AMPSCH: July 2026 - A Midnight Pastry Shop Called Hwawoldang by Lee Onhwa > Likes and Comments

Our July pick will be A Midnight Pastry Shop Called Hwawoldang by Lee Onhwa

Let us know what you think of the pick

I need some pronunciation guidance, please.

I know nothing whatsoever about this book, but I’m always up for trying something new. My local library doesn’t have it so I have ordered it from the Liverpool City Library. I might take the opportunity to work in the Picton room for an hour or two when I go to collect it (a big circular reading room, very dark academia vibes)

I have it on hold from the library and looking forward to it. Need something more uplifting after last month’s pick.

I'm reading it on Kindle. I'm a little over halfway through.

So far it's a fast read, but I often stumble over the extremely long Korean dish names.

Some I understand by context, others I highlight in the Kindle app on my iPad and look up.

Still others I just let wash over me.

All in all this book has the effect of making me hungry and slightly bewildered.

Half way though and will finish this up very quickly. A joy to read after the last couple of picks :(
Not that familiar with Korean culture, except for the occasional BBQ and the rock band Rolling Quartz, so comes across as very fresh to me.

I'm wait spot 3 on 5 copies so should be reading soon. These previews are interesting to read. I don't feel like the book could be spoiled, I already know what is going to happen overall.

I'll finish this book, but I'm not all that enthralled.

Maybe it's because it was translated from Korean, or maybe it's aimed at a tween audience, but to me the style reminds me of a middle schooler's writing.

It's reminiscent of some Gunsmoke fan fic my daughter wrote when she was about fourteen.

Not caring for this one. LEM time for me.
🤔
Instead I am starting an earlier S&L pick—The Devils by Joe Abercrombie.

Yeah, I'm LEMing this one. First few chapters felt indifferently translated. I didn't relate to the multisyllable foodstuffs that required looking up, and I didn't relate to them culturally. Then the first story seemed nauseatingly maudlin. I skimmed it. Read the second story opener, modestly interested, then on into the "unlived life" trope. Skimmed that and realized I didn't care. Done.

I feel bad saying this because I know Veronica puts a lot of thought into the selections. I see others are loving the book. It's just not for me.

John (Taloni) wrote: "I feel bad saying this because I know Veronica puts a lot of thought into the selections. I see others are loving the book. It's just not for me."

It was Tom's pick.

But if not for you, it's not for you. As much as you read though, I figured you would have gotten through this in about a day. ;-)

I finished it. I suspect I’m not the target demographic, but I’m not sure who is. At least it was short.