx
Kiki Visits Home || I knew it would come full circle. And I’m glad that she ended up realizing that she belongs in both places||
Finished! || This was pretty much what I’ve gone to expect from Japanese authors… gentle, and a tiny bit quirky. I didn’t really expect it to be as episodic as it is, and I think I would have enjoyed it more with some kind of more meaningful arc than just “a year to come-of-age, anc prove yourself. Maybe I just like my children’s fantasy to have more of a high stakes plot I guess, rather than slice of life type stuff. Just a preference. I see the appeal here too. I wonder if the other books in the series give deeper character development||
marble onyx
hey guys👋, we have reached half of this Br, some questions for people who finis...
!. ||I barely remember the movie, but I think it focused far more on her friendship with Tombo, and I'm wondering if that is a big part of the other books in the series||
2. ||Yes, to a certain degree. It's nice to see a young character have to make her way in the world and be successful, but I also think that much of it was her reacting to what happened to her rather than designing her own path by making choices, if that makes sense. It fits due to the target audience being younger||
torpid parrot
Sorry, it's taken me a while but here I am now -
Final thoughts:
||This was a reread and I loved it just as much as I did two years ago. It’s such a delightful, heartwarming read, comforting in a way that feels like a warm hug.
I love that this book takes us through Kiki’s journey and is quite relatable to all of us because it takes us through something we've experienced/will experience if minors. I think it's very rare that someone knows where they stand in life or knows exactly what they want and I think we see it with Kiki embracing her witchy little self.
I think what makes the story so wholesome is the combo of Kiki and Jiji. Kiki faces challenges that aren’t over-the-top or dramatic but are the kind of obstacles you’d encounter in real life: losing confidence, feeling lonely, figuring out who you are, and how you fit in. Her struggles, like botching a delivery or not knowing how to respond when people are unkind, feel so relatable. Watching her work through these moments with kindness and resilience is what makes the book such a joy to read.
And then there’s the world itself—simple yet magical in the best way. I loved how Kiki’s magic isn’t about spells or grand feats but is part of her everyday life. Her broomstick becomes not just a means of transportation but a symbol of her independence and growth. And Jiji! He’s the perfect mix of sass and sweetness, and his friendship with Kiki adds so much warmth and humour to the story.
What I love most though is how the book teaches important life lessons without ever feeling preachy. It’s all in how Kiki learns through her experiences, about being herself, embracing her flaws, and finding joy in small moments. It’s one of those stories that feels light and cosy but still has so much heart.||
I do want to share some of my favourite parts though and I will share them now
“The Secret of the Magic”
“ Kiki’s sole power would be flying through the sky on her broom. With only one type of magic, Kiki would need to use her brain to solve problems. Overcoming conflicts would help her grow, add some ups and downs to the story and make her journey more interesting.”
“I sensed the magic inside myself. I’ve come to believe that everyone has some type of magic inside them. If a person can find their magic and lovingly cultivate it, they’ll truly feel alive every day.
There is magic inside each and every one of you, too”
I love that the author's note really sets the tone for the book in a way and the messages shared as well
Full book spoilers here on:
||“It’s in your blood,’ Kokiri said with delight, but Kiki told herself, No, it’s not just that. I decided for myself.”
“It will – witches don’t need much. You can see how simple my clothes are, and I don’t eat a lot. My plan is to just accept that if I don’t have something, I probably don’t need it.”
“Yes, that’s right. This is how we make do. If we manage, then we’re happy. If we don’t, then we’re not,’ ”
“Yes, spring – I’ll be able to see Mum soon. But those who complain too much can’t hear nice noises like that.”
“How wonderful it is to have a place to return to.
Coming home, she had discovered a new version of herself.”||
worn coralBOT
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hey guys, thanks for joining this Br !
some questions to close up
1.|| how did you feel about Kiki's improvement throughout the book ? ||
2.|| Kokiri's advise were very important for kiki's journey or kiki would have figured out things by herself ? ||
3.|| what's your favourite character and part of the book ? ||
thank you so much for joining, it was a great Br 💙
feral coral
marble onyx
Thanks for hosting!!
clear dawn
hey guys, thanks for joining this Br !
some questions to close up
1.|| how did y...
clear dawn
Thanks for hosting!
native dirge
Thank you for hosting
torpid parrot
Thanks for hosting! 
