Reviews with content warning for Rape - The Last Exiles

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The Last Exiles by Ann Shin

8 reviews

lwelch94's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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tnociti's review against another edition

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challenging emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

3.0

I enjoyed the experience of the setting - it's rare to read a novel set in current North Korea. The story itself was both tense, sad, hopeful, and pushing the edges of convenience/coincidence maybe? I kept wanting more, and I didn't want to leave it, but I also kept looking to see how much more was left. I feel like maybe I needed less scope - or deeper character development.

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buroaklifereads's review

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challenging dark emotional informative sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

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pomoevareads's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional informative tense medium-paced

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

4.0

A long time ago I became a bit obsessed with the escape of Shin Donghyuk from Camp 14 in North Korea. I read several long form journalism pieces on his experiences and of the trials of people attempting to leave North Korea. So when The Last Exiles was suggested as a buddy read for one of my book clubs I jumped on it.

Ann Shin, the author and fellow Canadian, has been recognized for her work in this subject matter and I will be going back to watch My Enemy, My Brother which was shortlisted for an Academy Award.

The Last Exiles is a love story at its’ heart between Suja, a privileged photojournalist student in Pyongyang, and Jin, who studies at the same university as Suja but comes from a family starving from famine in the northern region of the country. After an incident in Jin’s hometown, the two are separated from each other. News travels to Suja of Jin’s whereabouts and she vows to follow him to the ends of the earth if it means they can be together. In a country where total loyalty is expected of all of its’ citizens danger lurks everywhere.

This story takes place in 1998 during the reign of Kim Jong-Il. I had a pit in my stomach for much of the book as every action these two characters took could result in death if found out. The landscape and food scenes were so detailed and visually imaginable. I could almost taste the pine shavings boiled with water into a porridge mixture that Jin’s mother forages for and cooks for her family.

Scenes of what is happening on the other side of the border in China show how North Koreans who do make it across the border survive. This was a new piece of information for me and one I found very interesting and heartbreaking.

There are several difficult and violent scenes to be cautioned of if you are sensitive. If you can manage it, the book is so worthwhile and I can’t wait to discuss it with the group.

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