Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop

Barbarius reviewed Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-reum

This mildly interesting book happened, and I liked that.

4 stars

This genre, I have been told, is apparently fairly common in Korea, where the purpose of reading it is to relax and read, and not to join some characters on their adventures where stuff happens.

Very little happens over the course of 320 pages; not much plot, not much exposition, not much character development, not much of anything except the passing of time while you tag along. So this genre might not be for everyone. In fact, if it wasn't couched in the day-to-day running of a bookshop, I don't think I would've finished it.

...

Honestly, there's not much more to say. I still enjoyed it, to be clear. Even though this review might suggest ambivalence or even otherwise. It was a relaxing read.

pwinn reviewed Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-reum

Warm and Delightful

5 stars

This book is lovely and gentle. Translated from Korean, it fills me with something like nostalgia, but for a place and time I've never actually experienced.

t o d d w a r n e r reviewed Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-reum

A character study

4 stars

An interesting character study, where each explores various paths seeking a way forward in the world while still heavily influenced by their past.

The translator did a decent job though I felt it was a bit awkward and distracting at times.

Jam reviewed Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-reum

Healing and inspiring

4 stars

I read this book as part of a book club (shout out to #HoloReads) and I think I couldn’t have chosen a better time in my life to read this book. I found the central theme of burnout and trying to heal within a capitalist system very relevant and relatable. The writing was easy to digest too.

Quote from the author's note:

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 …

I read this book as part of a book club (shout out to #HoloReads) and I think I couldn’t have chosen a better time in my life to read this book. I found the central theme of burnout and trying to heal within a capitalist system very relevant and relatable. The writing was easy to digest too.

Quote from the author's note:

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.

One minor thing: the translator uses a lot of Korean terms as is without any translation throughout the book, and I imagine that if you don’t speak Korean you might have to spend some time searching up the meaning of those terms. That can be frustrating and I wish the translation wasn’t done like this.