2.5 stars

I admit this will be a shorter review than I normally write, because there just wasn't that much to comment on for me.

This had a beautiful cover and an eye-catching title.

I love letter writing; when I was at University, I think I was the only student who spent one day a week writing letters to relatives, and it was such a lovely thing to do, and it's still a reason why I write Christmas cards, even though that seems t have died the death nowadays.

It is a very short book with very short chapters, which I think works, because whilst it's an enjoyable book, there isn't enough meat there to warrant a longer read.

I'll be honest, I'm surprise it is a topic that got published. Don't get me wrong, I liked it and I know other people will too, but the idea of pitching a book about writing letters doesn't immediately scream success to me.

I think I misjudged what this book was about. I thought it was going to specifically be about Korean letter writing as if it were an art, but it's more like a "how to write a letter" guide, which was a bit odd.

A perfectly acceptable little book; it's strengths lie in it's short length as I don't think it has much depth. It seems a bizarre thing to publish and if I'm honest, bar something to pass the time for an hour, I'm not really sure I got anything from it.

I’m typically not a reader of non-fiction but I decided to give ‘The Healing Power of Korean Letter Writing’ a go because the premise sounded interesting but more than that was the review left by Aneeka M. on NetGalley. If you’re on the fence about reading this, I highly recommend reading their review to help make your decision- when they said this book will give your soul a much-needed hug they were absolutely right as I was in a bit of a reading slump before I read this but it honestly helped bring me out of it.

As you would expect from the description this book is about letter-writing and all the aspects involved with it- how to structure a letter, how to choose paper, where and when to write a letter, and so much more. This sort of format could easily end up as a boring list but Juhee Mun manages to avoid this due to the very personable, conversational tone the book takes. The book is quietly beautiful and uplifting, the authors love for letter-writing is clear throughout and I couldn’t help but smile whilst reading it. I wouldn’t say I was someone who was particularly interested in letter-writing before I read this but now it’s definitely something I’d like to have a go at.

For me ‘The Healing Power of Korean Letter Writing’ feels a bit like ‘The Bookshop Woman’ in that whilst they’re both non-fiction books, their themes align with those found in a lot of the recently translated fiction from Korea and Japan. If you’re already a fan of cosy, healing fiction translations this is a pretty similar read in that it’s hopeful and warm and it really is something you should consider adding to your TBR, even if you have no previous interest in letter-writing.

Thank you to Canongate Books and NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC.

I would be lying if I said I wasn’t prejudiced against the non-fiction genre. But I’m glad that this book broke those prejudices for me. An impulsive request on NetGalley turned out to be a read that helped me slow down and reconnect with my love for letters, letter writing, and people who write these letters.

Geulwoll is a Korean word meaning 'letter,' but it is also the name of a small shop in Seoul, South Korea, that helps hundreds of people reconnect with themselves and those around them through the act of letter writing. In this book, the author Juhee Mun, who is also the owner of this shop, recounts her experience of opening a letter shop in an era where letters are anything but dying. Doesn’t the question pop into your mind while reading this--“People still write letters? And does the shop even get enough profit?” Well, it certainly did for me, but reading this book and listening to the stories of the customers made me feel warm and answered the above question perfectly.

Before I get into the finer details, I just want to say that this book will give your soul a much-needed hug.

Now, where do I begin? This book is divided into beautifully constructed and flowing chapters, which begin with what’s so special about the letters. The chapters are of perfect length. Short enough to keep you hooked, but long enough to leave you feeling satisfied. The book then flows into how letter writing is an act of storytelling and gives you the best flexible tips and tricks to write letters. It even has chapters on how to choose the right kind of paper and envelopes. I am not a stationery fanatic, but these chapters were interesting to read. There is also an entire chapter about books on letters! And as I’m writing this review, I’m reminded to add these diverse books to my wishlist. I would love to write more here, but I think a few things should be discovered by you as you read this book, dear reader.

My mom’s birthday was on 19th June, and I genuinely didn’t know what to gift her. But I remembered one thing vividly: my mum excitedly telling me about her friend from another state with whom she exchanged letters. And this was all the motivation I needed to contact the closest people to my mom and request them to write her a letter. And when I finally gifted her the letters, my mom was dumbfounded because she didn’t expect it, and was moved to tears after reading the letters. I just felt like adding this small story here to show the impact the books we read have on us.

I loved reading the small excerpts and examples from books and letters of famous people that were included as examples on how to write letters. My favorite chapter was “The letter is ‘me.’” It gave me such a unique perspective on how we view ourselves.
The tone of the book is honest, straightforward, and kind. I was constantly reminded of Yeongju from the Welcome to Hyunam-Dong bookshop while reading this book. So, if you liked Welcome to Hyunam-Dong bookshop, I’m sure you will love this book too.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book. I would highly recommend it to everyone who loves letters or wants to get started on letter writing. The translation is good, and the language isn’t too complicated. So even if you’re a beginner, this book won’t overwhelm you. And in just 160 pages, this book has managed to make me feel happy, comforted, and reflective, so I hope it does the same or more for you. The only thing I wish was that we got to know the author a little more beyond her story about the shop. But honestly, it won't spoil your reading experience in any way. Lastly, this book has cute illustrations peppered between chapters, which add an even more comforting touch.
Rating-4.5/5
Thank you, Netgalley and Canongate, for giving me a chance to read this beautiful book.