Hwang Bo-reum

Such a refreshing little book; easy to read an essay each day and experience another bibliophile's experience with books. Lots of book recommendations as you read. There are a couple of translation hiccups but nothing to shake you out of the spell this young lady casts - none of us need much of a spell cast to get us into books, but it's nice to color our trance with a few different shades every now and then.

5 bones!!!!!
Highly Recommended!!!!!

So wholesome!

This is a novel full of love for bookshops, books, reading, and people. Yeongju is burned out and leaves her old life behind to open a bookshop. Her bookshop becomes a place for healing – not only for her, but also for the people it brings together. Minjun the barista; Jimi the coffee bean supplier; Jungsuh with her knitting; Seungwoo the blogger; Mincheol the confused teenager… etc. I loved them all. They all have backstories. They are all there for each other, helping each show more other heal and grow.

I loved the many details sprinkled throughout the book - the handwritten notes Yeongju slips into every book in the bookshop, the book club meetings, the coffee geekiness. They make this book come alive.

At first, I thought the writing felt clunky and simplistic, but it drew me in. Then I began to feel the Korean hiding behind the English and things fell into place. I really liked that some Korean words were not translated (only transliterated), so I had to look them up. It was fun. Glimpses of South Korean society, attitudes, customs were interesting. I thought that there were a lot of things between the lines during some conversations that somebody from South Korea would probably pick up on but I did not. It was a bit like seeing a butterfly fly by out of the corner of your eye. You almost see it, and then you don’t. It was a nice feeling.

The chapters are strung together as a slow sequence of events. You might think that this novel is plotless, but every chapter is a piece of a puzzle. Once you take a couple of steps back, you see the whole. I thought it was nicely done.

This book made me very happy.

“Often, she read in search of something. However, she didn’t always know exactly what she was looking for when she turned the first page.”

“A good novel, to Yeongju, was one which would bring her to places beyond her expectations.”

“A life surrounded by good people is a successful life.” show less

A nuanced book. While the bookshop plays a large role, it is primarily an examination on the place of work in one's life. Is "success" as defined as earning money and having that commitment to your job dominate every other aspect of your life healthy, or even desirable? "we work too much. And when work eclipses life, work becomes a problem" Many of the characters in this novel had encountered a range of obstacles on that path--burnout and lack of opportunity such that one is unable to follow show more the path you were told all your life was the correct way to live a successful life, for example--and found themselves at the bookshop refreshing their spirits with good books and good company. The author was clearly drawing from her own life experiences to sketch out the major themes.

Of course, the characters all have to reenter the workforce, but now they do it on their own terms without sacrificing the things that give them joy and genuine satisfaction. The story avoids a stereotypical "hollywood" happy ending, but every one has grown and become more self-aware. I don't know if a sequel is planned, but unlike some efforts the conclusion here is sufficiently real-life that one would not be out of place. show less

‘’It’s going to smell a little - of night air and books. If you don’t mind, you’re welcome inside.’’

We readers often say that books have the power to mend a broken heart, to give voice to uncertain joy, to comfort you when the world around you becomes too complex, and to quieten your spirit when people become perplexing, or the path ahead is less than clear. Seldom have I found this feeling described with such sweet intensity as in Hwang Bo-reum’s Welcome to the Hyunam-dong show more Bookshop. ‘Healing fiction’ is not a tag I agree with, but this novel is definitely a balm. I can guarantee you that.

The writing is impeccable: tender, whimsical, elegant, and direct. I loved reading about the logistics of running a bookshop and the impossible task of recommending books. Seriously, think about it: one may have read 1,500 books and still find choosing the right one for a person a Herculean task. There are interesting observations on writers, writing, and bestsellers. The focus on trying, failing, and trying again is described without melodrama or any trace of didacticism, and the setting is beautifully constructed. It is cosy and calm (silence and interior lighting play a major role in the way Yeongju views her daily routine), and I could fully relate to the remarks on overthinking (I am a world champion in this practice, thank you very much!), social expectations, and obligations. I was delighted to see Yeongju’s love of the 'Zorba mentality', and the romantic element is quite intriguing, realistic, moving and, again, extremely relatable. Speaking of which, it was almost uncanny to see how much of myself I could see in Yeongju, for reasons that will not be mentioned here.

‘’Is there a book that’ll unclog a smothered heart?’’

Οh, it takes a lot of effort, thought, and struggle to step out of your well-earned, hard-built solitude… It takes even more effort to ignore negativity, to overcome a plethora of complications, and to accept that perhaps a tiny portion of your dreams might indeed come true one day. To realise that happiness may be those little moments you recall at the end of the day, before you close your eyes to sleep, when a little smile appears on your face for reasons you cannot fully grasp. Should we listen to our hearts? Should we take a leap of faith and change everything? I don’t know; I can’t say I have the answer. But Yeongju – and the rest of the characters – have my full admiration for having the courage to do exactly that. To turn the tables and start again.

When your own mother turns her back on you because you refuse to conform to her idea of propriety and happiness, serendipity may lend a hand on the road to discovery. New friends, unexpected love. And books. Books are always there as steady companions, as reflections of the most menacing troubles our souls have been fighting for years.
This is a novel that is tender and thought-provoking without being sappy, especially when you are at a point in your life where you want to change everything. A main character who urges you to follow your heart. I’m not sure I can do that, but Yeongju definitely presents a compelling case…
‘’I listened to my heart and threw everything away.’’

My reviews can also be found on https://theopinionatedreaderblog.wordpress.com/ show less