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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
For whatever reason this book was a slog to get through. I gave up reading it 70% of the way and had to use the audiobook to finish.
I guess the reason why is likely because this book meanders, but not in a poignant slice of life way you seen in Japanese/ East Asian fiction. While the relationships between the members of the pottery workshop were cute, it just seemed like the story was drawn out too long. It also seemed like past trauma of the characters were conveniently interjected in the story and weren't really meaningfully dealt with. Where was the healing?!
Perhaps this just wasn’t written for me.
I guess the reason why is likely because this book meanders, but not in a poignant slice of life way you seen in Japanese/ East Asian fiction. While the relationships between the members of the pottery workshop were cute, it just seemed like the story was drawn out too long. It also seemed like past trauma of the characters were conveniently interjected in the story and weren't really meaningfully dealt with. Where was the healing?!
Perhaps this just wasn’t written for me.
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
The comfort and warmth within the pages of this book filled me with a sense of nostalgia, joy, and calm. There was a lot about this book that, as a late 20-something still striving for the life I imagined I'd be living by now, related to a great deal. I enjoyed the slow pacing of this book, which allowed the characters to fill the page and allowed my mind to ruminate on the feel of clay. It certainly made me want to try ceramics again (an activity I haven't done since high school). This book captured a feeling I have been chasing since reading 'Days at the Morisaki Bookshop'. I very much enjoyed this read and would highly recommend it.
3.5, i've been reading this book for weeks now and i enjoy it when i pick it up but put it down and forget about it for days; it was good but not a standout in my opinion, made me really wish I could take some pottery classes (but so expensive :( maybe someday)
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
It felt a little stilted at times which I presume is due to the translation but it was still a sweet story.
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:
Yes
This was a slow-paced book with a diverse group of characters united by one thing — their interest in pottery. Jungmin’s burnout and isolation felt very real, and it was heartwarming to witness her finding a community and coming to terms with difficult relationships in her past. I also appreciated that all the people who found community at the Soyo workshop were also going through their own challenges. It was inspiring to see them all work through their difficulties and come out stronger at the end of the book. Overall, I really enjoyed this read!
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The thing about being in a book club is that sometimes you find wonderful books (Cousins by Aurora Venturini is the most recent example) and sometimes you read very meh books.
Overall, I didn't think this was very good, although it had an intriguing premise. The themes are certainly relevant nowadays - burnout, mental health, the importance of building community - but were dealt with very superficially, as were the characters.
The best thing was, in my opinion, the rich vivid descriptions of the senses in the workshop - from the smell of different coffee notes to the tactile feeling of the ceramics.
Overall, I didn't think this was very good, although it had an intriguing premise. The themes are certainly relevant nowadays - burnout, mental health, the importance of building community - but were dealt with very superficially, as were the characters.
The best thing was, in my opinion, the rich vivid descriptions of the senses in the workshop - from the smell of different coffee notes to the tactile feeling of the ceramics.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character