The Rainfall Market

This was not a bad book but felt like one of many magical self-healing books.

It was an interesting idea, and the writing was well done but the book fell flat for me. Not bad but not anything new. There are some good parts like the food eating contest but each section for retrieving a new orb felt like a repetitive task. Slowly the orb acquisitions start to slightly blend together. As soon as you find out what orb will be looked at next you know it will not be the one for her.

There are many non-subtle hints that there is something more going on and that our main character will become the center of it all. Part way though this book I couldn’t help but think this could have made a great horror story. When the big reveal happens, there are no surprises and of course all the items she has acquired comes in handy.

Its not bad and there is good writing within this story, but it wasn’t as good as some of the similar books I have read lately.

  ‘'Would you be interested in selling us your misfortune?''
 It has been said that tears and pain make us human. We are not made of stone but of flesh and blood and feelings. And because we are humans, we experience misfortune. However, too many misfortunes can become unbearable. So when the monsoons come, people who have been chosen have the chance to swap their lives for better ones. Would you do it?
‘'What kind of life do I want?''
 As we wander the streets of the strange Rainfall Market - and isn't rainfall like heavy tears of unhappiness, after all?- we discover wonderful things. Her oils made of compliments, sauces made of forgotten memories, trees created by human tears as we struggle to achieve our goals, perfumes made of human words, sprays with condenscending words. And be careful because a little Dokkaebi can take away rule-following, which may or may not be fun...
‘' Every plant has its season, Serin. Sunflowers come into bloom in the springtime, while others wait for summer or autumn. And a few don't show themselves until the coldest winter days, when all the other flowers are frozen.''
 Serin wants to fill the void in her heart and isn't dissuaded by a rather dark scene that introduces her to the Rainfall market. Her story makes you think of silver linings. (are there any, I wonder?), second chances, determination, perseverance. As sad as we may be, what kind of life do we want? In a world that is uniquely realized, whimsical yet dark and suffocating, we struggle to find a route. Our serenity may be taken by a Dokkaebi, yet we need to move forward. Can we do so on our own?
 I loved walking from shop to shop in the company of Serin and Issha. This novel makes you reflect on your life, your choices, your principles even. My only objection is the final part, which fell too ‘'Fantasy'', too ‘'Power Rangers'' for my liking, a bit out of place and clumsily executed. Much may be lost in translation, though, some I may be a bit harsh here.
 Sometimes drastic changes don't provide answers. Sometimes changing our tomorrows bit by bit is the best remedy...
‘'Rainbows are funny things, aren't they? The harder it rains, the more beautifully they shine. Who knows? Maybe it's a gift from God, for those who have endured the storms.''
My reviews can also be found on https://theopinionatedreaderblog.wordpress.com/