Welcome to the Hyunam Dong Bookshop: A Review

 Whispers of Solace: A Journey Through the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop 

There is a particular magic woven into stories about books. Those quiet unassuming tales that unfold within the hushed aisles of bookshops and the hallowed shelves of libraries. For a bibliophile like myself, such narratives are more than mere entertainment, they are a sanctuary. Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop penned by Hwang Bo-Reum and gracefully translated from Korean is one such treasure. It is a tender, introspective novel that lingers in the heart long after the final page is turned. 

At its core, this is the story of Yeoungju, a woman who after years of chasing societal expectations, takes a step back and turns a new page in her life. First through a demanding career and then through an unfulfilling marriage, her life was reduced to chasing impossible dreams. She finally dares to step off the well-trodden path. Seeking refuge in the written word, she opens a small, independent bookshop in the charming Hyunam-dong neighborhood of Seoul. Yet, this is no fairy-tale escape. Yeoungju is an amateur in the world of bookselling and her journey is fraught with uncertainty. The initial thrill of entrepreneurship soon gives way to the sobering reality of dwindling sales, the relentless competition from online retailers and the gnawing self-doubt that plagues every dreamer. 

But within these struggles lies the novel’s quiet brilliance. Yeoungju’s resilience is not loud or dramatic. It is slow, tentative and highly relatable. The bookshop started mainly as a business venture soon becomes her safe haven, her comfort zone. This is her place she rediscovers herself, one book at a time.

 

 

PC: Seong Ji Min/Clayhouse Inc.

The narrative deepens as we encounter the constellation of souls drawn to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop, each carrying their own burdens. There is Minjun, the barista with a university degree that has led him nowhere. His confidence and self esteem has been eroded by rejection after rejection. In the quiet corners of the bookshop, he finds not just employment but a fragile sense of purpose. Then there is Jimi, the owner of the nearby Goat Beans which provide the coffee to the bookshop, trapped in a marriage that has long since turned sour. Her friendship with Yeoungju becomes a lifeline for both women, a reminder that solidarity can bloom even in the most unexpected places. 

Young Mincheol drifts through life with an apathy that worries his mother. Jungsuh is exhausted by the instability of contractual work and seeks solace in the simple act of knitting amidst the bookstore’s shelves. And then there is Seongwoo, the socially awkward author of a book on "correct writing," whose own life is a testament to the pressures of perfectionism. Through these characters, Hwang Bo-Reum paints a poignant portrait of modern disillusionment. The quiet crises of unfulfilled dreams and the weight of societal expectations caught in the relentless grind of an economy that often values efficiency over humanity. 

 Yet, for all its melancholy, Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop is ultimately a novel of hope. Yeoungju’s determination to keep her bookstore alive through book clubs, author talks, writing seminars and even a newspaper column reflects a broader truth - that passion though fragile can be tenacious. The characters’ struggles are real, but so are their small victories. Minjun’s realization that he need not participate in the soul-crushing rat race, Seongwoo’s decision to abandon the corporate world’s suffocating demands are subtle rebellions against a culture obsessed with measurable success. 

What makes this novel so deeply moving is its refusal to offer easy answers. Life is not about grand transformations, but about the quiet accumulation of small joys. It can be a perfectly brewed cup of coffee, the weight of a well-loved book in one’s hands or the comfort of a shared silence. In a world that demands constant achievement, Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop is a gentle reminder that happiness is not a destination, but a series of fleeting, precious moments. 

For anyone who has ever sought refuge in a bookstore, or who has felt the ache of unmet expectations, this book is a balm. It whispers that it is never too late to begin again, to redefine success on one’s own terms. And in that whisper, there is immense solace.

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon - A Review

Grace Lin’s Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is more than just a charming children’s book, it is a masterful blend of fantasy, folklore and life lessons that captivates readers of all ages. At its heart, the story follows Minli, a courageous and kind-hearted girl from the impoverished village where life is full of hardship. She embarks on a quest to find the Old Man of the Moon. Inspired by her father’s enchanting folktales, she hopes to change her family’s fortune but instead discovers something far more precious: the true meaning of happiness, friendship, and gratitude.

Minli’s adventure is richly layered with Chinese mythology and timeless storytelling. Along the way, she befriends a flightless dragon, encounters a talking goldfish and meets a grieving king, among other memorable characters. Each interaction weaves together themes of perseverance, selflessness and the importance of storytelling itself. One of the most poignant moments comes when Minli must make a selfless choice , she gives up her own wish for wealth to help her dragon friend fly. This act of kindness beautifully reinforces the novel’s message that real fortune lies not in gold or riches, but in love, generosity and the bonds we share with others.  

Grace Lin’s lyrical prose and vivid imagery immerse readers in a world that feels both fantastical and deeply rooted in cultural tradition. The book’s structure which intertwines Minli’s journey with folktale-like stories creates a tapestry of wisdom that lingers long after the last page.

                                                                     Photo Credit- Danielle Tait

  

Beyond its enchanting narrative, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon exemplifies how children’s literature can serve as a powerful ambassador for a country’s culture. Stories like this do more than entertain. They also:  

1. Preserve and Share Cultural Heritage – By drawing from Chinese folklore, Lin introduces young readers to traditions, values and storytelling styles that might otherwise remain unfamiliar. This fosters appreciation and respect for diverse cultures. 

 

2. Promote National Identity – When children see their own heritage reflected in stories, it instills pride and a sense of belonging. Conversely, when children from other cultures read these tales, it builds cross-cultural understanding. 

 

3. Encourage Global Literacy and Empathy– Books like this help young readers see the world through different perspectives, nurturing empathy and curiosity about other ways of life.  

Grace Lin’s work is a shining example of how children’s literature can transcend borders, acting as both a mirror for young readers to see themselves and a window into another culture. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon doesn’t just tell a beautiful story, it carries the essence of Chinese tradition into the hands of children worldwide.  

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a treasure of children’s literature, one that entertains, educates and inspires. Its timeless lessons about gratitude, courage and the magic of storytelling make it a must-read for young audiences, while its cultural richness offers a gateway to understanding Chinese heritage. Grace Lin has crafted a story that proves how powerful children’s books can be in shaping hearts, minds and even a nation’s global image.  

Memory, Identity, and Trauma in On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous

 On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous, written by Ocean Vuong, is a semi-autobiographical novel that unearths the complex intersections of identity, trauma, and memory, using language that is as poetic as it is piercing. The book takes the form of a letter from Little Dog, a young Vietnamese American man, to his illiterate mother, Rose. This structure not only serves as a literary device but underscores the book’s central themes: the gaps in understanding that arise between generations, cultures, and languages.

The narrative explores how memory and trauma are transmitted across generations, particularly through what sociologist Marianne Hirsch calls “postmemory.” Postmemory describes how children of survivors inherit the traumatic experiences of their parents, even if they did not directly experience them. In Little Dog’s case, he inherits the traumas of the Vietnam War, poverty, migration, and the violence that his mother and grandmother endured. These traumas affect his sense of self, belonging, and place within American society.

Vuong’s novel is also a meditation on language and identity. Little Dog’s attempt to express his experiences through a letter to his mother—a letter she will never read—demonstrates how language can be both a bridge and a barrier. Writing becomes a tool for self-exploration and self-creation, allowing Little Dog to reconstruct his identity in a way that acknowledges both his Vietnamese heritage and his American reality. At the same time, his mother's inability to read his words signifies the linguistic and cultural divides that hinder full understanding and reconciliation.

Another core theme in the book is queerness and desire, both of which are depicted as complex and painful. Little Dog’s relationship with Trevor, a white boy he meets in adolescence, is tender yet tragic, exposing the intersectional tensions between race, sexuality, and class. Vuong illuminates how Little Dog’s queerness both isolates him and provides a sense of belonging in a world that seems to exclude him at every turn. Through Little Dog’s experiences, Vuong paints a broader picture of the complexities faced by queer people of color navigating identities that are often marginalized within both their ethnic communities and society at large.

In a broader theoretical framework, On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous can be understood through the lens of queer theory, postcolonialism, and trauma studies. The novel disrupts traditional narratives of immigrant success, presenting a raw portrayal of the immigrant experience marked by trauma, poverty, and discrimination. It explores how marginalized bodies resist yet are deeply affected by structural violence, while simultaneously demonstrating resilience through art, love, and self-expression. Vuong’s novel thus challenges dominant narratives of American identity and history, centering voices that are often silenced or dismissed.

Vuong’s lyrical language and fragmented narrative structure mirror the disjointed and often painful process of self-discovery. This style amplifies the book’s themes of fragmentation and displacement, as Little Dog pieces together his past to make sense of his present. In doing so, the novel exemplifies what philosopher Judith Butler might describe as the “precariousness” of life: an awareness of vulnerability and mortality that, while painful, also gives rise to beauty and connection. Vuong’s work invites readers to consider how identity, place, and memory are shaped not just by what we remember, but by the stories we tell to make meaning of our lives.

Ultimately, On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous is a narrative of survival and self-discovery—a testament to the ways in which love and language can serve as anchors, however transient, amidst trauma and displacement. Vuong’s novel urges us to reflect on the possibility of beauty within vulnerability, and on the radical act of bearing witness to one’s own history, no matter how fragmented or painful it may be.

The Elephant Vanishes by Haruki Murakami

Written in a seemingly detached apathetic tone, The Elephant Vanishes is a collection of short stories by Haruki Murakami. Employing an esoteric style of magical realism, the storyteller in his signature style responds to the society at large. Most of the stories of the collection have been published beforehand. Set in the Japan of 1970s and some in contemporary times, the stories are not bound by geographical locations and often transcend to universal themes. There is also ample use of western cultural artifacts like the Mozart tapes, sphagetti dinners etc. 

The Elephant Vanishes opens with ‘The Wind-Up Bird and Tuesday’s Women’, a surreal narrative depicting an indifferent protagonist searching for his wife’s lost cat amidst their stagnant relationship. Alongside the peculiar women who repeatedly contacts him and the bizarre encounter in the vicinity of an abandoned house, this blend of elements, though not entirely identical to his other works, reflects Murakami's signature style, as seen in exemplary novels like South of the Border, West of the Sun, A Wild Sheep Chase, and Kafka on the Shore. This short story, a slightly altered version of the initial chapter of The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, stands out as one of the finest in the collection, capturing the essence of Murakami's literary brilliance and earning its place as a personal favorite. Some of the other interesting tales in the collection are On Seeing the 100% Perfect Girl One Beautiful April Morning, Sleep, Barn Burning etc. A story that I found intriguing in the collection is The Green Little Monster. Being one of the briefer tales within the collection, ‘The Little Green Monster’ revolves around a woman whose home is unexpectedly invaded by a diminutive, scaly creature of emerald hue. From her viewpoint, the creature appears exceedingly unattractive, despite its simple desire for affection, and it ultimately meets its demise due to her forceful rejection. Unlike Murakami's distinct style, the language utilized here is straightforward and lacks his trademark flair. This departure makes it stand out starkly among the other stories. However the story towards the end made me wonder who is the monster - the innocent lovestruck alien or the hate filled woman? It also reminded me how we tend to reject people who are different from us.

                                                         (pc: https://sites.udel.edu/movingfictions/the-books/kafka-on-the-shore/about-the-author/)

"The Elephant Vanishes," the concluding story and namesake of this collection, diverges distinctly from another story "The Dancing Dwarf," despite both involving elephants. In the latter, elephants are produced in a factory, whereas in the former, there is a solitary elephant, once a zoo resident, now serving as a sort of town symbol. One day, both the elephant and its caretaker vanish without a trace, leaving behind no clues even years later. 

Murakami skillfully utilizes the narrator's pervasive sense of apathy, intricate metaphors, and the motif of the disappearing elephant to critique the encroachment of modernity, highlighting the importance of often overlooked traditional values. This theme intersects with the narrator's personal struggle as he grapples with questions of identity within a society marked by both a disconcerting sense of alienation and a contradictory sense of unity.

A Story from the Red Corridor

I Named my Sister Silence by Manoj Rupda and Translated by Hansda Showvendra Shekhar, 2023, Eka,

pp 170, Rs 499.

Manoj Rupda’s I Named My Sister Silence has been translated from his Hindi Novel Kaale Adhyaay published in 2015. With a change in the title, the translator Hansda Showvendra Shekhar has also slightly realigned the focus of the book – from a dark episode of India’s recent history to a person whose silence told many tales. The book is the account of an unnamed Gond youth’s life narrated by the protagonist himself. Set in the vicinity of the forests in Chattisgarh, the book starts with an incident in which the young narrator follows an elephant in the deep of the jungle.

Caught in an unfamiliar area, the elephant is attacked and killed by a pack of wild dogs. As the terror stricken young boy witnesses the silent death and devour of the giant animal, something inside him also dies. He returns from the jungle with dominating animalistic instincts of survival. It was also when he developed a fascination with large structures. As he returned home, he found solace in his step sister.

As his village found itself caught in the cross fire between the Maoists and the security personnel, our protagonist escaped from the drudge by virtue of his education. His sister – who silently survived their mother’s abuse helped him to realize the emancipatory potential of education. The sister’s perpetual silence is however deafening. Madavi Irma or Irma Kako’s silence is a symbol of a community rendered voiceless in the face of structural and systemic oppression. Her lack of protests against her step mother’s cruelty and her support for the Maoist movement speaks a lot about the resilience of the Adivasi youths.

The protagonists education takes him to far off places. Working on the cargo ship Jaldoot, he travels to far off places – sometimes carrying weapons or delivering food packages for relief. But he still feels the pull towards his home. Wheat he returns to is however abandoned villages and relief camps. When he discovers his mother acting as a collaborator to the securities, he feels disgust. He is haunted by the blank looks of sexually abused underaged young girls his mother supplies to the army. As he enters the jungle looking for his sister, he comes across a peculiar monolith. Structures have been erected of Special Police Officers (SPO)s and common villagers martyred by Maoists. What infuriates him is the discovery of a monolith with his own name. Numbers of deaths have been bloated to justify the crackdown on the villagers. The names show that both the killed and the alleged killers are Adivasis.

When the protagonist finally meets the Maoists’ he is forced to face the exploitation of natural resources of his home Bastar. He is disturbed that he himself is a part of the exploitative machinery. When he returns to his ship, his captain Alok Datt who often ruminates on the past shares with him similar tales of structural exploitation. An episode of lynching of black Americans accounted by Alok Datt will leave a harrowing impact on the readers. When body parts of black men were auctioned to be severed, it brought out the worst in human beings and what they are capable of. Similarities can be drawn with what the adivasis and dalits faced in India.

As the ship Jaldoot is left with no work, the novel also makes some concluding comments on the onslaught of neo colonialism and the exploitative nature of Indian capitalist state. The present neo colonial regimes have further deepened the social and economic schisms. The gap between the rich and the poor nations as well as people have just widened all across. The erstwhile colonies are still struggling to reach development but continue to be overwhelmingly dominant on the western capitalist nations.

                                 

The novel within its limited scope grapples with some of the biggest issues of our times. Resource rich areas are often turned into theatres of conflict and the inhabitants are pitted against each other with the sole aim to enable exploitation. The bounty from such ‘exploration’ however is not divided among the inhabitants but extorted from them. This urgency to explore and exploit and turn everything into a profitable commercial venture is necessitated by a neo colonial regime. The ‘development’ from such regime has somehow left out the lives of many and structural prejudices and hierarchies are still thriving.

Hansda Showvendra Shekhar who has also authored books on systemic exploitation and violence meted out on the marginalized have done an excellent task of translation. The protagonist’s voice is flat and detached owing to the violence that he had to endure. It however also reflects on the importance of education as well as the resilience of the common people. This is an important work of our times.

Parvin Sultana

(Parvin Sultana teaches Political Science in Pramathesh Barua College, Assam)

(The review was published in the April issue of the Book Review Journal)

What Will People Say by Mitra Phukan

 

Tinigaon is the quintessential small town in Assam. Caught between transition, it brings to mind places which have a cosmopolitan outlook but which have not completely dismissed its traditional values. This is where Dr Mihika Borthakur lives and works. A college teacher, she lost her husband sometime back. When everything looked bleak and hopeless, she found new hope in the companionship of Zuhayr Rahman, a friend, a partner who feels the void in her life to an extent.

Mitra Phukan’s book What Will People Say revolve around the choices that Mihika makes and how the society around her reacts. The reaction is as expected— a Brahmin widow dilly dallying with a Muslim man in her middle age is a strict no no. Irrespective of their educational and economic background, Mihika almost faces social boycott because of her choices.

Interestingly her children who study and work in different states are ok with her choices and stand by her. Mitra Phukan with this introspective work of fiction took on age old taboos which are still prevalent in our modern societies. Different parameters are used for same choices made by men and women. A widower remarrying is seen as a necessity but in case of a widow, it is debauchery.

Similarly, inter caste and inter faith relationships continue to be a difficult subject and often led to conflicting views. Through the relationship of Mihika and Zuhayr, Phukan points to this. Another transcending aspect of the novel is talking about love between a couple who are in their mid fifties. In an era where mainstream and popular literary and works are obsessed with adolescent love, Phukan transgresses another boundary by talking about love found in the later part of life.

Another crucial aspect of the book is the space it gives to female friendships and comraderie. In difficult times, Mihika’s friends who have had their own struggles stood by her. The cross-class allegiance is shown when her house help Binani and her masseuse Sita reaches out to her. Mihika found allies in these lesser educated women.

Written in a very ruminative and lucid way, the book is a brave effort in talking about issues that are crucial but overlooked. It also speaks to generations across and emphasises on the need to rethink about our earlier generations — their emotional needs should also be given adequate importance.

(Published on 07-09-2023 at Nezine.com)

Poonachi by Perumal Murugan

Perumal Murugan is perhaps one of the best story tellers of present day India. His work is known for bringing forth the rural India to readers and invoking human emotions. This novel does something similar. Written from the point of view of a young she-goat Poonachi, it reflects upon the hierarchies in the human world.

Very few books are written from the perspective of animals which are meant for adults. Here one can think of the Animal Farm by George Orwell. Murugan’s book does something similar. Poonachi is a day old she goat and she is given to an elderly couple by an unknown man named Bakasura. The very essence of the event points to some divine incident as Bakasura claims Poonachi belongs to a line of goats that yield seven kids.

As the elderly couple take to looking after Poonachi, the old woman makes a lot of effort to bring up the orphan goat which can barely eat. Poonachi’s life from the very beginning is a struggle. Left with no mother to nurse her, she is treated harshly by the other nanny goats. She grows up on the barley soaked water that the old woman feeds her.

But as she grows up, she is visited by the familiar emotions of yearning for a mate. She even chose Poovan who was a buck in the old man’s daughter’s house. But instead she was forced to mate with an old goat. Her yearning for intimacy was left incomplete. As she gave birth to seven kids which was no less than miracle, her kids were also given up for adoption as she could not take care of them. Even her maternal instincts were not satiated.

When Poonachi was ready for mating the second time, she could mate with Poovan. But their emotional bonding was cut short when Poovan was sacrificed that very night. Poonachi’s emotional upheaval is heart touching. Her take on human greed, self centredness will make us introspect.

Murugan’s writing is known for its unapologetic take on rural lives. Nowhere do we find a romanticisation of village life or uncritical look on pristine rural customs. Rather we find a strong humane take on the alleged simple village customs which are at times rooted in prejudices.

Poonachi’s story is not just the story of a goat but also resonates with the lives and struggles of women. From a childhood to motherhood, this struggle is reflected in Poonachi’s life. As we reach the end of Poonachi’s life, we see this dichotomy. Poonachi’s body turns to a stone idol pointing to a culture which on one hand discriminates the female kind and at the same time deifies them.

Poonachi’s reflections on her relationship with the old woman also show how the decisions of the woman were often imposed on her. The simple rustic story takes a deep dig in emotions like love, death, loss and resilience. In passing, the story also reflects on the nature of an authoritarian government which tries to regulate every aspect of a person’s life.

Written originally in Tamil and translated by N. Kalyan Raman, this is a thought provoking book.