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lydiadrodgers's review against another edition
3.0
A well written and fascinating glimpse into life in North Korea. It was a little too heavy and dark for me right now. But given the topic, I should have been prepared for that.
hieronymusbotched's review against another edition
5.0
Citizens, gather round! Read a book no American aggressor should have been able to pull off. Love! Violence! And nationalistic zeal! Don't forget to put sawdust in the ears of children - you must protect them, comrades! - all those who do not yet know of human injustice.
paganhill's review against another edition
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
cemoses's review against another edition
3.0
The first part of this book a I found extremely boring. The second part of the book hooked me like a better suspense novel. However, I did not find anything literary or great about the book.
liann24's review against another edition
3.0
Weird and humorous, but a long and confusing read for me.
carter_jason's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
jimpiquant's review against another edition
4.0
Excellent book. Hard to believe this is a first book from this author. If you like a good story where you can learn something about a place or time that may not be familiar, this is a gem based in North Korea. If you want a companion non-fiction book on North Korea check out "Nothing to Envy".
anntrautmannm's review against another edition
5.0
I truly enjoyed this incredibly told story. Although fiction, it was based on visits to Pyongyang and on interviews with defectors from North Korea. It was 1984 to the third power; I was fascinated and had to read more about the isolated, brutal Kim regime.
jktstoll's review against another edition
3.0
A surreal and disturbing but oddly sort of believable look into the closed world of North Korea. Enjoyable if sometimes graphic.