{"product_id":"when-the-museum-is-closed-a-novel","title":"When the Museum Is Closed: A Novel","description":"\u003cp\u003eA quirky, joyful, feel-good love story about a lonely museum worker who falls in love with a statue of Venus, from the author of international bestseller Diary of a Void\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRika Horauchi’s new part-time job is to converse with a statue of Venus—in Latin—every Monday, when the museum is closed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInitially reluctant, Rika starts to enjoy her strange new job. Recommended by her old university professor for her exemplary language skills, Rika leads an otherwise unassuming life, working the rest of the week in a frozen-food warehouse. As Venus comes to life in the quiet of the museum, they talk about everything. Venus opens up new worlds for Rika, both intellectually and emotionally. They soon fall in love. But when the museum’s curator, Hashibami, makes it clear he wants to keep Venus for himself, what will Rika do?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen the Museum is Closed is by turns charming, funny and surprising, a surreal take on our most real emotions and concerns: love, loneliness, freedom, perceptions of beauty and how women are seen in society. This uncommonly original new novel confirms Emi Yagi as one of the most exciting Japanese writers published in English today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/strong\u003e Emi Yagi\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTranslator:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yuki Tejima\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/strong\u003e Soft Skull Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePage Count:\u003c\/strong\u003e 256pp\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e 5.5 x 8.5\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNotes:\u003c\/strong\u003e paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDate of Publication:\u003c\/strong\u003e July 29, 2025\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eISBN:\u003c\/strong\u003e 978-1593768270\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Soft Skull Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48034479046912,"sku":"9781593768270","price":18.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0053\/3902\/files\/whenmuseumclosed.jpg?v=1771081508","url":"https:\/\/atomicbooks.com\/products\/when-the-museum-is-closed-a-novel","provider":"Atomic Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}