Reviews

Princess Bari by Hwang Sok-yong

rouge_red's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

2.5

A story about the immigrant experience with fairy tale elements- like if a character from a myth came to life (still with her magical abilities) but had to live in the real world. There's so much in life that's uncompromising and Bari tries to search for meaning, as well as find her way in life with help from those who came before her. She gets help from her grandmother and her childhood pet dog, Chilsung, as she tries to navigate life in a new land. Despite all the shit that happens to her and other people who are in similar situations, she is able to help people understand their own demons and histories. The story is a lot about human connections, dark histories, and trying to make it in a world that keeps piling on hardship after hardship. It's at times optimistic, but reality always has a way of coming in. The ending doesn't look good.

vivienne123's review against another edition

emotional sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

mmatti300's review

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Oh boy. I’m going to be thinking about Princess Bari for a long time. I also will be purchasing my own copy.

girlglitch's review

1.0

Princess Bari seemed to have so much promise. There are so many interesting elements to explore in this book - life in North Korea, human trafficking and immigrant life - but none of these topics are given the time and depth they deserve. The magical realist element is awkwardly tacked on and the prose is strangely devoid of emotion.

An interesting story - sadly let down by poor execution.

aggief's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

humito's review against another edition

informative fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

ai__'s review

I'm too conflicted to give a rating.
It was a good book but imo better in the first half than in the second, where it gets a little derailed.
Also I'm learning about myself: I don't like magical realism. Again I didn't mind it in the first half when she was a kid but I didn't love it later on the book.
Maybe 3½ stars? idk really

wallflowerreader_l's review

DNF.

Second time trying to pick up this book and couldn't get past chapter 6 unfortunately...

ama_cov's review

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.75

The plot had lots of twists and I was never sure where Bari would end up next. It had a nice weaving of Korean folktales and modern society but I could never fully get into it or understand the visions Bari was seeing. I also felt like the author didn’t spend enough time on how Bari was feeling, she was more just a vehicle for the story the author wanted to tell than an actual character so it felt a little lacking. The narration was also a little confusing, some parts were told as the past but some as the present. The climax and end were also super abrupt which made the resolution very unclear

guitarpotato's review against another edition

3.0

This novel touches on so many contemporary issues in its retelling of the Korean folktale of Princess Bari. From problems caused due to illegal immigration following an escape from North Korea during the famine of the 1990s all the way to the rise of anti-Muslim sentiment post-9/11. Hwang masterfully weaved in these (still) current world issues with a shamanic folktale which has been handed down for centuries. 

 At its core, this novel is simply about life. The search for the reason as to why humans must suffer loss, trauma or betrayal in their lives. And why it is that despite experiencing so much tragedy, humans resiliently live on. 

 That being said, I do think the final chapter ended a little bit too abruptly. Perhaps that is just life though. The ending simply lacked a catharsis. Also, despite being well written I think that this work lacks an emotional impact. The story progresses at a steady pace and a lot happens in the plot, however, an emotional connection to the things occurring. Hwang’s style in this novel is quite detached and the story is told very matter-of-factually.