Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I’m really glad I took a chance and picked this up.
I picked this book up off the Cozy Reads display at the library, fulfilling one of their Winter Reading Program activities. It was cozy, low-stakes, more a slice-of-life for the main character Jungmin as she re-enters society following an emotional "breaking up" with her life-consuming role as a TV broadcast writer. I think this is more relatable to workaholics and Korean readers, given the long hours I understand are expected in the workplace in Korea. I enjoyed the interactions between the various students at Soyo pottery studio as they learned and grew, and even helped each other through life over the course of a year. It was a lazy meander through the seasons, and a calming read. But, it wasn't quite my cup of coffee (they drink coffee, eat pastries, and throw pottery at the shop), so I never felt quite invested in the characters even as time passed for them and they grew. Maybe that is partially because it was too calm a slice of life, and it wasn't quite what I was in the mood for or something. The language also felt a little staccato throughout, and a little stiff and formulaic in the wording or some of the words of wisdom. (Do Brits use both umbrella and parasol together? both terms appeared in the span of a paragraph or two at one point, and the translator is British/used British English terms e.g. "mum" and "queue".) That may very well be Somin's writing style, or it could be Richards' translation, I don't know which. I wasn't a huge fan, as that probably also contributed to feeling kept a bit at arm's distance while reading, like I was watching through Soyo's window as they characters did their pottery and lived life. I'd say, 2.5 stars personally, rounded up to 3.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
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:
Complicated
"The Healing Season of Pottery" offers a gentle exploration of art and healing through the medium of pottery. Yeon Somin’s lyrical writing beautifully captures the tactile beauty of clay and the emotional journeys it represents. The small vignettes diving into each character's motivations and the slow unraveling of their traumas create a wonderful exploration of language, showcasing how art can facilitate healing.
However, the overall pacing is quite slow, which may challenge some readers' engagement. As someone reading in translation and not fluent in Korean, I found it somewhat difficult to follow the names of characters and reorient myself within their stories. This is more a personal hurdle than a flaw in Somin's writing.
I've been actively exploring non-English authors, particularly Asian writers, drawn to their patient and graceful storytelling techniques. While "The Healing Season of Pottery" has its challenges, it remains an enjoyable read for those interested in art therapy or looking for contemplative narratives that encourage introspection.
However, the overall pacing is quite slow, which may challenge some readers' engagement. As someone reading in translation and not fluent in Korean, I found it somewhat difficult to follow the names of characters and reorient myself within their stories. This is more a personal hurdle than a flaw in Somin's writing.
I've been actively exploring non-English authors, particularly Asian writers, drawn to their patient and graceful storytelling techniques. While "The Healing Season of Pottery" has its challenges, it remains an enjoyable read for those interested in art therapy or looking for contemplative narratives that encourage introspection.
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was reminiscent of “Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop”, where Jungmin recovered from her burn-out through pottery and the friends she made at Soyo.
Overall storyline was on the slow side, and the ending was nice. However, characters introduced were just side characters and not very fleshed out. I enjoyed the parts where they talked about matching the different cutlery to types of foods and drinks. However, I felt that Jungmin not working for seasons while continuing her pottery workshop couple of times a week did not feel sustainable.
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Kein Cozy Reading!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Car accident
hopeful
reflective
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
hopeful
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book dragged a lot and I had to force myself to finish it. I’m not sure if it was a poor translation or if I just didn’t like the writing style, but I found this book to be all “tell” and no “show”. I didn’t connect with the characters very much and found them to be stilted and their dialogue very robotic. Unfortunately, not a hit for me.