In a peaceful village in the countryside, far from the bustling heart of Seoul, lies a book lovers’ paradise. With its wafts of delicious food and book-filled shelves, Soyangri Book Kitchen is managed by its plucky proprietor Yoojin. Her aim? To create a sanctuary for weary souls like herself.
But the book kitchen is more than just a place to eat or read – it’s a place which offers its guests a true escape, not just inside the pages of its many books, but in the warm embrace of an overnight bookstay.
Over one year, seven people at a crossroads in their lives find their way to Yoojin’s book kitchen. Among them are Da-in, a singer grappling with an identity crisis, Sohee, a promising lawyer confronted with a daunting medical diagnosis, and Soohyuk, a young musical director whose dreams have been stifled.
As they arrive in Soyangri, each of them will find their life subtly transformed by the magic of its books and the kindness of its people.
What did I think?
I love reading books about books and I really enjoyed my virtual visit to the Soyangri Book Kitchen. With references to various classic books, it is clear that Kim Jee Hye is a book lover and her beautiful story is flawlessly translated by Shanna Tan.
There are a number of characters who find their way to the book kitchen and they each have a chapter dedicated to them. I really enjoyed reading each story and finding out what drew them to Yoojin's unusual book kitchen.
The location is idyllic and the scenery is so beautifully described that I felt as if I was there; I could almost smell the cherry blossoms. I don't often include excerpts from books but I wanted to share a sublime quote that I think will resonate with many readers:
"Whenever I find myself getting upset or angry, I reach for a book that allows me to immerse fully in another world - maybe like a crime or fantasy novel. They're my painkillers. In those moments I'm absorbed in a book, I can forget the pain of reality."
Soyangri Book Kitchen is a quick and charming read that makes me wish I had the magical ability to step inside a book and visit the beautiful book kitchen myself. This is an unmissable book for book lovers and readers of translated fiction.
I received a gifted hardback to read and review for the bookstagram tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
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