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4.21 AVERAGE
4.21 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
informative
sad
slow-paced
I don't rate memoirs out of principle, but this was gut-wrenching and heartbreaking. Set in North Korea between the 1960s and 1990s, this was layered and informative- this story will definitely stay with me for a long time.
Oof.
It felt like I was reading a dystopian fiction novel. Honestly none of this felt real. It was frustrating to read through situations that I thought were going to turn out well that ended up being just another hardship. I was rooting for a happy ending that never came.
It felt like I was reading a dystopian fiction novel. Honestly none of this felt real. It was frustrating to read through situations that I thought were going to turn out well that ended up being just another hardship. I was rooting for a happy ending that never came.
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Oh my God what a heartbreaking novel. Definitely not for the feint of heart. It's terrible to think and to know that there are people who have lived and will continue to live like this - if this is what you want to call living.
If you can, give this book a read.
If you can, give this book a read.
I listened to this on Audible and it made me so thankful that I do not live in North Korea. I really enjoyed this book because it is an autobiography, complete with all the tragic events of this man's life. This person is not a talented writer, but relates well his fascinating story of a mixed-race Japanese-Korean and how he/his family is unfairly treated in his home country of Japan due to prejudice against Koreans there. Unfortunately the Korean father falls for the fake propaganda of North Korea who is trying to bring Koreans back after the war, and life becomes even worse for them back in Korea. North Korea was horrifying. All of their freedoms were removed. No chance of school or changing jobs, or bettering ones life in any way. They were starving most of the time, and many died from starvation. This was 1950's through mid 1990's. It is very eye-opening. Read or listen if you want to learn more about the world around us.
The pacing in this memoir was so good!!! Like I could not put it down! It was heartbreaking in so many parts, showing different parts of the authors life. It had an honest view of what it was like living in North Korea. I mean it shows you so many layers of what happened historically during those years. The dream that was giving as an incentive for people to move to North Korea, then the reality.
I need more people to read this.
I need more people to read this.
I think that this is the fastest I've read a book in a long time. It suffers somewhat for the translation, but the story isn't lost, particularly the later parts. It is heartbreaking to read.
So depressing living that kind of life, born in North Korea, moving to Japan, then brainwashed in going back to North Korea. I just found this book very upsetting. I gave it three stars because I wasn't fond of the way he told the story of his life in some parts, like I wanted more information. I didn't even feel excited at the end for him. I just wanted him to be with his kids. I'm not sure if they ever came over, or maybe I missed that part.
I felt rather queasy after I finished this book. It's very short, but the descriptions of human cruelty was infuriating and nauseating all at once. I don't understand how such evil can exist in the world, and it is a blessing that many of us never will experience it.
I've seen some people contesting whether what the author has said is true or not. If even a tenth of what he said occurred is true, it is enough reason to condemn what has happened and continues to happen today.
As I was reading this book, all I think about is the writer's surviving family. I wonder if this book reached North Korean shores and if the writer's family would be allowed to live after that.
I've seen some people contesting whether what the author has said is true or not. If even a tenth of what he said occurred is true, it is enough reason to condemn what has happened and continues to happen today.
As I was reading this book, all I think about is the writer's surviving family. I wonder if this book reached North Korean shores and if the writer's family would be allowed to live after that.