Reviews

Gestolen leven by Adam Johnson, Miebeth van Horn

sher47bingo's review against another edition

5.0

This was a hard book to read because it is soul wrenching to read what N. Koreans go through. I recommend it but everyone should know it is not an easy read emotionally.

mariecurie04's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

logar86's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

cellardoor10's review against another edition

5.0

Deeply disturbing, but an engrossing and surprisingly quick read. Incredibly thought-provoking. The protagonist's development through shifting moralities, loyalties, and jobs is something I will be thinking over for a long time. It reads like a real life Brave New World, except without the enjoyable soma experience. Set in North Korea, we meet an orphan, and we gradually uncover more and more stories in his life, and we gradually come to suspect the narration of not being your typical third person omniscient.

Very well constructed.

mrjsparks's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

mongert's review against another edition

5.0

I LOVED this book. It was an unusual read for sure. It has satirical elements and almost a magic realism quality about it it. It is a love story that actually moved me. And of course, it is very sad. This book made me laugh and cry. I read some reviews on this site complaining about the book - that he satirized a serious issue (North Korea) - that he had the audacity to write about North Korea as a non-Korean. I don't agree. I believe Adam Johnson just told a story, that it is a piece of art from a creative mind. I loved it.

historysworstmonster's review against another edition

4.0

Well researched, darkly funny, and full of fascinating details about a place not much information comes out about.

jennieleigh's review against another edition

5.0

I could read this 100 times. I really, really loved it.

lbmillan's review against another edition

4.0

For the majority of this book, I thought I was going to give it 5 stars. However, some more confusing things (at least to me) happened toward the end that I wished would have been fleshed out more, and the ending wasn't as good as I expected after such a big buildup.
But I loved the cultural aspects of the book, and I really cared about the characters stories and what would happen to them. A very creative and interesting book.

heineaaen's review against another edition

4.0

Lidt tung i starten, men når først den får kløerne i, slipper den ikke. Stærkt plot og gode karakterer. Et fremragende og aldeles skræmmende indblik i Nordkorea.