A review by rouge_red
Princess Bari by Hwang Sok-yong

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.