Book Synopsis:
On the first day of the monsoon an old ramshackle building appears.
This is The Rainfall Market.
Inside you will find magical bookstores, hairdressers, perfumeries and anything your heart desires.
But you cannot enter without an invitation.
Serin, who lives in a small flat with her mother and dreams of a bigger, better life, can’t believe her luck when she receives a ticket inviting her to step inside The Rainfall Market.
Once inside she will have the opportunity to swap her life for a new one.
A better one.
Accompanied by Isha the cat and followed by a mysterious shadow, Serin tentatively steps inside. There she is told she has just one week to choose the perfect life and find true happiness.
However, there is a catch.
If she doesn’t find her dream life, she’ll be trapped inside the market forever . . .
My Review:
The Rainfall Market is an enthralling, magical read unlike anything I’ve read before.
Firstly it was wonderful to explore the Rainfall Market alongside Serin and to meet all the different doekobi who live there. The author’s vivid descriptions made me feel like I was actually there exploring everything alongside the characters- so much so that I was disappointed when I looked from reading to find that I wasn’t there. Serin’s journey to find a new life takes her through some amazing places including a magical bookstore, a hairdressers and a very interesting perfume shop which I wish I could visit in real life.
All of the characters were wonderful creations and I enjoyed getting to know them throughout the book. I loved that all the doekobi’s were in charge of collecting a different emotion, sometimes for touching reasons but other times just for their own amusement. Some of the reasons had me laughing out loud like the doekobi whose job it was to take away human’s decision making and liked to strike when people were trying to decide what to eat at a restaurant!
Overall , as you can probably tell, I loved this book and will be recommending it to everyone. The book was incredibly gripping and I quickly found myself drawn into the story. I was thinking about it constantly when I wasn’t reading and wishing I could get back to the fabulous world the author has created. There were moments that made me laugh out loud and some that made me cry as well as some very clever twists that I didn’t see coming. The ending was just brilliant, so lovely, heartwarming and thought provoking as well. I left the book very sad that I had to leave the Rainfall Market and all the lovely residents behind. I’m really hoping there will be a sequel as I’d love a chance to visit it again.
About The Author:
You Yeong-Gwang was born in Seongnam in 1984. He wrote this story during breaks while delivering food for a living. He felt truly happy while writing this story and wishes for all readers to find healing and courage through it so that they may go out and find their own happiness.
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