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she_reads_'s review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Classism, Pregnancy, Grief, Deportation, Terminal illness, Child death, Domestic abuse, Abandonment, Violence, Torture, Suicide attempt, Pandemic/Epidemic, Child abuse, Gore, and Death
This book shows the extremity of poverty and death due to poverty.lianne_rooney's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Violence, and Child death
Moderate: Child death, Abandonment, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Grief, Forced institutionalization, Emotional abuse, Death, Death of parent, and Colonisation
Minor: Cannibalism
Masaji Ishikawa was born in Japan to a Japanese mother and Korean father. Life is hard - the family is poor and his father is abusive to his mother. In 1960, the family move to North Korea, lured by the promise of a living a good life in a socialist utopia where their children will receive a free education. soon after their arrival they realise they have been misled and life in North Korea is harder than anything they have ever known. As Japanese returnees, they are deemed to be of the hostile class in North Korean society and as such there is no hope of a good education for Masaji and his siblings or decent jobs. This memoir recounts Masaji's experiences and struggle for survival for over 30 years in the most hostile and bleak of circumstances. Finally, Masaji escapes and returns to Japan without his family. This is an incredibly harrowing read but highly informative as to the conditions in North Korea. For a time Masaji worked on a collective farm and I found his insights into the reasons for food shortages and eventual famine especially informative. Recommended for anyone looking to gain a deep understanding into life in North Korea but, be warned - although Masaji manages to return to Japan there are no happy endings here.mothdan's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Grief, Bullying, Hate crime, Classism, Death, Child death, Abandonment, Child abuse, Xenophobia, Racism, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Cursing, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Suicide
japanasi's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Violence, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Child death, Death, Death of parent, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Grief, Xenophobia, and Bullying
mandkips's review against another edition
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Blood, Pregnancy, Domestic abuse, and Racism
Moderate: Alcoholism and Police brutality
nicolemillo's review against another edition
Graphic: Pregnancy and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Cannibalism, Violence, Excrement, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Death, and Child death
marenk's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Hate crime, Pregnancy, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
Moderate: Alcoholism, Blood, Child death, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Suicide attempt