livay's review

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dark emotional informative sad fast-paced

4.25


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zoegrace's review against another edition

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challenging informative reflective fast-paced

5.0

I cannot read this book enough times. There is so much substance and power in Yeonmi’s writing and storytelling.  II am so grateful to have read about Yeonmi’s  life and escape from North Korea. 

The narration is steady, clear and easy to understand. I find her voice so soothing which makes the challenging parts of the memoir easier to read. 

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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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mxpringle's review

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challenging dark hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

3.0


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maggieoc_x's review

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dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0


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pawiwowi's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.5


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seedsofsunflowers's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.0

Yeonmi’s been through so many hardships, and her account of her life thus far is at once tragic and inspiring. Can’t recall if it is officially, but her story is sort of split into three portions - her childhood in North Korea, her time being trafficked and stuck in China, and her adjustment to South Korea when she finally escaped. Each of these sections feels a little different - the first is more matter-of-fact and emotionally detached (to be fair I can’t remember most of my childhood, so she probably relied a bit on family to piece some things together), the second is utterly depressing, and the third is more hopeful but makes you think about some issues we may take for granted today in “first-world” countries. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Eji Kim, and didn’t find the simplicity of the language at all an issue like I’m reading in some previous reviews. It’s well-written, and the kind of story that may not necessarily spell out hugely complex thoughts but does make you think upon your own assumptions.

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