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rlmil715's review against another edition
3.0
It was interesting to read the journey that Hyeonseo Lee underwent, not only in leaving North Korea but in reshaping her understanding of the world. As a child facing the famine in North Korea, she came to understand that her conception of her country was propaganda. Then, upon leaving North Korea, she learned that she needed to unlearn what she had been taught about Korean history and the world at large. It wasn't just her name that changed seven times; it was also her way of thinking.
literaryrecap's review against another edition
5.0
In truth there is no dividing line between cruel leaders and oppressed citizens. The Kims rule by making everyone complicit in a brutal system, implicating all, from the highest to the lowest, blurring morals so that no one is blameless. A terrorized Party cadre will terrorize his subordinates, and so on down the chain; a friend will inform on a friend out of fear of punishment for not informing...Ordinary people are made persecutors, denouncers, thieves. They use the fear flowing from the top to win some advantage, or to survive.
this was such an eye-opening book!
blairfrank's review against another edition
4.0
Before reading this, I already had a vague understanding of life for those living in North Korea. My research could never have prepared me for the journey Hyeonseo Lee wrote. The entire novel is very causal. By the last page, I felt her and I could've been chatting in any coffee house around the world. That was my favorite part about the entire read.
monobella's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
jansbookcorner's review against another edition
4.0
A true story that should make all Americans reflect on many levels. Especially at this point in time.
lillycano's review against another edition
4.0
I learned so much from this book. Read this for the ProseHoes book club. The author’s story is amazing and seems like it’s fictional. It was written in a very easy to follow and enjoyable way. Happy I read it.
kalyaniwarrier's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
sad
fast-paced
5.0
a non-fiction that messes with your perception of what the world is like. the book is an autobiography of a North Korean defector, Hyeonseo Lee, who against all odds escapes to South Korea to achieve freedom and liberty that every human being should be able to exercise. it makes one think about the freedom they have taken for granted in a truly democratic setting and long for humanity to be better.
kearl100's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.75
So I’m completely enthralled by North Korean escape/defector stories. In Order to Live by Yenomi Park was one of the memoirs that got me back into reading, in fact. This story was just as fascinating and heartbreaking..though each girl took a very different path to freedom. Honestly…reading about life in North Korea is more dystopian than some dystopian fiction that I have read. It is hard to wrap your head around the fact that there are North Koreans sharing this earth with us now that have little/no knowledge of the outside world. And the knowledge they do have is warped and untrue. That a country exists to on the earth like this RIGHT NOW…I can’t get enough information about it.
marinaemoore's review against another edition
5.0
This book offers a fascinating look at life inside North Korea and shows how difficult it can be for defectors to truly find freedom. Hyeonseo Lee’s journey is nothing less than harrowing.
niquee3317's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Classism, Deportation, Forced institutionalization, Trafficking, and Violence