The Rainfall Market: Goblins, Cats & Shots of Inspiration

The quest for a perfect life is the subject of several films, books, and series out there. It’s often the subject of our own lives, especially on the days when everything seems to be going wrong. The quest for a perfect life also lies in the core of You Yeong-gwang’s The Rainfall Market, a fantastical story that belongs to the now-popular Asian Healing Fiction “genre”.

The Rainfall Market quickly became a bestseller in Korea. The reason why can be found in Peter Juhl’s review of the book for The Korea Times:

The novel draws on Korea’s youth crisis and sense of purposelessness, which form the backdrop for much of its emotional weight. (…)

These [healing fiction novels] are feel-good books, designed for certain types of readers. Shots of inspiration. The literary equivalent of a friendly voice, when you’re down, saying “him-nae” (hang in there). For many, that is enough.

Even though his words were much harsher than mine in this review, I do see where Mr. Juhl is coming from.

Readers looking for complex storylines and profound philosophical meditations won’t find it in here. The Rainfall Market represents the very core of healing fiction: a straightforward tale that serves to soothe its reader, providing them with encouragement to face another day.

If you’re looking for someone (or something) to tell you “hang in there, you’ll be okay,” The Rainfall Market does fit the bill perfectly.

No time for the complete review? Then pin our summary at the bottom!

YA or Adult Fantasy?: The Premise & Genre of The Rainfall Market

The book follows Serin, a teenage girl who lives with her mother after her father passes away and her sister runs away from home. As her family’s financial situation is dire, Serin believes her future won’t be that bright. The world doesn’t seem to have a place to which she truly belongs. She’s given up on ever going to university and the only hobby she can afford is her beloved (and state-funded) taekwondo classes — but even there, Serin struggles to fit in. Not everything is lost, though: rumour has it that, during monsoon season, the dokkaebi (Korean goblins) invite unfortunate humans to the Rainfall Market. If she’s chosen and reaches the market, the dokkaebi will grant her the life she’s always dreamed of. Well, it wouldn’t hurt to try, would it?

And so, Serin starts her journey to and through the Rainfall Market. Soon, she realises that the most important questions are: what is it that she really wants? And would that make her truly happy?

The Structure of the Novel

While the plot follows Serin’s quest towards her “perfect” life, there’s also a subplot that introduces us to a crisis with the Rainfall Market itself and its dokkaebi inhabitants. Through a third-person limited narrator, we mostly follow Serin’s perspective of the world around her as it changes and evolves with every encounter and discovery she makes. We are also offered quick glimpses of secondary characters, leaving hints (or red herrings) that build the subplot.

The Rainfall Market is, then, episodic in nature: every chapter takes Serin (and her lovely cat Issha) to a different place, where she’s introduced to a different character who gives her a task to complete. That’s why I’d recommend reading a chapter a day, which would give you time to consider the moral of that specific adventure and avoid a feeling of repetitiveness.

The narrative itself plays out as a fable of sorts, which also leads to a story that doesn’t really flesh out its characters — but I believe there’s a reason for that choice.

Writing a Fable: Characterisation in The Rainfall Market

For the dokkaebi, You Yeong-gwang takes advantage of the fact that they are well-known legendary creatures. If you know a little bit about Korean folklore, you might recognise their traits as magical beings that bring rain and luck, can grant wishes, and are a bit silly, playful, and competitive. Most importantly, You relies on the fact that dokkaebi are beings that reward kindness and punish evil, choosing to place that characteristic right in the centre of the story.

As for Serin, the goal is never to explore her character as an individual. Similarly to Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, Serin is more of an allegory. She represents the hope suppressed by an unreal idea of perfection shaped by concepts of class and money. And so, every encounter in Serin’s journey serves to empower her with greater self-esteem, destroying her misconceptions and helping her realise that hope lives in the bonds we create with the ones we love.

We witness as Serin makes friend after friend and learns that “perfection” doesn’t really exist. Little by little, her perspective of the world changes. She realises that every single choice in life has benefits and drawbacks, that we should always make the best out of the opportunities we’re granted, and that we should appreciate the people we love and the little things that bring us joy.

The subplot might feature a bit of a caricaturesque villain and the climax might be foreseeable but the denouement introduces us to Serin as the genuine hope she’s meant to symbolise. She can now see beyond her struggles and anxiety. She now realises that the world won’t give her a place — she needs to create it herself. Serin can now appreciate the sacrifices that are made in silence, the invisible help that she’s always received, and draw from the love she shares with her mother and sister, regardless of distance, the strength and faith she needs to keep on walking. After all, she’s never been alone.

“Everyone Has Their Own Burdens”: What Serin’s Story Tells Us

The universality of Serin’s journey allows The Rainfall Market to provide comfort through an uncomplicated read. While younger readers might find Serin and Issha’s adventures fun and encouraging, older readers might be reminded that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. Regardless of age and despite its fantastical framing, The Rainfall Market reminds us that there’s no such thing as a magical solution to our problems. We can, however, create our own happiness as long as we foster the hope and courage we need alongside the people most dear to us.

And that’s not just my interpretation of Serin’s tale. According to You Yeong-gwang, that was his idea from the very beginning. In an interview with The Korea Herald, he mentions:

“I wrote the character with a lot of my own experiences in mind. Serin embodies the feelings I had as a child, including moments of resentment toward her family and the struggles she faces,” he said.

“I often wondered why I couldn’t have been born into a more ordinary family, or why I had to care for my ailing mother while grappling with my own challenges. In my darkest moments, I wished that someone could transform my misery into happiness.” (…)

“I realized that everyone has their own burdens, even if they appear to be in enviable positions.”

Message received, loud and clear, Mr. You!

Should You Read The Rainfall Market?

Counting on a simple story with a big heart, The Rainfall Market is the kind of tale that makes us think about our goals and decisions, and how everything in life has its positives and negatives — we just need to learn how to look at the world around us.

If you’re looking for something that is cosy, youthful, and optimistic, The Rainfall Market will definitely spark a sense of joy and warmth within your heart.

There it is! Why don’t you pin our summary?

Good news if you’ve read The Rainfall Market and enjoyed it: You Yeong-gwang has just released his second book in Korea, a YA novel entitled The Wishseekers. According to The Korea Herald, “part self-help fable, part fantasy epic, the coming-of-age tale explores themes of resilience, connection and the pursuit of happiness.” Sounds interesting! Let’s hope an English translation is on the horizon!