Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.21 AVERAGE
4.21 AVERAGE
This isn't an excellent piece of writing, but I don't think that's the point of this book. It's just a raw and truthful narrative about a man and his experiences. It's painful to read and the cruelties he faced are beyond my understanding.
Quite simply one of the best memoirs I have ever read. Both harrowing and gripping, the memoir explores humanity’s tenacity to survive under the harshest regimes and the price of freedom.
Ishikawa and Kobayashi paint such a visceral, detailed picture of life under the Kim Il-Sung regime, it was horrifyingly fascinating, I couldn’t stop reading.
Really recommend the audiobook, the narrator did a fantastic job and the prononciation of Japanese / Korean words made the experience feel even more immersive.
Ishikawa and Kobayashi paint such a visceral, detailed picture of life under the Kim Il-Sung regime, it was horrifyingly fascinating, I couldn’t stop reading.
Really recommend the audiobook, the narrator did a fantastic job and the prononciation of Japanese / Korean words made the experience feel even more immersive.
This was heartbreaking to read, but so good. It's so awful to think of all those poor people in North Korea living like that.
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Frightening
So...North Korea is terrible. Everyone knows that. To read a first hand account of the misery is scary. I don't understand how it keeps going.
So...North Korea is terrible. Everyone knows that. To read a first hand account of the misery is scary. I don't understand how it keeps going.
This was a powerful and eye-opening read. The story is deeply moving, shedding light on the harsh realities of life under an oppressive regime and one man’s struggle to escape. The writing is raw and honest, making the emotions hit even harder. While some parts were tough to get through because of the subject matter, it was absolutely worth it. A compelling and important story that stays with you long after you’ve finished.
This is an incredible book; it is fascinating, eye-opening, and terrifying all at the same time. He provides a window into the North Korean regime and history I did not know about, and it’s an incredibly sad story. It is raw and haunting. I hope he will be happy with his family one day.
A slim yet immensely powerful summary of 35 years of human cruelty, and the misery the North Korean regime wreaks on ordinary people. Bravo for living to tell it.
Tämä oli yksi järkyttävimmistä Pohjois-Koreakirjoista joita olen lukenut. Aivan järkkyä tekstiä ja vielä kamalampaa on tietty se, että tuollaista on täällä maanpäällä. Ihmisiä elää aivan epäinhimillisissä olosuhteissa ja nääntyy nälkään. En tiedä onko P-Kssa tilanne parantunut tuosta 90-luvusta, jolloin oli vissiin pahin tilanne siellä. Mutta tämä Ishikawan tarina oli kyllä tosi pysäyttävä. Eikä hän mitään onnea saavuttanut vaikka onnistuikin pakenemaan, perhe jäi jälkeen ja heidän kohtalonsa jäyti Ishikawaa sisältä, koska ei voinutkaan heitä auttaa. Jos kovat kohtalot ja diktatuurit kiinnostaa, niin kannattaa lukea!