Challenge Corner discussion

Yeongju is burned out. With her high-flying career, demanding marriage, and busy life in Seoul, she knows she should feel successful, but all she feels is drained. Yet an abandoned dream nags at her, and in a leap of faith, she leaves her old life behind. Quitting her job and divorcing her husband, Yeongju moves to a small residential neighborhood outside the city, where she opens the Hyunam-dong Bookshop.

For the first few months, all Yeongju does is cry, deterring visitors. But the long hours in the shop give her time to mull over what makes a good bookseller and store, and as she starts to read hungrily, host author events, and develop her own bookselling philosophy, she begins to ease into her new setting. Surrounded by friends, writers, and the books that connect them all, she finds her new story as the Hyunam-dong Bookshop transforms into an inviting space for lost souls to rest, heal, and remember that it's never too late to scrap the plot and start again.

27% - The Crochet Giveaway
(view spoiler)[So far, it's nice slice of life story. It has lovely moments and I think a lot of people can find themself in Yeongju and Minjun's feelings. (hide spoiler)]

Hi! Can I join you?

Sure, the more the merrier! :)

That's great, thank you! :) I'll start it in a moment!

Aneta wrote: "27% - The Crochet Giveaway
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(view spoiler)[They are really relatable characters!! (hide spoiler)]

27%
(view spoiler)[So far I am enjoying it. It is quiet, and it is slow, but not in a bad way. And I love the characters!
The chapter about recommending good books was interesting, and relatable, as it was the one with the author's chat in it.
There is a lot here for bookworms and I am having a great time with it! (hide spoiler)]

52%
(view spoiler)[It is pretty slow, but in the best way. I am enjoying the time I am spending with these characters quite a lot!
And I am also glad that the MC finally explained why she wanted to keep the bookshop open for 2 years. I have to admit that, in the beginning, when she employed Minjun and told him that the bookshop was meant to be open only for 2 years I was both curious and scared by it. But this makes sense, and I really hope that the bookshop will keep living after the 2-year mark.
I love that we can really feel the love for the books in there, and I love that the coffee has an important role in there too! (hide spoiler)]

74%
(view spoiler)[I love the way in which the author talks about social problems. We have this in a lot of chapters, mainly the ones that talk about work (and we have a lot of them in the book) or about the research of happiness or of sense in life, and still the book remains a slice of life, sort of sweet story that seems to have no stakes or almost no stakes in it. It is a relaxing reading, and it is heartwarming, and still, the social criticism is strong. And I love that it is really well-balanced, and that it never overpowers the good vibes, or the plot.
I hope I am making sense!
And I am also shipping the MC with the writer, they are so cute!! (hide spoiler)]

Finished
(view spoiler)[I loved this book, and I loved the author's note at the end. I think she managed to convey what she was hoping and wishing from this book, and it was such a relatable and heartwarming book!
I loved the characters and their story. I loved their love for books, reading, and coffee, and I loved seeing some great friendships in there, too. (hide spoiler)]

52% - Finding It's Place
(view spoiler)[I'm starting to get bored. I like the characters but it reads a little bit like self-help and I'm not biggest fan of this aspect. (hide spoiler)]

Aneta wrote: "52% - Finding It's Place
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(view spoiler)[The self-help component is strong, that's true! And usually I am not the biggest fan but here things worked out for me quite well, I am sorry you are getting bored! (hide spoiler)]

Sibil wrote: "Aneta wrote: "52% - Finding It's Place
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(view spoiler)[I'm glad you like it! I love idea of this book but self-help part is really not my thing. I just need something to happen but it's Slice of Life so I don't think it's gonna. (hide spoiler)]

82% - Letting Go of the Past
(view spoiler)[I'm glad we finally got to know the reason for her divorce. She was burned out, depressed and her husband didn't even make time to help her. I'm just shocked her husband didn't have any kind of reaction until everything was signed! (hide spoiler)]

Aneta wrote: "82% - Letting Go of the Past
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(view spoiler)[I was really curious about her divorce too, so I am glad we got some answers! I was more shocked by her mother's reaction than the husband, but in any event, I was really sorry for her, because it was so hard! (hide spoiler)]

Sibil wrote: "Aneta wrote: "82% - Letting Go of the Past
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(view spoiler)[Her mother sucks! But I think it was alread mentioned they aren't talking with each other beacuse of Yeongju's divorce, so I was kind of expecting something bad from her. (hide spoiler)]

Finished
(view spoiler)[I have a mix feelings abou this one. On one hand, I like charachters, atmosphere and it has really nice moments but on the other hand, it's so slow and doesn't have a plot. (hide spoiler)]

Aneta wrote: "Finished
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(view spoiler)[Yes, the plot is non-existent! (hide spoiler)]

i'm picking up my hold for this after work today. i'm interested to see both your thoughts!

i started this yesterday at dinner and really like it. I read last year and it has a similar rhythm. not sure how i am going to enter my updates since there aren't chapters but i'll figure it out :)

ok just finished and can dive back into this one

just about to start "A Poor Sentence Weakens a Good Voice"

i'm loving this book and these characters. i feel like i'm gaining a lot of personal growth stuff (view spoiler)[ as someone who recently also just up and changed my life, it did feel like it was necessary to provide explanations to people so they would understand. but in reality you have to think good about yourself and know you did what was right for you. i can see Minjun's struggles with this and i like that Yeongju is helping along. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

just about to start "Finding Its Place"

(view spoiler)[ these characters are lovely and I'm enjoying learning more about them. I appreciate that there is no secret romance between the MC and also the other books that are being mentioned, definitely added to my TBR. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

Finished - I really enjoyed this book and am debating on buying it so I can read it again in the future, which is not something I usually do outside of a series reread. (view spoiler)[ there were so many great quotes that I saved along the way; I wish GR made it easier to save "highlights" when it's not a KU book but still have them to refer to. I think I resonate with Minjun most, about feeling like you need to work towards something but feeling unfulfilled and stressed about it. there were a couple books mentioned in here that I added to my TBR too. lovely book. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]