The Healing Season of Pottery is perfect for fans of pottery and the transformative and healing nature of art. It’s a cozy book about the ways we have to examine our past and allows ourselves the space. Keep reading this book review of The Healing Season of Pottery for my full thoughts.
Summary
After breaking down at the office and abruptly quitting her job, thirty-year-old Jungmin holes up in her apartment, speaking to no one for days on end. When she finally emerges, she stumbles upon a pottery studio in her neighborhood and is invited in by the mysterious workshop teacher. The smell of clay, the light filtering through the plant filled windows, the friendly cat, and the incredible coffee the students drink awaken her senses and make her feel alive and inspired for the first time in months.
As the seasons change, Jungmin slowly returns to herself and builds a new community with the other members of the studio, who are all working through their own pasts at the pottery wheel. When the holidays approach and snow piles up on the studio windowsill, Jungmin realizes how much she has changed—with her hands busy and her mind clear, she may be ready to face the memories she’s been running from and open her heart.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
From the premise alone, I love the idea of pottery healing. As someone who jumps headfirst into new hobbies, I love the idea of art and working with our hands. There’s a special sense of slowness, of bring us back to our roots, that allows us space to reflect and heal. It gives us a moment to re-connect. That’s one of the main elements of The Healing Season of Pottery. And it’s such a good message. Within Jungmin meets new friends and opens herself up to situations she could never have imagined. It also forces her to reconcile with some of her past, her mistakes, and her guilt.
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Unfolding slowly and tenderly, The Healing Season of Pottery draws you in. It reveals what happened in Jungmin’s past which has slowly been building up. All the things we think we can forget about until a moment brings it all back. It’s a testament to the benefit, and impact, of taking care of ourselves. Of trying to nourish our body – internally and externally – instead of just re-fueling it. We’re able to see Jungmin grow and develop alongside her pottery skills. Additionally, we witness the power of the tactile feelings, of unlocking different pieces of our brains. With side character development, it feels like getting to know these people who may leave our lives, but who make an impact.
Find The Healing Season of Pottery on Goodreads, Storygraph, Amazon, Bookshop.org, Blackwells, & Libro. fm.