[New in Korean] If there are no sad memories, can we find happiness in the future?
By Hwang Dong-hee
Published : May 26, 2023 - 09:02
“Marigold Mind Laundry”
By Yun Jung-eun
Book Romance
Essayist Yun Jung-eun has returned with a full-length novel for the first time in 11 years. Since its release on March 6, the fantasy novel has consistently ranked among the top 5 on the nation's bestseller lists.
The story unfolds in a peculiar laundromat that mysteriously appeared on a hill in the middle of the night. Ji-eun, an enigmatic woman with a pale complexion and long, curly, black hair, serves hot tea to visitors at the laundry. Those who drink her tea confide their secrets that they have never shared with anyone else, and ask her to erase their painful memories, as if wiping away a stain from a shirt. The narrative depicts various episodes of the visitors -- childhood marred by poverty, forsaken dreams, betrayals by loved ones and wounds from school bullying.
Ji-eun herself has a painful past. She was born with two remarkable abilities but her abilities manifested themselves without her knowledge and led to an overnight separation from her parents. She has been in search of her parents ever since.
The book highlights the courage to acknowledge our wounds and open our hearts, as well as the compassion we have for our friends. Yun writes in the author’s note: “This book explores how sorrow and joy are interconnected, just as the sun and moon coexist in the same sky. … I learned that scars can blossom into flowers, that bright sadness does exist, and that a single person’s drive and faith can reignite our will to live on."
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Marigold Mind Laundry
Jungeun Yun
,
Shanna Tan
(Translator)
3.40
1,284 ratings416 reviews
Welcome to the Marigold Mind Laundry where we wash away the stains from your heart.
After young Jieun accidentally misuses her powers, causing her beloved family to vanish, she lives a million restless lives in search of them.
Overnight, in the village of Marigold on top of a hill, she conjures up her Mind Laundry, where she cleanses painful experiences from the heart, transferring them into stains on a T-shirt and turning them into dazzling red petals.
We meet five wounded souls: a frustrated young filmmaker; a tortured social-media influencer; a distraught mother who has discovered her husband’s other family; a young woman two-timed by her lover; a talented photographer and victim of bullying, who runs away into a mundane job.
After washing the pain and ironing their creases, Jieun discovers an astonishing revelation that will change her life.
As we laugh, wonder and grow, MARIGOLD MIND LAUNDRY shows how we too can tap into the positivity and magic that lies in us all.
Which bad memories would you like to wash away?
Genres
Fiction
Fantasy
Audiobook
Magical Realism
Asian Literature
Cozy Mystery
Contemporary
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256 pages, ebook
First published March 6, 2023
Book details & editions
213 people are currently reading
9,291 people want to read
About the author
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Jungeun Yun
1 book23 followers
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Associated Names:
* 윤정은 (Korean)
* Jungeun Yun (English)
Jungeun Yun is a Korean writer who lives, loves and believes in the power of stories. The author of several successful essays, she made her fiction debut with "Where Memories Repair"
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3.40
1,284 ratings416 reviews
5 stars
162 (12%)
4 stars
421 (32%)
3 stars
510 (39%)
2 stars
155 (12%)
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36 (2%)
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 415 reviews
Profile Image for Nicole.
Nicole
685 reviews
15.9k followers
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June 24, 2024
3,5/5
audiobooki-2024
81 likes
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Talkincloud
211 reviews
3,656 followers
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June 19, 2024
Bałem się, że mi się nie spodoba, ale to było urocze i… urzekające!
53 likes
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spillingthematcha
717 reviews
1,019 followers
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June 11, 2024
„Pralnia serc Marigold” to książka rozczulająca, ale nie infantylnymi rozwiązaniami, a autentycznym pięknem oraz wrażliwością. Wśród wielu komfortowych wschodnioazjatyckich książek wyróżnia się właśnie tą autentycznością i szczerymi emocjami.
To książka, która będzie idealnym wyborem dla miłośników „Kameliowego Sklepu Papierniczego”, ponieważ łączy je subtelność, a zarazem nostalgiczny charakter. Znajdziecie w nich zarówno ukojenie, jak i wiele emocji, które oddziałują nawet długo po zakończeniu lektury. Klimat niewielkiego górskiego miasteczka, nieco osobliwy, dostaje całej historii nieco magii oraz wyjątkowości. Ciepła powieść, której każdy z nas czasami potrzebuje.
51 likes
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Alwynne
790 reviews
1,108 followers
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September 29, 2024
Fiction meant to soothe readers and offer them a chance to retreat, however briefly, into a comforting space is a growing feature of South Korea’s literary landscape. Dubbed “K-healing” it’s a genre that’s rapidly catching on. There are increasing numbers of similar Japanese novels; and K-healing narratives are taking off with followers of translated fiction in the U.S. and U.K. A massive hit in South Korea, Jungeun Yun’s debut novel’s a prime example of this kind of “healing fiction.” Fans of the genre will recognise elements of other titles in this one: from the diverse cast of characters to the space that brings them together – often a book shop or a coffee house - here a launderette; and the guide-like yet flawed protagonist.
Jungeun Yun’s story is a blend of fantasy and reality centred on a woman known only as Jieun. Jieun was born in a mystical town bordering on the human world, as she grew, she developed special abilities. But these gifts led to her parents’ disappearance, she’s spent several lifetimes searching and grieving for them. Now Jieun may be nearing the end of her existence. She finds herself in a town called Marigold where she decides to put down roots and find a way to use her powers for good, particularly her ability to erase traumatic memories and emotions.
Jieun constructs a magical launderette inviting visitors to take part in a ritual designed to wash away their troubles: stalled careers; failed relationships. Her clients range from a former celeb influencer mired in scandal and pursued by anti-fans to a lonely deliveryman who’s never recovered from childhood bullying. Through her work, Jieun gradually forms bonds within the town. But she comes to realise these connections work both ways, slowly enabling her to come to terms with her own pain and feelings of loss.
In Korean culture marigolds stand for happiness that will definitely come, one of Jungeun Yun’s key themes. Alongside this is an emphasis on withstanding and overcoming adversity partly inspired by the author’s favourite line from poet Paul Valery, “The wind blows, I must live.” Although it has a whimsical, webtoon quality, the novel does incorporate more serious, sombre material; drawing on issues in Korean society from school bullying to challenges faced by single mothers. But, first and foremost, it’s a celebration of found family.
It’s a well-crafted piece, a decent example of what’s known in the trade as “upmarket fiction” suspended between literary and commercial. Overall, it’s very readable. I found the worldbuilding fascinating, and many of the characters sympathetic. But sometimes the “cosy” and “heartwarming” aspects were a little hard to take, tipping too much towards sentimental and syrupy for my personal taste. Jungeun Yun has a background in writing self-help books and that could be a tad obvious at times too - this is packed with homilies and stirring exhortations to treat each moment as precious. But for readers who can cope with all that, then this is well worth trying. Translated by Shanna Tan.
Thanks to Netgalley and publisher Doubleday
Rating: 2.5 rounded up
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39 likes
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podczytany
245 reviews
5,498 followers
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July 8, 2024
dużo mądrych rzeczy tu padło, ale nie zostanie ze mną na dłużej…
ocena: 3,5.
35 likes
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Phrynne
3,664 reviews
2,488 followers
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October 5, 2024
Before I started writing this review I had to go check things out and see why so many people are giving it three stars when I intend to give it the full five! I loved it and thought it was unusual and delightful. However it seems there is a lot of fiction currently being produced with this self healing theme - I just had not met any yet!
Anyway I really enjoyed this one. I was grabbed at the start by the magical realism, loved the characters especially Jieun, and could feel the atmosphere of the culture all around them. The importance of sharing food with friends was everywhere. The magic of the petals was inspired. The world building was brilliant. I guess it was a touch sentimental, maybe a little too sweet occasionally but I was too busy enjoying the characters to mind any of that.
Five solid stars and I will be looking for more by this author.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
34 likes
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Izabela Górska
221 reviews
1,429 followers
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June 1, 2024
2.75 ⭐️
Mam z tym tytułem problem. I nie chodzi tutaj o to, że oczekiwałam płaczu w trakcie czytania, ale jego również się nie doczekałam.
Gdybym nie zmusiła się do skończenia porzuciłabym ją po 100 stronach. Realizm magiczny tak chaotyczny, że musiałam czytać stronę kilka razy. Luki w ekspozycji tworzące błędy logiczne. Kwestie dialogowe bohaterów napisane tak papierowo, że AI zrobiłoby to lepiej.
Ta książka zapewni wam skarbnicę cytatów o życiu i tak jak przy końcu były one adekwatne do emocjonalnych historii bohaterów tak na początku czułam się jakbym czytała randomowe cytaty motywacyjne rodem z Pinteresta.
Jeśli nie lubicie głównej bohaterki i macie wrażenie, że jest jej tam za mało to przeczytajcie do końca, bo okazuje się, że jest to uzasadnione.
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jakesz13
398 reviews
30 followers
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August 21, 2024
Jakubie z przyszłości, daję Ci oficjalnego bana na czytanie cozy azjatyckich książek. Bo to się po prostu ostatnio zawsze kończy fiaskiem.
Mój wydawniczy umysł każe mi od razu doszukiwać się tutaj przesytu rynkowego, zbyt dużej ilości łudząco podobnych historii, ale z drugiej strony, literacka strona też się odzywa i niestety, dostrzega tutaj szalenie kiepską literaturę. W tym przyjemniutkim anturażu można odnaleźć kilka poruszających i skłaniających do przemyśleń fragmentów, ale cała reszta jest do bólu powtarzalna i sztampowa. Na dodatek, całość po prostu wyjęta z notesu jakiegoś kiepskiego filozofa. Już patrzeć nie mogłem na te kolejne patetyczne zdania o tym, jak wiele zrozumiała nasza bohaterka. I w taki sposób tworzy się ot taka wydmuszka, kompletnie oderwana od rzeczywistości, której ja po prostu nie kupuję. Totalnie rozumiem problemy, z jakimi mierzyć się mogli Ci bohaterowie, ale zupełnie nie wierzę w to, że jedna rozmowa i ta magiczna usługa pomogłyby im zmienić swoje życia o 180 stopni. No takie to wszystko na ślinę lepione.
Może i ładne, ale ja już nie chcę czytać tego typu książek i przynajmniej cieszę się, że ta lektura mi to dobitnie uświadomiła. Widzę też, że ten trend powoli się skrywa i umiera cicho szlochając i wiecie co? Dobrze. Po prostu dobrze, bo te komfortowe historie, które mają zaleczyć nasze zbłąkane i poszukujące łatwych treści powojenne i popandemiczne serca, powoli zaczną ustępować miejsca jakiemuś innemu trendowi czytelniczemu. Cholera wie, co to będzie, ale błagam, jak zobaczę kolejną magiczną budę z żarciem, w której kebab może odmienić życie (i układ trawienny), to chyba wylecę za granicę do kraju, w którym nikt nie umie ani czytać, ani pisać.
18 likes
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Mewa
1,056 reviews
211 followers
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June 17, 2024
Wow, literatura z Azji Wschodniej, gdzie stawia się na zdrowie psychiczne oraz szczęście jednostki, nie powinności względem rodziny i tradycje? Najlepsze zaskoczenie! A nie jedyne w tej powieści!
Ogólnie — przyjemne i fajne. Jak zwykle mam dość kołderek z Korei/Japonii, tak akurat ta była warta poznania.
14 likes
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