Korean American Books

Summaries and reviews of fiction and nonfiction books by Korean American authors,
books about Korean Americans and Korea, and Korean literature in English translation,
including some academic works and a sampling on the Korean War

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Dokebi Bride (Vols. 1-6), by Marley


Introduces Sunbi, the granddaughter of the village shaman, who also sees spirits and is shunned by others. Wonderful liveliness in the layouts, and the author’s manwha (manga) style is graceful and lyrical. The modern story is told in sections of flashback and ancient flashback, stemming from the “present” when Sunbi comes to live with her estranged father, his wife and daughter in Seoul. The series continues, emphasizing her sense of isolation and the powers that threaten to overcome her, until she learns how to reach the friendly dokebi spirits, one of whom will become her protector. Rich in psychology and alternative spirituality theology, the story unfolds with episodic incidents, and we eagerly await Marley’s next edition.

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