“The yardstick to one’s life lies within oneself. And that’s good enough.” — Hwang Bo-reum, 2022
They say books help you reimagine a different life outside of yours. That is why I like reading books. It helps me get distracted in the current chaos of the world. I have been trying to go back to reading recently as I lost the habit due to busy schedules. I promised to go back to reading and this book is a good start. When I started reading Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop, I struggled to like it. But a few more chapters later, I began to appreciate its beauty. It was just the best pick for me at this time.
The book is a slice-of-life type of reading. It attempted to discuss debatable topics such as employment, finding meaning in life, and pursuing happiness. It bravely touched on some aspects of divorce, too.
More than the plot, I liked how the author created colorful characters in the story which made it more human and relatable. I’ve lived in Korea and I can say that most of the stories of the people who joined Yeongju in the bookshop somehow reflected real-life stories of people you meet in South Korea. This reflects the author’s deep grounding in social dilemmas that many members of the working class face in real life. Perhaps that is the reason why the book was a hit locally. It almost felt like I was watching a Korean neighborhood drama with its dynamic conversations in between storytelling. Each character brings with them their take on life and represents our unending pursuit of life’s meaning.
These are purely my interpretation of the book and I welcome your thoughts about it, too.
Things I’ve enjoyed (spoiler alert)
Courage to take full control of your life
The bravery that Yeongju took in changing the course of her life and opening a bookshop. Although her back story came later in the book, I was surprised how a woman like her would brave the path of ending her long-built career and living a life completely different from what she had started. Let’s be honest — in this world where one is judged for what he or she has accomplished through work, it is a brave act to leave everything you have built to pursue a childhood dream like the one Yeongju has — opening a bookshop.
“Running an independent bookshop was like roaming a stretch of land without roads. There was no tried-and-tested business model.”
I was also amazed at how she bravely faced the danger of being ridiculed for her one-sided decision on her relationships. Whether it was her partner or her mother, she took full responsibility for her life despite the uncertainties of her unconventional life decisions.
Redefining success and oneself
Minjun was one of the characters I truly admire. I like his very human reflections on one’s struggle to fit in the mold. He worked super hard to reach what was defined by society as a path to success — study hard and land a job. After struggling to find a job after all his hard work, he decided to no longer conform and pursue life how he wanted it.
“How much of our time is truly our own if we devote ourselves to work and the company we work for?”
I was struck by it and made me reflect on who truly owned my life all this time. I guess, I liked how Seungwoo said that it’s okay to pursue a work that you like but it doesn’t stop you from doing things that you love.
I also liked how Heejoo tried redefining herself once she took over one of the book clubs. If you are a Korean, you would know how big of a deal it is on how people call you. Most of the time, if you are a woman, your personality evolves as you take on new roles in life. Once you are a mother, you have become someone’s mom. People in your neighborhood would start calling you “[your son or daughter’s name] Mom” and no longer by your first name. The scene where she introduced herself as Heejoo was an act of taking herself back which I think was a brave act for women, especially in a setting like South Korea where females are expected to take roles like being a mom or housewife above their individual identities.
Lastly, what I truly liked about this book is how it pays homage to the beauty of books.
It gave us a glimpse of how books can be a piece of solace amidst the chaos in life. It showcased the connection that books can create to their readers and how powerful they are to move communities and minds. I like how it was said in the book:
“Reading makes you deviate further from the textbook definition of success because books don’t make us go ahead of or above anyone else; they guide us to stand alongside others.”
I liked it overall. I hope you liked the book, too.
under the sun 