Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop

[@davidnovakreadspoetry]

It sounds like a book I’d like to see. Just because something can be ratcheted up (in art) doesn’t mean that it should be.

[@PageTurnersWithKatja]

True, and while I love gritty action films I'm also a big fan of slow slice of life films. If I had to compare this book's vibes to things I've seen on screen I'd say: the Korean TV series "would you like a cup of coffee", and the Japanese series "Midnight Diner" although the latter often has a far more quirky clientele than this book 😊

[@theinkdarksea]

I finished this book a couple of days ago and promptly purchased a copy to go back through and mark out some of the sections that really struck me. I feel that this is one of those books that came to me at precisely the right moment in my life- trying to sort out my priorities and realizing for the first time that community is at the very top of the list. Lovely review!

[@PageTurnersWithKatja]

I love it when that happens! Serendipity 🤩✨️ I loved so much about this book. Part of me wishes there'd be a sequel next year - she said her next book won't be about the bookshop - and another part is eager to see what she writes next instead 😊

[@bethannebruninga-socolar]

This sounds so lovely!! I just ordered it as a birthday gift for my mom. :) Thanks for highlighting so much Korean literature on your channel!

[@PageTurnersWithKatja]

Thanks, Bethanne! I hope your mom enjoys it and has a lovely birthday 😊💛

[@bethannebruninga-socolar]

@@PageTurnersWithKatja I think she'll enjoy it, and then I'll immediately borrow it so I can read it too! :)

[@karencamer7723]

I have this book on my shelf. After your lovely review I think it’s time to read it

[@PageTurnersWithKatja]

Thank you, I hope you enjoy it too. If you have time afterward let me know what you thought (no pressure though 😊) It was a good palate cleanser read for me.

[@cradicalcompassion]

아~ I'm not a novel reader anymore, like I think the last I read was like 15 years ago as a middle schooler. I'm usually reading so much for learning that I don't have the attention span for reading novels too. But I just got this book after a quick description read, in Korean bc I'm learning Korean. Came looking for reviews in English first and your description makes me even more excited to read it! ^^ I'm likely going to get the English translated version too, once I get into it.

[@PageTurnersWithKatja]

Thanks for sharing! That's brilliant. I'd love to learn Korean. Written Hangul really appeals to me. I'd be thrilled to understand it. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did. I didn't read many books while pursuing my degree, so that's makes sense you're doing less reading for fun. Shanna Tan, the Translator, was on my channel talking about how she got into literary translations and the considerations for making Korean works accessible English language audiences. If that's of interest, you can find the video on the tab for previous Live shows.

[@cradicalcompassion]

@PageTurnersWithKatja yesss, hangeul is so pretty to me, spoken Korean too. I'm actually still a beginner & novel reading is above my level so I'd be thrilled to understand too lol. I just read the first chapter today and as short as it was, it took soo long bc I'm just sounding out 80% of the words 😂 but I'm learning new vocab already. I intend to become a translator so yes that's super interesting, I'll definitely check it out!! Not planning to be a literary translator, but I will be practicing translation/research skills with this novel some before buying Shanna Tan's version.

[@ameliad6465]

I just finished reading this book and felt comforted by it, not only because it seemed to find me at the right time, but also because I want my time to mean something. I’ve been adrift and feeling stressed out by the very nature of being untethered and in some sense, both want to be tied to something and want to carve out my own path. I felt that the characters, who are all on their own journey of self-improvement, self-reflection and evolution, gave me insight into my own feelings and thoughts that I hadn’t sorted through. The book seems to posit that everyone is capable of making progress through moving small stones. I feel uplifted to look at life this way, even if it’s idealistic. The point is to get out of your own way, make space for your feelings and accept things as they are so you can move forward and stop pushing against the tide. Accepting your past for what it is and your present self can thrive. That’s what I got from reading this book, and even if over-simplified, I think that’s a worthy message and an important reminder in life when we get stuck.

[@PageTurnersWithKatja]

Agreed. Sometimes, a simpler plot and message are more impactful. It's wonderful this book found you at the right time ✨️

[@alexiscrumer8811]

I just finished and LOVE all the great feelings (both sad and comforting) that this brought. What genre would this be considered, and what similar books are there like this???🥰

[@PageTurnersWithKatja]

Cosy slice of life fiction. Along the same lines you'll find Japanese translated fiction like ✨️What You Are Looking For Is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama ✨️ Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa and if you're OK with magical realism ✨️the Toshikazu Kawaguchi books Before the Coffee Gets Cold. I'm so glad you loved the feel good factor of this book 💛🥰✨️

[@PageTurnersWithKatja]

Also shanna tan who translated this book said the upcoming Korean to English translations she's working on are all cosy fiction so if you love the South Korean setting you're in for a treat (new options) Autumn onwards 😊

[@CharlieBrookReads]

I really want to read this!! Thank you for your review, very much appreciate it ❤

[@PageTurnersWithKatja]

And I'm looking forward to picking up the Japanese cosy read you enjoyed recently; what you are looking for is in the library. The last few weeks, I've been enjoying all these "books about books" 😁

[@EpicTalez]

Where do you find these books? One of the values of watching your channel is that you talk about books that no one else is talking about. Another great one.

[@PageTurnersWithKatja]

Thank you for your kind words! Made my day 😊 I'm always on the lookout for great sounding fiction from various corners of the world, beyond the usual UK and US selections. It's getting easier, too, since publishers are increasingly making these stories available and enriching our reading experiences.