An Enchanting Tale: Read an Extract from Marigold Mind Laundry by Jungeun Yun

An Enchanting Tale: Read an Extract from Marigold Mind Laundry by Jungeun Yun

Somewhere on Earth was a village where spring faded into autumn, and after autumn, spring returned once more. Spin the globe round and round and you’d eventually see it, the size of a speck of dust. Yet nobody knew of its existence. The village was home to mysterious plants and trees, and people who held powers beyond imagination. Beautiful people you’d easily mistake for fairies, only they didn’t have wings.

Life in the village was like a bed of flowers. Dazzling blue sky, the weather never too hot or cold. The harvest was bountiful, and the laughter, endless. The villagers all had kind eyes and a warm heart. Hate, pain, sadness – such feelings didn’t exist. Never would you hear a sharp word exchanged. It was always peaceful.

Possessing wondrous powers, the villagers were a beacon of light, bringing warmth wherever they went. When the moon rose, they danced under its silvery orb, and when the sun shone, their smiles were warm and bright. They’d never known the cold. Not the biting wind that whipped the face, nor the callousness in hearts that hunched shoulders.

But one day, the fiery passion of summer arrived unannounced, setting one man’s heart ablaze.

‘Hello, can you hear me? Are you OK?’
‘I . . .’
‘What did you say? I can’t hear you.’
‘Water . . .’
‘Water? Of course! Here you go.’

The man had been walking along a narrow path that wound through the village. As the village custodian, he was responsible for all matters, big or small. He swung his arms, breathing in the scents of the greenery, when he spotted a figure lying unconscious on the path. A woman with long, dark hair, and the fairest of skin. When he gave her water, her lips quivered as if to speak. After taking a few tiny sips, she passed out again. She’s not from our village, he thought.

‘Hey, wake up! Where do you live? I’ll take you home.’

He hovered over her, but there was no response. Conscious that her white dress might get dirty, he shrugged off his jacket and draped it over her before sitting down.

This is no place to be sleeping . . . Well, I guess she doesn’t have much choice. I’ll take her home when she wakes up. Oh wait . . . I feel a bit sleepy . . . How strange . . .

The man rested his head comfortably on his knees and drifted off to sleep…

Continue reading the extract here.

Buy a copy of Marigold Mind Laundry here.

Publisher details

Marigold Mind Laundry
Author
Jungeun Yun
Publisher
Penguin
Genre
Fiction
Released
01 October, 2024
ISBN
9780593733936

Synopsis

Born with mysterious powers she does not know how to control, young Jieun accidentally causes her family to vanish. She vows to live a million lives in search of them.Finally, one night, she brings the Marigold Mind Laundry into existence. Its service: to remove the deepest pain from our hearts. Jieun listens while customers share their unhappy memories. As they speak, she transfers their sadness onto T-shirts as stains. After a spin in the washing machine, the stains become flower petals that soar into the air, and Jieun’s customers find solace.Five wounded souls come to Jieun for help: a frustrated young filmmaker, a spiraling social media influencer, a mother betrayed by her husband, a woman jilted by her lover, and a talented photographer who hides in the safety of a mundane job. As Jieun listens to each of their stories, she learns that the will to heal is not a rare gift, but a power we all possess—if only we are open to it.
Jungeun Yun
About the author

Jungeun Yun

Jungeun Yun is the author of more than ten books, including Live the Way You Want; Even If I Don't Know How to Be an Adult and To Travel or To Love. Yun believes that writing is self-reflection, a close examination of emotions; to write is to connect. Yun hosts a podcast The Path of Books with Jungeun Yun. Her debut novel Marigold Mind Laundry has been a Top Five bestseller in Korea and is due to be published around the world. Jungeun Yun lives in Korea.

Books by Jungeun Yun

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