gr4cie 's review for:

Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-Reum

2.25

hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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An anthology of stories from Yeongju’s experience setting up a bookstore that combine to form a larger story. Written in a journalistic style however, it suffers from really telling not showing. It seems to doubt the reader will understand anything themselves so always explains the deep messages of the book and uses the space that could’ve been used to show, to instead discuss kinda useless parts of the characters lives and long stints of dialogue where the characters ask eachother deep questions then explain their own understanding. This is the authors first step away from being an essayist to writing novels, and unfortunately you can tell.