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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
An immediate add to my “favorite books” list. Hwang Bo-reum’s book is so comforting and heartwarming, and is able to address many “heavy” topics without the book feeling heavy itself. (Rather, the opposite- I feel like a weight has been lifted)
I could gush about the book more, but here is a quote from the author, who is more eloquent than I could be:
“In other words, I wanted to write what I want to read. Stories of people who find their own pace and direction, of people who believe in others and wait by their side as they go through difficult times, lost in worry. Stories of those who support others, who celebrate small efforts and resolve in a society that puts people - and everything about them - down once they take a fall. Stories that bring comfort, providing a pat on the shoulder for those who’ve lost the joy in life, having pushed themselves too hard to do well.” -Hwang Bo-reum (excerpt from the authors note)
Also huge kudos to the amazing translator, Shanna Tan!!
I could gush about the book more, but here is a quote from the author, who is more eloquent than I could be:
“In other words, I wanted to write what I want to read. Stories of people who find their own pace and direction, of people who believe in others and wait by their side as they go through difficult times, lost in worry. Stories of those who support others, who celebrate small efforts and resolve in a society that puts people - and everything about them - down once they take a fall. Stories that bring comfort, providing a pat on the shoulder for those who’ve lost the joy in life, having pushed themselves too hard to do well.” -Hwang Bo-reum (excerpt from the authors note)
Also huge kudos to the amazing translator, Shanna Tan!!
If you are feeling tired of life, or burned out, if you are looking for a place to just sit and rest, this book is a soothing balm to assuage the constant friction and the "go go go" mentality of the modern world. Reminded me of the Netflix show "Tokyo diner". I heard the audiobook and the narration was exemplary.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If you're struggling to keep up with books that is heavily plot driven or are struggling to start reading this is a good book to pick up. It's slow paced but not boring. The type of book where you want to root for the characters in the book as they are trying to grow as people at their own pace. The book is for those who are burnt out because of work or even life and need a break from it and a refresher to realise you don't have to constantly meet the expectation of others. It's quite reflective and talks about serious topics without being triggering. The whole story focuses on different characters and how they are moving forward with their lives even though they have reached points in their lives where they think they have already reached the best they can and now have to divert their direction and start from scratch to live a life they are satisfied with. Would recommend to pick up if you want to read a book that is slow paced and reflective, not for those who are interested in plot driven stories and need drama.
Content Warnings
Minor: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Grief, Alcohol
The content isnt heavily triggering but there are some parts where parents are implied to be helicoptering. There is another scene where there is implications where parents disowned and verbally abused one of the characters. There is also mention of divorce and arguing between partners.
Just wasn’t feeling it. It was a cute book in theory and parts of it was okay- but overall no plot and I didn’t feel connected to the characters or care to continue reading…
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
So simple, and yet not.
So easy to digest, and yet not.
So perfect, and yet not.
But always beautiful and spiritually profound.
The characters felt real because they are real. I know a minjun and a yeonju and a jimi. In fact I’m all of them all at once. I’m scared of failure and I’m scared of tomorrow, but this novel made me feel less so.
I shed quarts of tears for these characters. Both happy and sad. A world with ever shifting narratives and ideals and regular people who have no choice but to conform.
I’ve heard people say that this novel should’ve been more than it was. More radical in its politics and views on society with more outspoken characters. How behind Korea is compared to the west in its political development. But I disagree. In some ways Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop was more radical than any political manifesto I’ve ever read.
(An exaggeration I guess, but also not…?)
I won’t lie and say this book cured all my woes and worries for the future. It didn’t decimate my fears of failure and a certain desire to conform to the capitalist system that runs this forsaken world. But it healed me just a bit. It changed me just a little bit. It made me feel is the point, just as the author intended. And isn’t that the point of everything?
The characters felt real because they are real. I know a minjun and a yeonju and a jimi. In fact I’m all of them all at once. I’m scared of failure and I’m scared of tomorrow, but this novel made me feel less so.
I shed quarts of tears for these characters. Both happy and sad. A world with ever shifting narratives and ideals and regular people who have no choice but to conform.
I’ve heard people say that this novel should’ve been more than it was. More radical in its politics and views on society with more outspoken characters. How behind Korea is compared to the west in its political development. But I disagree. In some ways Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop was more radical than any political manifesto I’ve ever read.
(An exaggeration I guess, but also not…?)
I won’t lie and say this book cured all my woes and worries for the future. It didn’t decimate my fears of failure and a certain desire to conform to the capitalist system that runs this forsaken world. But it healed me just a bit. It changed me just a little bit. It made me feel is the point, just as the author intended. And isn’t that the point of everything?