Barry Welsh reviews Mark James Russell's magical novel Young-hee and the Pullocho
Barry Welsh, writing 10 Magazine's October 2015 Book Review, lauds Mark James Russell's magical novel Young-hee and the Pullocho, which I've previously reviewed here, and the passage below is in part what Welsh had to say:
Young-hee and the Pullocho is a success on all fronts. Russell has a vivid imagination and describes Young-hee's journey across the strange, magical land [of Korean mythology] with wit and charm. The characters too, are fantastic. Young-hee herself is a tough, modern heroine but also insecure. Her journey is, of course, really a journey of self-discovery. The travelling companies she picks up along the way, Samjogo the three legged crow and Tiger, are alternately hilarious and heartbreaking. The story itself is genuinely magical with some excellent twists and compelling detours. Perhaps best of all are the myths and legends that Russell scatters throughout the book. For this reader there were echoes of the Narnia series, Pan's Labyrinth, and Neil Gaiman. If you are a fan of any of those things then I suggest you join Young-hee on her adventure. Highly recommended.I second that. The novel tells a great story in the genre of fantasy - though also borrowing from science fiction in the description of an observatory - that keeps the reader treading eggshells upon tiptoe to avoid dire danger . . . if I might mangle metaphors.
My advice: read the tale . . .
Labels: Korea, Literary Criticism
posted by Horace Jeffery Hodges @ 7:41 AM
3 comments
3 Comments:
More nice comments! Always much appreciated. And mixing metaphors is as American as apple pie in the sky. Or something like that.
Pah. That last comment was by me. But apparently my ability to navigate websites is about on a par with an unfrozen caveman. Anyhow, thanks again.
You mean . . . YOU'RE Anonymous?! All these years of Anonymous leaving messages . . .
Jeffery Hodges
* * *
Post a Comment
<< Home