Welcome to the Hyunam Dong Bookshop – Book Review

Book Name : Welcome to the Hyunam Dong Bookshop

 Author : Hwang Bo Reum

Introduction

On the day we visited the mall as a part of the Onam festivities, I was leaning against one of the familiar shelves of Crossword, torn between having to choose between the ‘Inheritance Games’ and a new collection of Sudha Murthy’s tales. I positively love the latter’s manner of candid, heartwarming storytelling. Just as I had decided in favour of the collection, I glimpsed an inconspicuous paper back, at a corner of the shelf. A ‘Runaway Korean Sensation’… Slightly interested by the title, I reached over and picked up Hwang Bo Reum’s book ‘Welcome to the Hyunam Dong Bookshop’.

Though I am quite the voracious reader, my reading repertoire consists mainly of Indian, American and British writers, because these were the kinds of books I got my hands on easily. So naturally I was curious to read a book about people from a different country, who had different ideas and cultures, yet shared an unknown bond with all of us.

As we waited in the food court for our hot, fluffy parathas and chickpea curry, I flipped the pages and started to read.

 

Characters

Yeongju

The book tells the story of Yeongju, a woman who is worn out with a never ending grind of schedules and back to back projects, quits her soaring career, walks away from her old life to fulfill her childhood dream. She opens a bookshop in Hyunam-Dong. The ‘quaint neighbourhood at the crossroads of the past and the present.’ As a child Yeongju used to love to read, but the need to always be at the top drove Yeongju to push herself way too much, turning her into a career oriented character, with no time to read. Even after quitting her job, she hurtles into a frenzied whirlwind, and ‘there was only one thing on her mind. I must open a bookshop.’ Eventually she starts doing what she loves, while spending most of her time buried in books. She believes books are really important. ‘I believe that if they keep stimulating themselves by reading, one day they will be able to reflect on themselves.’

‘Yeongju was usually a pragmatic person, but when she was deeply engrossed in a story she felt like a person trying to grasp at moving clouds.’ ‘She had one eye on reality while the other gazed at some faraway dreamland.’

As Yeongju pushes herself forward trying to keep going, to shut her past out and to keep the bookshop running she is joined by other people questioning the inexplicable why of life. There is Minjun the lonely barista, who after building his resume graduated university with high hopes for a stable life. One he couldn’t achieve even though ‘he strongly believed in hard work in life.’

‘I just need to grit my teeth and things will be better.’

 Minjun

Minjun often has to listen to the ranting of Jimi, as he joins her in experimenting with coffee beans, in order to create the best coffee possible at Goat Beans.  Unhappy with her family, Jimi vents her feelings with Minjun, a quiet listener who gives her excellent advice in his calm and measured manner. Jimi is great friends with Yeongju, and often spends time with her chatting, engaging in witty banter and munching their way through literature and delicious food.

Jungsuh

 Then there is Jungsuh who in her own words ‘I left my job because I was so, so angry. What I needed was peace in my life, the ability to tame my anger. I thought about what I could do and came up with an answer; meditation.’ Jungsuh entered the bookshop one day, was hooked by its genial atmosphere and became a permanent fixture. She spent her time crocheting scrubbies and knitting all sorts of stuff, which gave her ‘a sense of satisfaction…a pride of completing things’, ordering a coffee every three hours to avoid being a bother. She eventually pals up with Yeongju and Jimi.

Mincheol

Now introducing Mincheol, a teen who feels tired of life, yet gets invaluable perspective from his imos (aunts) Yeongju and Jungsuh. As he watches them, he too learns to take a step back and recalibrate.

Seungwoo

Last but not least is Seungwoo, author of ‘How To Write Well. ‘Serious. Honest. He was very much like his writing.’ And he was extremely fascinated by Seungwoo which we can see as they forge a delightful friendship, over writing seminars, book talks and long discussions on finding happiness.

Though Seungwoo initially loved programming, it eventually started feeling dreary. The evenings where he taught himself the Korean language in depth, were his most pleasing movements. He is by day a dutiful employee, by night an author making waves with his unique, enigmatic writing style.

My Thoughts about The Book

As Yeongju, Seungwoo, Minjun, Jungsuh, Jimi and Mincheol try to navigate through life, the bookshop becomes a place where they all learn to live. As Bo-Reum narrates their story, she successfully questions and contemplates on multiple profound and nuanced ideas that left me gazing at a blank wall with glazed, dreamy eyes.

It took some mulling over, but I wanted to share what I understood from some of her thoughts that really captivated me.

What is life? Does life have a meaning? Just like every other mortal, Yeongju questions existence. As she thinks she peppers Minjun with questions. With his non-committal ‘wells and maybes’, I think he helped Yeongju follow her train of thought better.

‘‘Do you think there is meaning to life?’

‘Huh?’

‘I don’t think there is… that’s why people try to make sense of their own. In the end everyone’s life is different, according to the meaning they find. Meaning. Where can you find meaning? In love? Friendships, books, bookshops? It’s not easy.’

I think the characters did struggle to find meaning in life, but all of them succeeded in doing that. And I think the excerpt above was sort of like foreshadowing how they would do that. The bookshop, the books in it and the friendships forged within helped allay the fear of the characters that there was no meaning in existence.

Finding a meaning in life can bring you happiness. Yet is it a fleeting emotion? Or something that lasts longer sustaining you through all kinds of obstacles? There is a lot of discussion about these questions throughout the book, but I would like to highlight one conversation between Yeongju and Seungwoo over a cup of quince tea.

‘Happiness is never beyond reach. It is not in the distant past, nor on the horizon of the future. It is right in front of me. Like….. Today’s quince tea. ‘

‘And I think life becomes easier knowing happiness is not that far out of reach.’

‘Everyone has a different definition of happiness and out there is probably something that fits me.’

Is this true I wonder. Is my idea of happiness different from yours? What makes it different? All of these are explained further in the conversation, but I don’t want to give you all the spoilers.

When it comes to the meaning of life, one reason it is so inexplicable is because human life is transient. We never know what is going to happen next. And some of us may not be fine with that, the characters are not always fine with it either, but they keep learning. After a great deal of thinking, Minjun, who is a man who goes by the idea  ‘when you have thoughts, just hold on to see where they take you, and as time passes, you will find out if you were right, defined the past, present and future within the boundaries of time in his control. There was no need to think beyond that.’

I think this is a little bit different from Yeongju who struggles to keep out the past, which sometimes makes her emotionally down. Later in the book she learns to let the memories flow, and go on with the natural order.

According to Jungsuh ‘To adopt a mature attitude towards life is to know how to live in the moment’ which is why I think she spends so much time knitting, focussing on her craft, on her clicking needles as she calms herself down.

Review

People can also get tired of doing what they love. That message is loud and clear throughout the book. Everything in moderation is the best. Is that true? Can we truly get tired of doing something we love? I think it’s like when we read the same old book again and again. We start losing interest and indeed you become agitated by the sameness of it all. We need a change every now and then. We need a break every now and then. I think that is what the story is trying to tell us, but it is kind of contradictory because there seems to be no moderation in the number of books read by the protagonist. She loves it but does not get tired, yet does get tired running the bookshop sometimes even though she loves that too.

What I Liked about the book

And now I am getting carried away. While the book is immensely thought-provoking, it is also a book for and about all book lovers. Books, writers and the bookshop take center-stage as the characters sort out their questions with guidance from the written thoughts of others. I think the author is also trying to tell people to read. Reading helps you when you are down, books give you advice when you are stuck. We are all reading less. It is a fact and I think the author is out to remedy that with this perfect tribute to all cosy bookshops everywhere. Like the one where I got this delightful book from.

Rating

I rate this book 5/5!

 

FAQS: Welcome to the Hyunam Dong Bookshop – A Book Review

 

Who is the author of Welcome to the Hyunam Dong Bookshop?

The book is written by Hwang Bo Reum, a Korean author / writer known for her heartwarming and reflective storytelling. Other Works by Hwang Bo-reum are

Every Day I Read – an essay/essay-collection,.

Dansun Saenghwalja

Hyunam Dong Bookshop

What is the main theme of the book?

The book explores the search for meaning, happiness, and balance in life through the lives of people connected to a small bookshop in Hyunam-Dong. It shows how books and human connections can bring peace, clarity, and fulfilment.

Who is the main character in the story?

The protagonist is Yeongju, a successful woman who quits her stressful corporate job to open a cozy bookshop and rediscover herself through books and friendship.

What makes this book different from other contemporary novels?

Unlike many fast-paced stories, this book takes a gentle, introspective approach. It focuses on everyday moments, quiet emotions, and the comfort of literature, rather than dramatic events.

Buy the Book Thus She Rose | A gripping novel for age 16+

Book related to Dramatic events published by Bookosmia  is Thus She Rose | A gripping novel for age 16+ written by The book is written by Aditi Sowmyanarayan, an award-winning neurodiverse author. Her previous works include Gobble Thy Prejudice and Small Stories, Big Thoughts. Her writing has been recognized globally, including by the Head of the Stanford Neurodiversity Program, and she is associated with organizations like Sol’s Arc and India Autism Center.

What message does the author try to convey?

The story conveys that true happiness is not found in distant dreams or material success-it lies in small, meaningful moments, like reading a book or sharing a cup of tea with a friend.

What are some important quotes from the book mentioned in the review?

“Happiness is never beyond reach. It is not in the distant past, nor on the horizon of the future. It is right in front of me.”

“I believe that if they keep stimulating themselves by reading, one day they will be able to reflect on themselves.”

These lines reflect the novel’s central philosophy of mindfulness and self-discovery.

Children’s Books realted to mindfullness.

Buy the book ‘Mindful Me’ Journal | For Children Age 8+

What did Elaine Elizabeth Jinto like most about the book?

Elaine loved that it is a book for and about book lovers—a story where reading, reflection, and the joy of bookshops take centre stage. She appreciated how the book encourages people to read more and find meaning in simple pleasures.

Why does the reviewer rate it 5/5?

Elaine gave the book a perfect rating because of its thought-provoking ideas, emotional depth, relatable characters, and beautiful message about literature and life.

What kind of readers would enjoy this book?

This book is perfect for book lovers, reflective readers, and anyone seeking comfort or inspiration. It especially appeals to those who enjoy cozy, character-driven stories with philosophical undertones.

Where can readers find more of Elaine Elizabeth Jinto’s work?

Elaine’s poems, essays, and stories have been published in Skipping Stones, Stone Soup Magazine, and on the StoneSoup.com website, where she also writes travel pieces and book reviews.

Can I too submit the book review?

Yes, You can submit the  book reviews at Bookosmia website – Get Published or email at sara@bookosmia.com

Are there any interesting books?

Yes, there are many books that Bookosmia publishes. It takes India’s No 1 Publisher for Children’s Book Publishing.

You can check the Shop section of Bookosmia website and explore the various books.

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This article is published by Bookosmia, India’s #1 publisher for and by young people. Bookosmia is Children’s Book publisher and publishes stories, books, podcasts, events, TED-Ed talks, workshops, bedtime stories and more related to kids and young adults.

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