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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
Wow. I learned so much about what's happening in North Korea. I never knew!
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Tough to read in some moments, sure. But I recommend this book to absolutely everyone. I also highly recommend that readers check out The Citizens' Alliance for North Korean Human Rights.
This is the story of a young woman who survived the terrible communist culture of North Korea and who was able to escape the regime via way of China and Mongolia.
As a human interest, cultural telling of this modern day terror happening in North Korea, this book is a must read.
If you are seeking a book with wonderful prose and vivid descriptions...well, this book did not measure up to what I would consider well-written. I fear, some of the delicacy of this story may have been lost in translation.
Nonetheless, my life is richer for knowing this story and seeing this window into the world of refugees, especially those defecting from North Korea.
As a human interest, cultural telling of this modern day terror happening in North Korea, this book is a must read.
If you are seeking a book with wonderful prose and vivid descriptions...well, this book did not measure up to what I would consider well-written. I fear, some of the delicacy of this story may have been lost in translation.
Nonetheless, my life is richer for knowing this story and seeing this window into the world of refugees, especially those defecting from North Korea.
Väldigt spännande och kryper in under skinnet, tack vare välskrivna skildringar och ett personporträtt som hade kunnat passa vilken ung kvinna som helst.
Eunsun Kim's life in North Korea was barely a life at all. After her father's early death, and in the midst of an intense nation-wide famine, Eunsun finds herself passing out from hunger in her family's cold empty apartment after the furniture has all been sold and her mother and sister have left her alone in search for jobs that just aren't available. While so many people are starving in the streets and with no more to sell, Eunsun's mother knows that in order to survive, she and her two daughters must risk their lives to flee the country over North Korea's perilous and heavily-policed border with China. So begins the Kim family's long, harrowing journey to freedom.
I find stories of North Korean escapees fascinating. In a country where the population is so heavily brainwashed, I love reading about how these brave survivors learn about the outside world and all the opportunities that await them upon their escape. Last year, I read The Girl with Seven Names by Hyeonseo Lee and was in awe of Hyeonseo's fierce determination and independence as she escaped to China on her own. Eunsun's story is equally captivating but with her family by her side in her journey, the story offers another unique perspective of escape. The Kim family's adaptability and quick-thinking are huge assets during their long, complicated escape. Their path from North Korea to China and on to South Korea is fraught with danger, crushing set-backs, and unfavorable company, but their resolve ultimately pays off and leads to a fascinating read.
I highly recommend this book for lovers of political and cultural memoirs and count of as one of the best books I've read this year.
I find stories of North Korean escapees fascinating. In a country where the population is so heavily brainwashed, I love reading about how these brave survivors learn about the outside world and all the opportunities that await them upon their escape. Last year, I read The Girl with Seven Names by Hyeonseo Lee and was in awe of Hyeonseo's fierce determination and independence as she escaped to China on her own. Eunsun's story is equally captivating but with her family by her side in her journey, the story offers another unique perspective of escape. The Kim family's adaptability and quick-thinking are huge assets during their long, complicated escape. Their path from North Korea to China and on to South Korea is fraught with danger, crushing set-backs, and unfavorable company, but their resolve ultimately pays off and leads to a fascinating read.
I highly recommend this book for lovers of political and cultural memoirs and count of as one of the best books I've read this year.
After i finished the book, i think the title better be Nine years struggle to freedom in China. Actually i really want to know the detail about The most isolation country in the world, but Eunsun Kim told in the story more about her misery in China's land with her mom.
Her Father and Grandparents were died of starvation, that's why she and her mom decided to move out from North Korea.
Actually she was a happy little child who lived in North Korea till she was 11 years old, and in that time the hunger attack most of the citizen.
Her Father and Grandparents were died of starvation, that's why she and her mom decided to move out from North Korea.
Actually she was a happy little child who lived in North Korea till she was 11 years old, and in that time the hunger attack most of the citizen.
While not one of the most polished NK biographies I’ve read, it was still very easy to read and went by fast. Such a compelling story!
The first book of my Goodreads challenge.
The title for this entry is incomplete. I read the Danish version, which should read "Min vej ud af Nordkorea: Ni år på flugt fra helvede".
An English-language version is coming in July 2015 according to Amazon. The title will be "A Thousand Miles to Freedom: My Escape from North Korea"
The idea of a first-hand story from someone who has lived in North Korea is always intriguing. This is the tale of someone who was living on false papers for 9 years, and not a tale from the infamous prison camps or whatever euphemistic term they have in North Korea. It is still fraught with tension and makes me think of others who flee their homeland due to unbearable problems there.
The writing is not fantastic, yet it is suitable for this story. The author was 11 when she began her escape from her home in North Korea and 20 when she finally experiences freedom in South Korea. She is a child without a childhood telling her story in simple, straight-forward terms. She tells her story chronologically, interspersed with her feelings about the millions in North Korea who have no voice to tell their story. She is passionate in these passages, and you cannot blame her. The word "propaganda" came to mind now and then when I read these passages. I think the regime in North Korea is terrible, but I couldn't decide whether she wrote those passages in the best possible way. She is angry and indignant about the suffering that took place. Maybe my literary criticism is inappropriate when someone talks about life and death in ways I cannot possibly imagine. I had to mention it. Or perhaps it was the translation? This Danish translation (from the French) seemed faulty in some areas. I think there were misspellings and some awkward phrases. It was slightly annoying, but I am not an expert. I would have to ask my translator friends whether it's me or the translation that was choppy at time. This entire paragraph should explain my 3-star rating.
Her story shines through, and that is what is important. It is an easy and quick read to bring you a rare insight into another world.
PS update: I notice now that some other reviewers comment on the language. Maybe more work will be done on the English language version?
The title for this entry is incomplete. I read the Danish version, which should read "Min vej ud af Nordkorea: Ni år på flugt fra helvede".
An English-language version is coming in July 2015 according to Amazon. The title will be "A Thousand Miles to Freedom: My Escape from North Korea"
The idea of a first-hand story from someone who has lived in North Korea is always intriguing. This is the tale of someone who was living on false papers for 9 years, and not a tale from the infamous prison camps or whatever euphemistic term they have in North Korea. It is still fraught with tension and makes me think of others who flee their homeland due to unbearable problems there.
The writing is not fantastic, yet it is suitable for this story. The author was 11 when she began her escape from her home in North Korea and 20 when she finally experiences freedom in South Korea. She is a child without a childhood telling her story in simple, straight-forward terms. She tells her story chronologically, interspersed with her feelings about the millions in North Korea who have no voice to tell their story. She is passionate in these passages, and you cannot blame her. The word "propaganda" came to mind now and then when I read these passages. I think the regime in North Korea is terrible, but I couldn't decide whether she wrote those passages in the best possible way. She is angry and indignant about the suffering that took place. Maybe my literary criticism is inappropriate when someone talks about life and death in ways I cannot possibly imagine. I had to mention it. Or perhaps it was the translation? This Danish translation (from the French) seemed faulty in some areas. I think there were misspellings and some awkward phrases. It was slightly annoying, but I am not an expert. I would have to ask my translator friends whether it's me or the translation that was choppy at time. This entire paragraph should explain my 3-star rating.
Her story shines through, and that is what is important. It is an easy and quick read to bring you a rare insight into another world.
PS update: I notice now that some other reviewers comment on the language. Maybe more work will be done on the English language version?