The Healing Season of Pottery – Book Review

Quick Review:- bit of a straightforward Korean fiction but was enjoyable to read

Rating:- 3.5/5

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.

She rubbed the spoiled clay with her fingertips. Like a wound as it heals, the traces faded, and had soon vanished completely, as if they’d never been there at all.

Burnt out by her newswriting job, Jungmin abruptly quits; she’s worked tirelessly for years and she needs to make a change.

Now, after months of hibernation, it’s time to put her life back together. Venturing out into the streets near Seoul, she stumbles upon the Soyo pottery workshop. Drawn in by its light and warmth, and the smell of clay and coffee, Jungmin feels something unfurl within her…

Here, everyone has a story to share, and as the seasons change, Jungmin returns to herself. 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 talent, this is an uplifting story of new friends and old practices, of finding community, and of what happens when you finally slow down in this fast-paced world.

Jungmin is suffering from depression and mid-life crisis in her thirties. She had quit her job as a screenwriter and rather lived in a secluded life, stuck in her apartment. One day, she decided to go out and then accidentally enters in what she thought was a coffee shop into a pottery class. The pottery class is run by Johee and Jungmin instantly felt welcome. Though she had no experience of doing pottery and her initial pottery works were horrible, she soon meets people and start making friends. While working at the pottery shop, she learns about the value of life and how to have fun and forgive the past.

This was actually enjoyable to read, though at the end, in my opinion, it kind of dragged on. Jungmin’s character is very realistic and I like how she navigates her life by learning to pottery and then eventually rebuilding her life by making new friends. I just also liked the community and how people are always working together at the pottery shop. The pacing is slow and emotions are well described in this one. The eventual romantic relationship didn’t buy me very well but nonetheless, I actually liked this book, though not as much as I would have liked.

Overall I give this book 3.5 stars.