Marigold Mind Laundry by Jungeun Yun

Jiuen is a mythical creature who arrives in Korea.  She creates a laundry, where painful experiences can be wiped from your life and wisdom is dispensed with snacks.  

The books is a massive success in its homeland and it will probably replicate that here.  It’s written in a very child-like parable structure, with the stories appearing to be interlinked in some way.  There’s also the element of Jiuen might well be millions of years old and can manifest metaphysical washing machines and the elimination of pain through magic. 

About midway through, the novel becomes episodic, with each ‘life lesson’ delivered and the next one incoming.  The narrative is also wrapped up far too neatly and with possibly the oldest of plot devices.  

Often moving, sometimes too mythical for it’s own good this mix of self-help and magic realism never quite fits together, though it will have the same cultural place as Life Of Pi.  It’s published by Penguin on October 3rd and I thank them for a preview copy.  #marigoldmindlaundry.