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falgelednl's review against another edition
5.0
Thought-provoking story that talks about life in NK by someone who was in the inside. I read this as a book club choice and it really hit me thinking about the Kim dynasty and the propaganda machine within their country.
siria's review
2.0
Jang Jin-Sung is the pseudonym of a defector from North Korea—a former poet laureate who became disillusioned with the regime under which he lived, and who fled across the Chinese border with a colleague of his, hoping to claim asylum in South Korea. The book's account of daily life in North Korea is fascinating, and provided the kinds of details which you're unlikely to find in accounts written by those who are not from such a closed society.
However, there's a 'but' here—a big 'but'—which is that I simply do not believe large swathes of the author's account, both about his involvement with the North Korean regime and about his escape. The translator's note at the end of the book states that Jang can't be entirely forthcoming about events for fear of causing further harm to his family and to those in China who helped him—that I can well believe. But other things, like his encounter with the Korean-Chinese version of a Manic Pixie Dream Girl? Not so much.
However, there's a 'but' here—a big 'but'—which is that I simply do not believe large swathes of the author's account, both about his involvement with the North Korean regime and about his escape. The translator's note at the end of the book states that Jang can't be entirely forthcoming about events for fear of causing further harm to his family and to those in China who helped him—that I can well believe. But other things, like his encounter with the Korean-Chinese version of a Manic Pixie Dream Girl? Not so much.
emadr's review against another edition
5.0
کتاب شاید دریچه ای به کشور بسته کره شمالی باشه، اما نمی شه منکر شد که نوشتن در مورد کره شمالی یه روند شده و شاید براب جذاب تر شدن کنی اغراق بشه. جدا از اون خوندن کتاب برای ما ممکنه کمی سیستم های تبلیغاتی کشورهای دیکتاتوری رو رمز گشایی کنه. خیلی بخش های کتاب متاسفانه برای ما آشناست.
chyneyee's review
adventurous
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
The beginning of the narration offers a brief history of the Kim dynasty, which puts literature as the highest priority under their governance. Novels and poetry are occasionally used to praise the Kim family. Besides telling his experience of fleeing North Korea, we also get to know the successes and failures of North Korean refugees after crossing the border.
Putting aside from the latest update about the author's life, the biography was well-written and filled with raw emotions. I wish I didn't look up his life on the Internet.
Book Review: Dear Leader by Jang Jin-sung.
Putting aside from the latest update about the author's life, the biography was well-written and filled with raw emotions. I wish I didn't look up his life on the Internet.
Book Review: Dear Leader by Jang Jin-sung.
milesjmoran's review against another edition
4.0
This is the third book I've read on North Korea and, while it's not my favourite so far, it's still a brilliant read. Jin-sung offers a truly unique perspective on the regime in North Korea, having been someone firmly embedded in Kim Jong-Il's propaganda machine and prominently contributing to the fabrications fed to into the country in the form of his poetry, which he wrote under a South Korean pseudonym. Jin-sung relates what he himself witnessed as well as information others confided in him, and there were so many things going on in North Korea that I had no idea about in spite of my previous readings. My only qualm with this book was that the pace was a bit inconsistent. The beginning was excellent, completely absorbing and fascinating, but, once Jin-sung begins his defection, the pace oddly dipped despite its interesting subject matter. I think I would have preferred more detail on Jin-sung's life in North Korea and his experiences, but, overall, this is a great book that was thrilling and shocking to read.
xxstefaniereadsxx's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
4.0
I have been very interested in learning about the workings of North Korea over the past several years with the back and forth between the US government and the North Korean government. I have searched and searched for books by defectors or people who have had the full experience of living in North Korea, and I was very pleased to find this one. It was a very interesting read, and if even a fraction of what was in the book is accurate, I am very thankful that I did not grow up in that place. What a hard way to live. It makes you really appreciate what you have when you read about how much people are controlled and how much they do not have, and how much fear they must live in. I would suggest this book to anyone who was interested in Asian history or North Korea.
booksbecreads's review against another edition
3.0
"North Koreas opacity is it's greatest strength. It allows things to be done on its own terms while other countries continue to take what North Korea says at face value"
Interesting perspective from one of North Korea's elite, it's hard to belief how much this man experienced in such a little time while seeking refugee, a lifetime of pain in a month
Interesting perspective from one of North Korea's elite, it's hard to belief how much this man experienced in such a little time while seeking refugee, a lifetime of pain in a month
a_barratt's review against another edition
5.0
When people ask me for recommendations on books about North Korea, this and Escape From Camp 14 are my go-to. Not only does this book offer a look inside how propaganda in NK is developed and the physical process of how people defect from the hermit kingdom, but it also grants insight into the process of one becoming disillusioned with the regime.