Hyunam Dong Bookshop Quotes

A life surrounded by good people is a successful life. It might not be success as defined by society, but thanks to the people around you, each day is a successful day'.

Books are not meant to remain in your mind, but in your heart. Maybe they exist in your mind too, but as something more than memories. At a crossroads in life, a forgotten sentence or a story from years ago can come back to offer an invisible hand and guide you to a decision. Personally, I feel like the books I've read led me to make the choices I've made in life. While I may not remember all the details, the stories continue to exert a quiet influence on me.

A day well spent is a life well lived.

Life is too complicated and expansive to be judged solely by the career you have. You could be unhappy doing something you liked, just as it was possible to do what you didn't like but derive happiness from something entirely different. Life is mysterious and complex. Work plays an important role in life, but it isn't solely responsible for our happiness or misery

Instead of agonising over what you should do, think about putting effort into whatever you're doing. It's more important to try your best in whatever you do, no matter how small it may seem. All your effort will add up to something.

Dissonance before moments of harmony makes the harmony sound beautiful. Just as harmony and dissonance exist side by side in music, life is the same. Because harmony is preceded by dissonance, that's why we think life's beautiful.

Every one of us is like an island; alone and lonely. It's not a bad thing. Solitude sets us free, just as loneliness brings depth to our lives. In the novels I like, the characters are like isolated islands. In the novels I love, the characters used to be like isolated islands, until their fates gradually intertwined; the kind of stories where you whisper, 'You were here?' and a voice answers, 'Yes, always.

Sometimes I think about how lucky it is that I enjoy the wind. When the evening breeze blows, I thank it for clearing up the stuffiness in me and letting me breathe easier.

To read is to see things from someone else's perspective, and that naturally leads you to stop and look out for other people, rather than chase after success in the rat race. If more people read, I think the world would become a better place.

To find happiness, do what you enjoy. All of you should find something you enjoy doing, something that makes you excited. Instead of pursuing what is recognised and valued by society, do what you like. If you can find it, you’ll not waver easily, no matter what others think. Be brave.

We're all inadequate, weak and ordinary beings. But because we're capable of being kind, for a moment - no matter how fleeting - we can be extraordinary.

When we feel like crying, we should let it all out. Forcing them back only makes the wounds heal slower.

Back then, I told myself not to jump to conclusions to figure out what things mean. I decided not to think too deeply about life. Instead, I spent time eating well, watching movies, doing yoga and making coffee. I started to have an interest in other things besides myself and when I turned back to reflect, I realised that my life wasn't a failure after all

Why? Because we only get one shot in life, and we're living it now.

I should stop labelling myself an inadequate person. I still have opportunities, don’t I? Opportunities to act kindly, to speak with compassion. Even a disappointing human like myself can still be, occasionally, a good person.

Books are not meant to remain in your mind, but in your heart. Maybe they exist in your mind too, but as something more than memories. At a crossroads in life, a forgotten sentence or a story from years ago can come back to offer an invisible hand and guide you to a decision.

Doing what you like doesn’t guarantee happiness. Unless you’re also in an excellent environment, then maybe. Sometimes, it’s the environment that’s more important. If you’re in an ill-suited environment, what you enjoy can become something you want to give up. What I’m saying is, not everyone fits into the mould of finding happiness just by discovering what they like. That’s too simplified, not to mention naive.

Write honestly. Write with effort. With honesty, and sincerity. Then whatever comes out of it will be properly written.

I wanted to write what I want to read. Stories of people who find their own pace and direction, of people who believe in others and wait by their side as they go through difficult times, lost in worry. Stories of those who support others, who celebrate small efforts and resolve in a society that puts people – and everything about them – down once they take a fall. Stories that bring comfort, providing a pat on the shoulder for those who’ve lost the joy in life, having pushed themselves too hard to do well.

When it comes to parents . . . I think it’s more comfortable to live a life that you want instead of a life that would not disappoint them. Of course, it’s a pity that the closest people to you are the ones disappointed in you. But there’s no way to live your whole life according to your parents’ wishes.

Isn’t that what life is about? Forging forward with the answer you have – stumbling along the way and picking yourself up – only to one day realise that the answer you’ve held on to for a long time is not the right one. When that happens, it’s time to look for the next answer. That’s how ordinary folks, like herself, live. Over our life span, the right answer will keep changing.

What happened to the holes?’ ‘The holes?’ ‘Yeah. You said you made the buttons but were stuck because there were no holes. How is it now?’ Minjun shook his head, trying to chase away the sleepiness. He stared up at his friend, a thoughtful look on his face. ‘Easy. I changed my shirt. This time I cut the holes first before I make the buttons that fit. Now, the shirt is buttoned up nicely.

Happiness is never too far away.’ ‘That’s what I wanted to say.’ ‘About happiness?’ ‘Yes, I wanted to say happiness is never beyond reach. It’s not in the distant past, nor on the horizon of the future. It’s right in front of me. Like that day’s beer, and today’s quince tea.

<..> Reading makes you see with clearer eyes and understand the world better. When you do that , you become stronger - the feeling you associate with success. But at the same time with pain. Within the pages, there's much suffering, beyond that we've gone through in our finite experience of life. You'll read about suffering you didn't know existed. Having experienced their pain through words, it becomes a lot harder to focus on pursuing individual happiness and success. 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. <...> <..> We become more compassionate. To read is to see things from someone else's perspective, and that naturally leads you to stop and look out for other people, rather than chase after success in the rat race. If more people read, I think the world would become a better place.

A life surrounded by good people is a successful life. It might not be success as defined by society, but thanks to the people around you, each day is a successful day.

Life is too complicated and expansive to be judged solely by the career you have. You could be unhappy doing something you liked, just as it was possible to do what you didn't like but derive happiness from something entirely different.

A day well spent is a life well lived. Thinking about the line she’d read somewhere, she would drift off to sleep.

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

His simple life – yoga, work, movies, sleep – was starting to feel like a well-put-together routine. Perhaps life was enough as it was.

When you have thoughts, just hold on to them, see where they take you, and as time passes, you'll find out if you were right. Never decide right at the start if something is right or wrong.

You might not notice right away, but everyone in the novel is taking small steps forward, whether it’s learning something new, or making a change to their lives. What they’re doing might be far from achieving what society deems as success, but they’re growing and changing through their consistent efforts – taking several steps away from where they started off. How others judge where they stand – be it high or low, good or bad – doesn’t matter to them. The fact that they’ve progressed, and are happy where they are, is sufficient. The yardstick to measure one’s life lies within oneself. And that’s good enough.

He wanted to tell her that everyone lives their lives hurting people and getting hurt. In life, people get together, and sometimes, they break up.

It didn’t take long for their treasured relationship to rekindle. The books welcomed her back with open arms without judging the person she’d become, and accepted her for who she was.

Dissonance before moments of harmony makes the harmony sound beautiful. Just as harmony and dissonance exist side by side in music, life is the same. Because harmony is preceded by dissonance, that's why we think life is beautiful.

Those who can self-reflect are able to change a little just by reading one book. Even those who can't - I believe that if they keep stimulating themselves by reading, one day they'll be able to reflect on themselves

Every one of us is like an island; alone and lonely. It's not a bad thing. Solitude sets us free, just as loneliness brings depth to our lives.

Yeongju. I’m not asking you to marry me. I’m just saying, let’s like each other.

Just because you've achieved your dreams, doesn't mean you'll always be happy

If more people read, I think the world would be a better place.

Books are not meant to remain in your mind, but in your heart. Maybe they exist in your mind too, but as something more than memories.

Being relaxed or relieved is not the state that we always have to be in. Sometimes, there’s a need to hold on to the frustration of the situation, to the complexity of things as you think and ponder.

Knowing that we're not alone in our misery gives us strength. It's like I'd thought I was the only miserable soul, but now I think, Oh, everyone's the same. The pain remains, but somehow, it feels lighter.

When significant proportions of our time are spent working, recuperating from work, compensating for work, or doing the many things necessary in order to find, prepare for, and hold on to work, it becomes increasingly difficult to say how much of our time is truly our own.”’8

He was going to stay true to his path. He learnt that if he hated the wavering, the uncertainty, all he needed to do was to hold on to something to stay focused. So, he did. He anchored himself with coffee. Emptying himself of distractions, he embraced it wholeheartedly. He wanted to see where it would take him, where he could go with it. A simple thought – so simple it was almost embarrassing – but it gave Minjun strength.

A life without dreams is as dry as a life without tears. There’s a line in Hermann Hesse’s Demian that goes: “But no dream lasts forever, each dream is followed by another, and one should not cling to any particular dream.

Fatigue. Monotony. Emptiness. Hopelessness. Once you fall into any one of those, it’s hard to get out. Like plummeting down a well and crumpling at the bottom. You feel like you’re the most unnecessary person existing in the world, the only one suffering.

I wanted to write a novel evoking the mood of Kamome Diner and Little Forest. A space we can escape to, a refuge from the intensity of daily life where we can’t even pause to take a breather. A space to shelter us from the harsh criticisms whipping us to do more, to go faster. A space to snuggle comfortably for a day. A day without something siphoning our energy, a day to replenish what’s lost. A day we begin with anticipation and end with satisfaction. A day where we grow, and from growth sprouts hope. A day spent having meaningful conversations with good people. Most importantly, a day where we feel good, and our heart beats strongly. I wanted to write about such a day, and the people within it.

Reading makes you deviate further from the textbook definition of success because books don't make us go ahead or above anyone else; they guide us to stand alongside others.

Because it's our first life, worries are aplenty, and anxiety, too. Because it's our first life, it's precious. Because it's our first life, nobody knows what'll happen even in five minutes.

had thought of work as stairs. Stairs to climb to reach the top. Now, I see work as food. Food that you need every day. Food that makes a difference to my body, my heart, my mental health, and my soul. There is food you just shove down your throat, and food that you eat with care and sincerity. I want to be one who takes great care in eating simple food. Not for anyone, but for myself.

It's true. Dreams can make you feel miserable. If you're chasing after an impossible dream, you can't enjoy everyday life. But if you feel happy chasing the dream, then that's also a type of happiness, isn't it?

The worst thing was having to act like I was fine when I wasn’t. I cried every night, feeling so sorry for myself for not being able to speak of my pain. I wonder if things would have turned out different, if I could have been like you, sitting there and letting go of everything else. The tears wouldn’t stop, but you know, when we feel like crying, we should let it all out. Forcing them back only makes the wounds heal slower.

Even if I’m angry, I think I won’t feel as miserable. I can always knit or meditate. It’ll still be tough but I’m sure I can get over it. There’s bound to be shitty people in the workplace. I’ll be a contract worker again and there’ll still be people who belittle me at work. But those people are not important to me at all. Inner peace. I’ll find my own peace. I’ll keep the hobbies I enjoy, and I’ll continue to meet good people like you two. I’ll try to fight and win against this harsh world.

But I came to dislike wanting to find a job. I’m having fun now. That’s enough and isn’t this what life is about?

It’s such an empty feeling, to stake everything on a single accomplishment in life. So, I changed my mind and decided to chase after pleasure – the feeling of happiness – instead.

Right now, what I’m yearning for . . .’ The two of them stood face to face, four steps apart. ‘. . . is someone’s heart.

Each time, he just did his best. Even so, he could feel his skills improving; his coffee was getting better. Wasn’t it enough?

Isn’t life just about going through the motions of living? We live because we were born.

But . . . does everyone really need something interesting? Why can’t I live a mundane life?

Books are not meant to remain in your mind, but in your heart.

I like my work, but if the work becomes too much you'll get thoroughly exhausted by it no matter how interesting it is.

Instead of agonizing over what you should do, think about putting effort into whatever you're doing.

It's more important to try your best in whatever you do, no matter how small it may seem.

Those who waxed lyrical about how life was getting easier were more often than not the ones who were having a hard time.

Good things in books shouldn’t just stay in ink and on paper. I want things happening around me to be good stories that can be shared with others.

Wasn’t this sufficient? To live a life completely different from the present. For those who dream of a brand-new tomorrow, the man’s future is a dream come true.

There have been many times I made a decision while reading a book. I understand how seemingly illogical it feels.

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

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

As with everything in life, reading is about the right timing.

Don’t decide the future before it happens.

Sometimes, tears follow my laughter. Halfway through the dance, I may fall. But I'll get up again to dance, and to laugh.

It was part of the balance of life -- a person's dream coming true could mean the collapse of someone else's life.

Instead, she learnt to listen to her body, her feelings, and be in happy places.

Over our lifespan, the right answer will keep changing.

Or maybe it was more accurate to say she was not herself at all. There was only one thing on her mind. I must open a bookshop.

I still have opportunities, don’t I? Opportunities to act kindly, to speak with compassion. Even a disappointing human like myself can still be, occasionally, a good person.

Dissonance before moments of harmony makes the harmony sound beautiful.

It came to him that what he needed to do was not to give up, but to make a decision -- to step away from the path he'd been walking on.

If the process is enjoyable, results shouldn't be the focus.

Be who you are right now, and you'll be fine.

Knowing that we're not alone in our misery gives us strength.

You won't know until you start. Don't decide the future before it happens.

Most importantly, she mustn’t forget her roots – that she was a book-lover at heart. If she and her employees loved books, wouldn’t the love also be passed on?

only by giving up something can happiness be within your grasp.

Do you think there'll be someone out there who knows how to love themself and yet not to hurt others?

...I read voraciously in the hope that I’ll become a better person someday.

Well, in short, I’m a movie critic who writes movie reviews. I don’t need anyone to bestow the title on me. If I say so, then I am. That’s enough, and isn’t this what life is about?

If she could continuously reflect and improve, perhaps the bookshop would have a longer lifespan. Most importantly, she mustn’t forget her roots – that she was a book-lover at heart.

Please consider carefully: running a bookshop is no romantic dream. But if you’re determined to start one, I’d say: do it. You need to do it so that you have no regrets in the future.

You have a point. But having something you're interested in clears the airway." "Clears the airway?" "It makes breathing easier, and when that happens, life seems much more bearable.

In the novels I love, the characters used to be like isolated islands, until their fates gradually intertwined; the kind of stories where you whisper, 'You were here?' and a voice answers, 'Yes, always.

We smile at each other at the same time as we hurt each other. We’re all inadequate, weak & ordinary beings, but because we’re capable of being kind, for a moment, no matter how fleeting, we can be extraordinary.

She would ask herself these questions: does this place make me feel positive? Can I be truly whole and uncompromisingly myself? Do I love and treasure myself here? For Yeongju, the bookshop checked all the boxes.

If people started to believe that there's something in life that only people who read can discover, stories in this world that only people who read can tell , wouldn't more of them be seduced to peel back the pages of a book?

Dissonance before moments of harmony makes the harmony sound beautiful. Just as harmony and dissonance exist side by side in music, life is the same. Because harmony is preceded by dissonance, that’s why we think life is beautiful.

To read is to see things from someone else’s perspective, and that naturally leads you to stop and look out for other people, rather than chase after success in the rat race. If more people read, I think the world would become a better place.

Standing in front of the bestseller section in major bookshops felt like looking at the state of the publishing industry – highly skewed towards a few titles. Whose fault was it? Nobody’s. It was simply a reflection of a society which doesn’t read.

Yeah, what’s so amazing about work that we obsess over having a job? What we should be worried about is not work, but whether we can feed ourselves. I’ve been thinking that what the government should do is not create more jobs, but to find a way for the citizens to make a living.

Books by authors who understand life. Those who write about family, mother and child, about themselves, about the human condition. When authors delve deep into their understanding of life to touch the hearts of readers, helping them to navigate life, isn't that what a good book should be?

(…) Seulement… j'ai l'impression que les rêves ne font pas tout. Ce n'est pas que les rêves ne soient pas importants, ou qu'il y ait quelque chose de plus important qu'eux… Mais j'ai l'impression que la vie est assez compliquée et qu'il ne suffit pas de réaliser son rêve pour être heureux. C'est à peu près ça.

Exceptions exist in everything. And there’s meaning in the act of trying (it’s important to ascribe meaning to things!). If the process is enjoyable (albeit difficult!), results shouldn’t be the focus. Most importantly, right now, Yeongju enjoyed giving it her best at running the bookshop. Surely that was enough, wasn’t it?

As if trying her best to mend a broken friendship from her childhood, she immersed herself into the books, day and night, never leaving their side. It didn't take long for their treasured relationship to rekindle. The books welcomed her back with open arms without judging the person she'd become, and accepted her for who she was.

Like any other bookshop owner, one of my biggest concerns is how long I can keep the place running. For those here who want to start a bookshop, you’ll be worrying about this, and other things too. But if you decide that a bookshop is not for you, and you want to pursue something else instead, it’ll come with another set of worries. What I’m trying to say is: whatever you do, you will face challenges. Even if it’s not a bookshop, you’ll fret over whatever business you’re starting; if you work for a company, that comes with its own set of worries too. In the end, it boils down to this: what kind of work do I want to do, despite all the worries? For me, I choose to worry as I run a bookshop.

I thought: let me live like this, too. Dance, even in disappointment. Dance, even in failure. Let go. Laugh, and keep laughing.' 'So, were you successful?' 'Half successful. But I'm not born to be like Zorba. Sometimes, tears follow my laughter. Halfway through the dance, I may fall. But I'll get up again to dance, and to laugh. I'm trying to live like this

Life is too complicated and expansive to be judged solely by the career you have. You could be unhappy doing something you liked, just as it was possible to do what you didn’t like but derive happiness from something entirely different. Life is mysterious and complex. Work plays an important role in life, but it isn’t solely responsible for our happiness or misery.

Just try something out, and who knows, you might find joy in it. It might be something you stumble upon but end up wanting to do for life. Who knows? Nobody knows what'll happen unless you try. Instead of agonizing over what you should do, think about putting effort into whatever you're doing. It's more important to try your best in whatever you do, no matter how small it may seem. All your effort will add up to something.

The moment she stepped inside, she relaxed, as if her body and senses basked in the comfort of returning to her workplace. In the past, she used to live by mantras like passion and willpower, as if by imprinting the words on her mind, they would somehow breathe meaning into her life. Then one day she realised it felt like she was driving herself into a corner, and she resolved never to let those words dictate her life again. Instead, she learnt to listen to her body, her feelings, and be in happy places.

Because I was someone who continued to work despite losing myself. It’s a huge regret of mine – not having a healthy work life. I had thought of work as stairs. Stairs to climb to reach the top. Now, I see work as food. Food that you need every day. Food that makes a difference to my body, my heart, my mental health, and my soul. There is food you just shove down your throat, and food that you eat with care and sincerity. I want to be one who takes great care in eating simple food. Not for anyone, but for myself.

Reading makes you see with clearer eyes and understand the world better. When you can do that, you become stronger – the feeling you associate with success. But at the same time, it gives you pain. Within the pages, there’s much suffering, beyond what we’ve gone through in our finite experience of life. You’ll read about suffering you didn’t know existed. Having experienced their pain through words, it becomes a lot harder to focus on pursuing individual happiness and success. 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.

Uma cidade não é realmente uma cidade sem uma livraria. Ela pode até se apresentar como tal, mas, a não ser que tenha uma livraria, ela sabe que não engana ninguém.

Os livros a receberam de braços abertos e a aceitaram sem julgamentos.

Acho que a vida se torna um pouco mais fácil quando sabemos que a felicidade não está tão distante.

Queria escrever sobre um lugar para onde vamos quando queremos escapar das obrigações do dia a dia, um local onde não há ninguém nos criticando ou cobrando algo, um refúgio onde podemos descansar, parar e respirar. Queria escrever sobre um dia em que sua energia não está sendo sugada, mas sim preenchida. Um dia em que você acorda com expectativa e termina satisfeito. Um dia esperançoso, em que passamos horas tendo conversas significativas com aqueles que amamos. E, acima de tudo, um dia em que nos sentimos bem. Eu queria retratar um dia assim e como as pessoas o vivem.

A life surrounded by good people is a successful life.

A felicidade não é tão difícil de encontrar. Ela não está num passado remoto, ou num futuro distante. Está bem diante dos nossos olhos.

Ela podia não falar, mas passava o dia inteiro pensando e deixando as emoções fluirem.

A life surrounded by good people is a successful life. It might not be a success as defined by society, but thanks to the people around you, each day is a successful day.

I had a classmate who got hit by a motorbike on the way to school and even when they were bruised and bleeding, they refused to go home and continued to walk to school. Just to get an award for perfect attendance. That obsession to endure everything followed us into working life. You go to work even when you’re sick, and on days when you simply can’t get out of bed, the dread of skipping a day’s work eats at you more than the illness. Honestly, it’s common logic that you should rest when you’re not well. So why are we like this? That’s why I hate how keeping up your fighting spirit even when you’re unwell or on an IV drip has become so much of a thing that there’s even a phrase for it.

In the novels I love, the characters used to be like isolated islands, until their fates gradually intertwined; the kind of stories where you whisper, ‘You were here?’ and a voice answers, ‘Yes, always.’ You think to yourself, I was a little lonely, but because of you, I’m less alone. It’s a wonderful feeling and the book in your hands gives me a taste of that joy.

If you’re unhappy or unsatisfied with your work life, and each day is spent in meaningless misery, it’s time to look for something else.

Books are not meant to remain in your mind, but in your heart. Maybe they exist in your mind too, but as something more than memories. At a crossroads in life, a forgotten sentence or a story from years ago can come back to offer an invisible hand and guide you to a decision. Personally, I feel like the books I’ve read led me to make the choices I’ve made in life. While I may not remember all the details, the stories continue to exert a quiet influence on me.

With nothing to say, squeezing the words dry leaves only an empty heart and a desire to escape.

They were the same smiles that gave Minjun the gift of time. Time to slowly accept life, and to believe that he could keep moving forward even as he stumbled and made mistakes along the way.

It was a mistake trying to embrace something that couldn’t work out at all. This episode made me realise that being able to end things that don’t work is a way of living well. There’re so many instances of people not being able to put an end to things because of fear, of others’ judgement and of the possibility of regretting it in the future. I was the same. But now, I feel so relieved.

A bookshop is a space where an exchange of books, and everything related to them, with money takes place. It’s the job of the bookshop owner to ensure that such exchanges flourish. I reminded myself every day, as if writing a diary. I started promoting the bookshop actively. I worked hard to ensure that the bookshop’s unique characteristics were not lost. And in the future, I’ll continue to work hard.

I’ll find a balance among these conflicting thoughts and feelings as I run the bookshop. I believe I can do it. The bookshop is part of capitalist society, but it is, at the same time, a place of my dreams. I hope it can go on for a long time. I want to live my life thinking about the bookshop and books. And as I tackle these worries, I hope you’ll be by my side. What do you think, Minjun? Shall we work together for a longer time? Would you like to join the bookshop as a permanent employee?

In between work, she tried to picture her upcoming trip – bookshop-hopping in unfamiliar cities, guided by Google Maps, discovering the shops’ charisma and charms, while dreaming of recreating them in her bookshop. She imagined wandering around the bookshops, taking a break at cafés before heading to her next destination. A whole month doing that. Her main goal was visiting bookshops, but there was something else that made her heart flutter. It was her first solo trip, the first trip that would truly feel like a vacation.

Yeongju knew why her mother was so angry with her. Her mother was someone who hated failure as much as she feared it.

Her idea was to focus on curating books with depth, even if it might be a little challenging for customers. As for promoting diversity, it was decided that the bookshop would stop carrying bestsellers.

Gradually, she became convinced that bestsellers were the reason the publishing industry had lost its diversity.

For that to happen, she decided to exclude bestsellers from the bookshop. If there was a book that became an overnight hit thanks to a famous person who mentioned it on TV, she would no longer bring in more copies of it after they sold out their existing stock. Not because it wasn’t a good book, but to uphold diversity. In such cases, she would seek out books with similar themes and stock them instead. Customers who came in looking for the title would be directed to these books.

One of the key takeaways from the trip was that independent bookshops overseas had their own distinct personality – a personality that reflected that of their owners. To make the bookshop’s personality shine, she needed courage. For her courage to reach the customers, she needed sincerity. Courage. And sincerity.

Even if it’s not every day, or often, there are moments in life where we come to think, That’s good enough. In that moment, all the anxiety and worries melt away, leaving us with the realisation that we’ve done our best to get to where we are. We’re satisfied, and proud of ourselves. If Hyunam-dong Bookshop is an accumulation of such moments in life, I hope that many more people can create a similar space for themselves.

She was familiar with the oft-quoted saying that workers are like spare parts of a machine – usually cogs – stuck in a never-changing routine. Easily replaceable, too. However, contract workers couldn’t even be cogs in the machine. At best, they were like the oil helping the cogs turn. A part of parts. The company, too, treated them as separate entities. Like oil and water.

While humans naturally chase happiness, Seungwoo was neutral about it. Instead of happiness, he spent more time thinking about productivity. To him, a happy life was perhaps a life where he used his time well.

Well . . . it is often said that being able to put in effort is also an ability in itself.

expected, bread-and-butter questions were at the top of their list: can I make a living with a bookshop? None of them were expecting to make a pot of gold from selling books. It was their dream, and they would be satisfied with making a modest living doing something they enjoyed.

Should he pursue something he liked, or something he was good at? He wanted to find the answer. This was the essay question his mum had set him; at the same time, it was something he wanted to find out himself too.

That day, when it struck him that liking the work and being forced to work in an unsupportive environment were completely different matters, he requested to switch departments. Overnight, he gave up what he enjoyed. He stopped coding. He refused to work overtime. And he’d never once regretted his decision.

Seungwoo spent five years doing what he liked, and another five in a job doing what he didn’t like. If he had to decide which life was better . . . hmm. If he had to pick, he would choose the latter. It wasn’t because the job was less complex, or that he could take things easy – doing stuff he didn’t like made him feel empty. But he filled the void by immersing himself in the Korean language, which brought him to where he was today. Life is too complicated and expansive to be judged solely by the career you have. You could be unhappy doing something you liked, just as it was possible to do what you didn’t like but derive happiness from something entirely different. Life is mysterious and complex. Work plays an important role in life, but it isn’t solely responsible for our happiness or misery.

It’s easy to say, but what does it really mean to be in the moment? It means to completely engross yourself in what you’re doing at that point in time. If you’re breathing, it means to focus on inhaling and exhaling; if you’re walking, to focus on taking each step forward; and if you’re running, focusing on the movements of your arms and legs. To focus on the single action of the moment, and to put aside the past and future.

Just like what Mr Keating told his students: find your own walk, your own way of striving, pacing, direction. Anything you want!

The coffee he made was like a collaborative effort with people around him. A flavour unique to him, and the folks at Goat Beans and the bookshop. With good vibes coming together, there was no way the coffee would turn out bad.

Minjun hoped that word would spread that Hyunam-dong Bookshop made delicious coffee; that his coffee would live up to the expectations of those who came by specially to try it; that the flavours of his coffee would meld into the bookshop’s vibes, and the aroma would linger to warm the hearts of its customers.

So, you’re leaving me so that you can find happiness. Fine. Be happy then. You must be happy, because I’ll be the miserable one. I never knew that anyone could suffer so much living with me. And that I was the source of your misery. Forget about me, then. Forget me, and all the memories we shared. Don’t you ever think about me again. Don’t you dare remember our times together, and all the moments we shared. I’ll never forget you. I’ll live my life resenting you. I’ll remember you as the woman who brought me suffering. Don’t you dare appear in front of me again. Let’s never see each other for the rest of our lives.

He said that you and him made great partners. But partners can only stay together when their goals are the same. Because you two shared the same goals, you stayed by each other’s side. But once someone swerves in a different direction, there’s no choice but to disband. That was how he put it. Disband. He said that if he really loved you, he would have done what you wanted.

since you left him so readily, you probably didn’t love him that much, either. The disbandment was possible because both of you thought of each other as partners. He wanted me to tell you this.

The renovation only took two months. Yeongju was hands-on for the entire process, from hiring the contractor and discussing the design to choosing the materials. On the opening day of the bookshop, she sat on a chair and looked out the window. That moment, the weight of everything that had happened crashed upon her and she broke down. Every day, in between fresh tears, she ordered the stock, handled the customers, and made the coffee. When she finally regained some of her senses, the bookshop was seeing more customers and she was back to reading daily like in her middle-school days. It was as if she’d been at the mercy of tumultuous waves, knocking her into a daze as they pushed and pulled her in different directions until, luckily, she landed in a place she really loved.

Not because she couldn’t find a suitable book, but because it suddenly hit her that she was the limiting factor of the bookshop, the cause of its narrow worldview. Hyunam-dong Bookshop was tailored to her preferences as a reader, her interests, and her reading repertoire.

All men are the same, their tongues tied after marriage, as if silence is their wordless protest.

She hadn’t quite decided what to do in the long run. Too much of something – no matter how enjoyable – turns it into a chore. Or if it was something she dreaded in the first place, torture.

He’d hated it when his parents reminded him of the Korean saying – ‘Life’s off to a good start after you do up the first button’ – as they encouraged him to hang in there a little more.

My dream is to own a bookshop.’ ‘Well, you’ve achieved it.’ ‘I have a bookshop, but it doesn’t feel like I’ve achieved my dream.’ ‘Why?’ Taking a deep breath, Yeongju looked out the window. ‘I’m satisfied, but . . . it just feels like dreams aren’t everything. I’m not saying that dreams are unimportant, or that there’s something else above them, but life is too complicated. Just because you’ve achieved your dreams doesn’t mean you’ll always be happy. Well, something like that.

Walking out, he mulled over what she said. Learn to think well of ourselves.

When I was young, I thought that sacrificing myself and accommodating others was part of my duty. It's good to see the younger ones these days thinking differently.' 'Well, it's not that we see things differently, but at least we need to see a glimmer of hope at the end of that sacrifice. But these days, there's not even a shred of hope. So, we don't see a need to sacrifice anymore,' the younger ones chimed in. The older lady was shocked. 'Is it that bad?' she asked, looking at them in turn, and they nodded. 'How sad that there's not even a glimmer of hope.' She sighed.

If I remember correctly, the mother of the male protagonist said that only by giving up something can happiness be within your grasp.

But his mother also said this: if you’re chasing after an impossible dream, you can’t enjoy everyday life. She’s right. But if you feel happy chasing the dream, then that’s also a type of happiness, isn’t it?

In any case, what I’m trying to say is that being a downshifter has its ups and downs too. It’s great to have more free time to yourself, but on the other hand, you don’t earn much, and this creates a lot of frustration. You can’t even afford to go anywhere nice. Not to mention, you aren’t getting any recognition from society.

but most people who choose the downshift life don’t care much about taking vacations or getting acknowledged by society

After all, I remember when I was a kid, my dad used to say, “Companies must survive for the people to live. Only when companies do well will the people make a good living.” By this logic, for companies to survive, I must remain a contract worker. And how dare I complain, even when I get fired and chased out of the company? At that time, I thought – what the hell? Is this how life is supposed to be?

This was how Hyunam-dong Bookshop, nestled in the residential neighbourhood of the same name, came to be.

It was a habit from high school that carried well over to her adult life: to write down the tasks she needed to do the following day, starting with the most important one. Years later, she still maintained the habit, albeit with a different purpose. Her younger self had wanted to rule her day with an iron fist; now, Yeongju soothed herself with the lists.

Solitude sets us free, just as loneliness brings depth to our lives.

Sir, what should I do to “write properly”? My mum told me that I have to write this properly.’ Picking up his pen, Seungwoo replied: ‘Didn’t I already tell you? Write honestly. Write with effort. With honesty, and sincerity. Then whatever comes out of it will be properly written.

everyone lives their lives hurting people and getting hurt.

She thought of youth as a fleeting moment, an unattainable utopia, like the clear skies of Australia, the charming smiles of young and good-looking idols as they came together for one unforgettable trip. Youth wasn’t something you could hold on to. It amused her to think that she was longing for a time she’d never quite experienced.

Yeongju didn’t understand the woman, but for having lived so fiercely and intensely, she admired her.

We become more compassionate. To read is to see things from someone else’s perspective, and that naturally leads you to stop and look out for other people, rather than chase after success in the rat race. If more people read, I think the world would become a better place.

What is so great about work that sees society constantly trying to create more of it?

The tears wouldn’t stop, but you know, when we feel like crying, we should let it all out. Forcing them back only makes the wounds heal slower.

I’m trying to be less perfect, more human. Guess that backfired,’ Yeongju deadpanned.

At a crossroads in life, a forgotten sentence or a story from years ago can come back to offer an invisible hand and guide you to a decision.

Human beings wander for as long as we keep trying

With the last window firmly shut, she switched on the air-con and put on her favourite album – Keane’s Hopes and Fears. The album was released back in 2004, but she had only discovered the British band last year. It was love at first listen. Since then, she put it on almost every day. The languid and dreamy voice filled the air as a new day at Hyunam-dong Bookshop began.

The amount of fun in work is very much tied to workload,

When significant proportions of our time are spent working, recuperating from work, compensating for work, or doing the many things necessary in order to find, prepare for, and hold on to work, it becomes increasingly difficult to say how much of our time is truly our own.”’8 Yeongju continued. ‘What it means is that we work too much. And when work eclipses life, work becomes a problem.

It’s related to something that I’ve been agonising over,’ said Mincheol. Should he pursue something he liked, or something he was good at? He wanted to find the answer.

Not everyone fits the mould of finding happiness just by discovering what they like. That's too simplified

The worst thing was having to act like I was fine when I wasn’t.

For Seungwoo, the hardest part of a conversation was calibrating how much he could probe, and when to stop. How does one pinpoint the fine line between curiosity and rudeness? From his experience, once he started having doubts when asking a question, it was time to stop. Once he started wondering if the question was appropriate, it was a signal not to ask it. When he didn’t know what to say, it was time to listen. If he kept to these rules, at the very least he wouldn’t come across as ill-mannered.

It’s just that the tension has gone up a notch. Let’s say it was a level six not too long ago – which I’d probably be able to maintain for another six months, or even two years. But these days, it feels like an eight, so I probably can’t continue at this intensity. How long do you think humans can hang on at this level of tension? Not too long, right? If you try to sustain this level, your body and mind will crumble. Many people have gone down that path, but . .

The books welcomed her back with open arms without judging the person she’d become, and accepted her for who she was.

once she started to care, the work was never-ending. From the time she punched in the passcode till she locked up for the day, her hands and feet never had an idle moment.

Humans are complex, but sometimes, we can be so simple. We can be content with having some time -whether ten minutes, or an hour- where I can feel. Ah, I'm so glad I'm alive, so glad to seize and enjoy this moment.

We're living in a world where everyone reveals too much of themselves.

In the end, it boils down to this: what kind of work do I want to do, despite all the worries?

Being relaxed or relieved is not the state that we always have to be in. Sometimes, there's a need to hold on to the frustration of the situation, to the complexity of things as you think and ponder.

Then I tell myself, it’s time to get out of this lethargy. Instead of curling up at the bottom of the well, I stretch my limbs and get up. Hey! This well isn’t as deep as I imagined it to be. I laugh at myself, how I’ve been living in the dark all this time. Then, thirty-five degrees to my right breeze caresses my face. That moment, I’m so thankful to be alive. The wind feels good.

I like that you're a logical person. But sometimes logic doesn't make great people, because you'll always place logic above your heart. And you'll claim to not know your feelings when, in fact, you do.

If more people read, I think the world would become a better place.

There’s a line in Hermann Hesse’s Demian that goes: “But no dream lasts forever, each dream is followed by another, and one should not cling to any particular dream.

Leer te hace ver con mayor claridad y comprender mejor el mundo

You were here?’ and a voice answers, ‘Yes, always.’ You think to yourself, I was a little lonely, but because of you, I’m less alone. It’s a wonderful feeling and the book in your hands gives me a taste of that joy.

She wanted stories of people who walked away from their lives – whether it was for a few days, or forever. A myriad of reasons and backstories, but they had one thing in common: their lives changed from then on.

She read ravenously, as if on a mission across the world to collect them all.

Sharing space with Minjun taught her silence could also be a form of consideration, that it was possible to be comfortable without needing to fill the silence. Gradually, she learnt to get used to the natural quietude.

They complemented each other well; Yeongju loved cracking jokes and Jimi was a great listener. Their ten-year age gap didn’t bother them one bit.

It was too heavy a responsibility for her to take on. How could she step in to educate someone else’s child, when she had neither children nor nephews? She’d apologised and said she wasn’t up for the task, but Mincheol’s mother took her hands.

I feel so bad when I come here.’ Wooshik looked apologetically at Minjun. ‘Why?’ he said, looking alarmed. ‘The coffee. I feel bad that I always leave most of it untouched. I get heart palpitations from the caffeine, but I still like to enjoy a few sips.