AUGUST BOOK CLUB: HWANG BO-REUM’S 'WELCOME TO THE HYUNAM-DONG BOOKSHOP'

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Image source: Bloomsbury Publishing

Our August Book Club pick is Hwang Bo-Reum’s Welcoke to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop. Translated by Shanna Tan.

I don’t think I’ve ever encountered a book where upon completing the first page I said, 'oh my gosh I love this.' From the start, Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop created a perfect idyllic painting of what to expect going forward. It tugged on the heartstrings in the way that you could put yourself in the position of many of the characters. 

There’s a sense of nostalgia to this; where I was able to reflect on the childhood dream of owning your own bookshop or working in a library. I also adore the fact that it made me think about every bookstore I’ve visited, particularly fixing on the notion that these trips are always a somewhat positive experience. Whether it’s browsing the shelves and coming across books I love, books that I have just discovered, or interacting with staff who are just so passionate about their job, their books and the experience they want their customers to have in their shops, it’s something Hwang has captured perfectly.

I love the idea of happiness with a book. Both in the experiences you have whilst reading a book, and the nostalgia of reading. As mentioned in the novel, we’ve all continued reading through meal times as well as into the late hours, making it even more relatable. There were so many elements that you could explore, like the idea of solitude and loneliness having or bringing depth to life is examined within this story, and again, links to the idea of happiness. You get the feeling that you too could almost be embedded within this book, through the experiences these characters go through and the specific moments Hwang captures. At times I felt like I was sitting alongside these characters talking about everyday situations that you would find yourself discussing with your friends, such as the deeper intricacies of life that are affecting you. 

The way the chapters were structured and organised almost felt like postcards of life, and the inclusion of varying formats within the book really appealed to me. At one point, questions were being asked and I was having fun thinking of my own responses to the questions, or how I’d approach each query. Between the interviews, social media posts and bookish initiatives, I felt like we were gaining a wide scope on the inner workings of a bookseller and bookshop. It was primarily about the idea of seeking comfort within the words and experiences you read, and this was reflected in her mission to match people to different books depending on what they needed. It again made me reflect on one of my favourite ideas, that being ‘the power that books hold.’ The idea that, whilst you might not be familiar with something it might be just what you need. As in if it doesn’t fit within what you generally read, branching out can sometimes contribute something to the life you’re living - or with the situation you’re experiencing, or could experience, or have experienced. That’s what reading is all about.  

I really enjoyed the interview style chapter, again, there was a focus on reading and how it garners empathy, a much needed trait in the world today. On page 120 our main female character, Yeongju, talks about the impact we have on others, and the world, and what we bring to it. It’s a universal thought. Or at least one I’m sure many of us have at one point or another, thought of. I felt it delved into this topic through the experiences of different people who are all at different points in their lives, therefore making it completely relatable. 

I perceived the story somewhat like looking at the lifespan of a bookshop, and of course the books within it. In doing so, Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop is ultimately a story about hope. Or rather, a collection of stories with hope as the running thread. One thing that really grounded the text for me was the references and discussion of actual pre-existing books, and how they link to the ideas present in this novel. Both in a reflective sense and in the exploration of understanding. I of course took notes for further reading. 

The romance came as quite a surprise to me. I can’t say I expected it in this aspect, or I’d say, I wasn’t expecting it to be this certain duo. It was really beautiful, and the way Hwang captured it was quite charming. It’s about seizing that happiness - and at the crux of it, that’s what this book is about. Finding happiness, or more specifically, what makes you happy. 

I love the emphasis on the environment you live in and how you respond to it. Particularly how you feel within it, and the focus on healthy spaces in order to promote a healthy lifestyle for both your mind and your way of living. Similarly I enjoyed the exploration on the meaning of life, and how work plays into it. Understanding that we don’t have all the answers and don’t need to. That we live in the present and that things can just be. I definitely see myself picking up this book again. 

Hwang Bo-Reum’s Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop is available through Bloomsbury Publishing.