Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

За да живея by Yeonmi Park, Йонми Парк

59 reviews

on_your_raedar's review against another edition

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5.0

I’ll be the first to admit that I never knew what happened in North Korea because I never thought about it. I watched a YouTube video about the 8 ways to defect from the country and this story was mentioned, I knew I had to read it, educate myself about what’s happen in the world.

This entire story is heartbreaking and is a necessary read. It took weeks to get through because things were so hard to stomach but I truly cannot express the appreciation I feel toward Yeonmi for being brave and willing to share her experiences. 

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kiaragennaro's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative inspiring sad tense slow-paced

4.25


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reading_bear's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

4.5


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ran_sophia's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

The book contains a very powerful story that is worth reading.  Although it was difficult to read, because what the author wrote about and what she experienced was very sad and terrible.  I liked that the story was well written and pointed.  And I also liked that she wasn't afraid to talk openly about what she was going through.

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karingforbooks's review against another edition

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5.0

Read the trigger warnings! 
This was amazing. I don’t know much about North Korea beyond what’s taught in the west which is propaganda to showcase democracy as the best. I enjoyed learning about the details of North Korea and how bad it actually was. Not to say I enjoy human suffering but it was educational and well written. She writes in a conversational and emotional manner which will definitely pull at your remotiosn whether that’s anger, sorrow or compassion. It’s a hard read because of all the horrific things this woman experienced but it’s an important read, not only because we can learn about a repressive regime but because many of the events she experienced can be analogized to events in the west (immigration for one). 

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clevelandbookgirl's review against another edition

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5.0

Synopsis: Yeonmi Park was born in North Korea. She spent most of her childhood trying to survive the atrocities of the country. One day, Yeonmi's mother decides the family must escape, in order to live. What awaits them during their escape is equally as terrible as the things that happened in North Korea. This true story displays courage, survival, and resiliency. 

I'm so happy I checked out this audiobook from Libby. Yeonmi Park gives insight to what life was like for her in North Korea. 

This story was very hard to listen to. It was tragic, but Yeonmi and her family did what they had to in order to survive, no matter the cost. I will list content warning at the end of this post, because a lot of what Yeonmi and her family survived was extremely brutal.

If you are looking for a memoir for Women's Month this March I would strongly suggest picking up this book. I think this book should be read in political science and sociology classes to showcase politics, survival, and people's ways of thinking. If you're looking for a non-fiction book that will shake you to the core, read In Order to Live.

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lizgonzo's review against another edition

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5.0


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kwistiekweme's review against another edition

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5.0

Stunning, horrific, unflinching, and incredibly brave. Park writes about life in North Korea, the horrors of her escape through China, and her transition to life in South Korea, in a voice full of strength and hope despite -- or perhaps because of -- everything she experienced. Her narrative is straightforward and unflinching, and her account of being trafficked in China kept me up at night. Even though I know this was published in 2015 and I've watched her TED talks, I had to keep reading to the end to know that she was alright.

All around the world refugees are incredibly resilient, but it's heartbreaking how they are exploited at their most vulnerable and desperate. It amazes me how, even after everything she's been through, Park can still find love and compassion in her heart for having been born in North Korea. The world is broken and humans have the capacity for unspeakable depravity, but Park shows how incredible virtue can exist alongside it. Her hope for North Korea's liberation one day brought tears to my eyes.

This memoir is not for the faint of heart. Trigger warnings for rape, abuse, human trafficking, execution, murder, death, and starvation.

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agustdefault's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional inspiring fast-paced

5.0

im having a hard time describing this book but i am going to recommend it to everyone i know. it is very rare for me to cry during books and this one got me. yeonmis story is so heartbreaking and i felt that by the end i truly knew her. im proud of her for being able to speak up and tell her story and it was so well written that it didnt feel monotonous. 

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elanashyong's review against another edition

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5.0


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