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 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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

<..> 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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

(…) 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.

Perhaps the business model of an independent bookshop was one built on dreams – whether it was a dream of the past or the future. Those who start a bookshop probably dreamt of doing so at some point in their lives. And when they woke up from the dream a year or two later, they would close that chapter in their lives.

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

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.

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.

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

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.