Stephanie Jane recenzis Princess Bari de Sora Kim-Russell
A fascinating read
5 steloj
Princess Bari is a beautifully written novel which blends elements of fairytale and mythological stories which modern-day migrant experiences. In common with The Beast Of Kukuyo which I reviewed a few days ago, this is another book that I chose almost on a whim for its author's nationality, and which turned out to be a very rewarding read! I loved Hwang's use magical realism (Daniela at Bookiverse, this is absolutely a book for you!) which frequently transports both the reader and Bari from the horrific situations in which she finds herself. The claustrophobic cargo ship journey is one example and I found this all the more upsetting for knowing that, although this novel is fiction, these scenes are essentially true to real life. I felt the timelessness of Hwang's writing style in his retelling of this ancient legend reminded me that Bari's experience (and the experiences of thousands like her) …
Princess Bari is a beautifully written novel which blends elements of fairytale and mythological stories which modern-day migrant experiences. In common with The Beast Of Kukuyo which I reviewed a few days ago, this is another book that I chose almost on a whim for its author's nationality, and which turned out to be a very rewarding read! I loved Hwang's use magical realism (Daniela at Bookiverse, this is absolutely a book for you!) which frequently transports both the reader and Bari from the horrific situations in which she finds herself. The claustrophobic cargo ship journey is one example and I found this all the more upsetting for knowing that, although this novel is fiction, these scenes are essentially true to real life. I felt the timelessness of Hwang's writing style in his retelling of this ancient legend reminded me that Bari's experience (and the experiences of thousands like her) are by no means only a modern phenomenon.
Hwang's use of contrast makes aspects of Princess Bari particularly memorable, but also serves to illustrate that certain situations share greater similarities than we might care to admit. Bari's life in China isn't so far removed from her London experiences. The types of people she encounters on her journeys tend to repeat patterns too. A person's moral compass certainly isn't determined by whereabouts in the world their family originated! Hwang's characters share more, perhaps, with traditional story stereotypes, but the novel in no way suffers for this. I understood that although several characters are depicted as Good or Bad, there is also a wide middle ground of grey: people who could make a tremendous difference through relatively small actions on their part, fail to do so whether through ignorance or simple misunderstandings. As with all great fairytales and legends, Princess Bari can be read at its simplest level as just a story, or can be dissected for deeper meaning and symbolism. A fascinating novel which would, I think, make for energetic book club discussions.