London Korean Links

Covering things Korean in London and beyond since 2006

LKL book database logo

The Healing Season of Pottery

Author:
Translated by:
Publisher: , 2024
Original title: 공방의 계절, 2023
Link to online store *

A heart warming and irresistible novel about the rejuvenating power of pottery, for fans of Before The Coffee Gets Cold and What You Are Looking For Is In The Library.

Jungmin is down on her luck. She’s worked tirelessly as a screenwriter her whole life, and has finally burnt out.

But after months of isolation, she realises it’s time to make a change, and ventures out into the streets near Seoul. When she stumbles upon a pottery workshop, a new world opens up to her.

Leaning into the joys of her craft, Jungmin’s heart is slowly warmed by the kiln’s intense heat. Everyone at the workshop has their own story to tell, and as summer ebbs to autumn, autumn to winter, winter to spring, wounds begin to heal. Pot by pot, plate by plate, Jungmin discovers that as her hands become busier, her mind becomes calmer and her heart opens up like never before…

From a rising literary talent, this is a story of new friends and old practices; of finding community with loved ones and with yourself, and of what happens when you finally slow down in this fast-paced world.

Yeon Somin is a rising literary talent in Korea who has made her mark in both literary and television writing. She has received multiple accolades for her writing, including the prestigious Korea New Writer’s Award. Yeon is an active contributor to the Brunch writing community and has worked as a freelance television writer for major networks. During her free time, she finds solace in the art of pottery.

Source: Publisher’s website

LKL says:

A pleasant if unmemorable read in the burgeoning genre of healing literature. The audiobook is OK if you want to consume the book while exercising, but unlike the excellent audiobook of Dolki Min’s Walking Practice (which is the gold standard for such things) it will not enhance your enjoyment of the the work: at times the lack of emphasis on certain words suggests that English may not be the reader’s first language, or that the recording was rushed with no opportunity for a second take.

LKL rating: score-2score-2score-0score-0score-0

External links:

* Where the book is available from a number of sources, they are prioritised as follows: (1) Amazon UK site, or Bookshop.org for the more recent uploads (2) Amazon US site (3) Other sites in US or Europe, including second-hand outlets (4) LTI Korea, where the title is advertised as available from there (5) Onlines stores in Korea. Links to Bookshop.org and Amazon UK site contain an affiliate code which, should you make a purchase, gives a small commission to LKL at no additional cost to you.