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4.21 AVERAGE
4.21 AVERAGE
I've read several books about escaping from North Korea and this one was very interesting.
It was very informative of what it was like to live there and the horrors they endured. Many of the books I have read on this topic have been more about the escape which is also terrifying. The author takes you through his life in North Korea from when he moved there from Japan as a young boy with his family to the point he feels he can't endure it anymore and finally escapes.
A terrifying tale about hardship, endurance and the will to live.
It was very informative of what it was like to live there and the horrors they endured. Many of the books I have read on this topic have been more about the escape which is also terrifying. The author takes you through his life in North Korea from when he moved there from Japan as a young boy with his family to the point he feels he can't endure it anymore and finally escapes.
A terrifying tale about hardship, endurance and the will to live.
This is a fascinating first-hand account of life in North Korea. The author, Masaji Ishikawa, details the hardships and tragedies that he and his family endured for over 30 years under the brutal North Korean dictatorship.
In reading the story, I felt like Ishikawa himself were speaking directly to me. The book has a rough, visceral feel to it; it's not refined and not terribly well written, but it is unflinchingly honest.
This book allows you to walk in Ishikawa's shoes and experience his pain, disappointment, despair, and harsh physical suffering. Sadly, it doesn't have a happy ending: although Ishikawa himself escapes North Korea, his family does not, and as the book closes, he is beset with loneliness and depression because his family members (at least those who have not yet succumbed to death) are still trapped in North Korea.
A River in Darkness paints a graphic picture of just how horrific life North Korea is, and it left me deeply saddened for Ishikawa, his family, and his fellow citizens.
In reading the story, I felt like Ishikawa himself were speaking directly to me. The book has a rough, visceral feel to it; it's not refined and not terribly well written, but it is unflinchingly honest.
This book allows you to walk in Ishikawa's shoes and experience his pain, disappointment, despair, and harsh physical suffering. Sadly, it doesn't have a happy ending: although Ishikawa himself escapes North Korea, his family does not, and as the book closes, he is beset with loneliness and depression because his family members (at least those who have not yet succumbed to death) are still trapped in North Korea.
A River in Darkness paints a graphic picture of just how horrific life North Korea is, and it left me deeply saddened for Ishikawa, his family, and his fellow citizens.
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
A River in Darkness: One Man’s Escape from North Korea" by Masaji Ishikawa is a gripping and haunting memoir that provides a rare glimpse into the harsh realities of life in North Korea. Ishikawa's story is both heartbreaking and inspiring as he details his arduous journey from a repressive regime to eventual freedom. The book is a raw and unflinching account of the struggles faced by North Koreans, shedding light on the extreme poverty, indoctrination, and brutality they endure.
Ishikawa's narrative is deeply personal and compelling, making it hard to put down. His resilience and determination to escape and expose the truth about North Korea are truly commendable. The only reason for not giving a full five stars is that some parts of the book feel slightly rushed, leaving the reader wanting more depth in certain areas. Nevertheless, this memoir is a powerful and eye-opening read that leaves a lasting impact.
Ishikawa's narrative is deeply personal and compelling, making it hard to put down. His resilience and determination to escape and expose the truth about North Korea are truly commendable. The only reason for not giving a full five stars is that some parts of the book feel slightly rushed, leaving the reader wanting more depth in certain areas. Nevertheless, this memoir is a powerful and eye-opening read that leaves a lasting impact.
Absolutely heartbreaking. This is the first insider account I’ve read about North Korea and it was sickeningly even worse that what I could have imagined. I love the blunt and upfront way the horrors are presented to the reader. I had to put it down and walk away from it at some parts. It was a deeply sad but enlightening read and I think everyone should add this to their reading list.
Masaji Isjikawa’s story is absolutely heartbreaking. It offers such insight into what life in North Korea is like, with so much suffering, terror/fear and barely survivable conditions (i.e. subsisting on weeds, failed suicide attempts, etc.). I learned a bit about the politics between North and South Korea, Japan, and China as well. Those last few pages that detail his pretty impromptu escape from North Korea had my heart racing. But the epilogue is what completely broke me. I can’t imagine living with so much pain and heartbreak all throughout one’s life… it makes one really think about what inspires one’s will to live.
Why’d I pick this? I forget, but I’m so glad I did. Highly recommend for folks to have a clearer picture of the terrifying atrocities of a life in North Korea
Why’d I pick this? I forget, but I’m so glad I did. Highly recommend for folks to have a clearer picture of the terrifying atrocities of a life in North Korea
This book is heartbreaking and devastating, to say the least.
I feel like it’s not my place to review it. It’s one of these books that i’m sure will stay with me forever. I highly recommend it for everyone.
I feel like it’s not my place to review it. It’s one of these books that i’m sure will stay with me forever. I highly recommend it for everyone.
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Beautiful, educational, and tragic. I learned so much reading this book, and while it leaves me with an empty sadness that can never hope to match the despair the author has felt, I can’t recommend it enough for the story it shares.
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced