Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.47 AVERAGE
4.47 AVERAGE
Read this all in one go - didn't think that would happen. But, damn, I couldn't put it down.
For me, North Korea is like passing a train wreck. You know it's awful and there is so much pain and suffering, and you can't look away. I have this morbid fascination with the country. How can this country possibly be so secretive and the people so unknown? I mean, I know how it's possible. Power-addicted dictators are terribly good at what they do to their people. It just doesn't seem real sometimes. It's like something out of a dystopian novel. Only it's actually happening in reality.
I'm glad Yeonmi Park had the courage to speak up and tell her story. Given how brainwashed and how much fear is instilled in North Koreans from childhood by their government, it couldn't be easy for her to do. But freedom has an interesting way of breaking through the dictatorial BS and finding the truth. Bless her forever.
For me, North Korea is like passing a train wreck. You know it's awful and there is so much pain and suffering, and you can't look away. I have this morbid fascination with the country. How can this country possibly be so secretive and the people so unknown? I mean, I know how it's possible. Power-addicted dictators are terribly good at what they do to their people. It just doesn't seem real sometimes. It's like something out of a dystopian novel. Only it's actually happening in reality.
I'm glad Yeonmi Park had the courage to speak up and tell her story. Given how brainwashed and how much fear is instilled in North Koreans from childhood by their government, it couldn't be easy for her to do. But freedom has an interesting way of breaking through the dictatorial BS and finding the truth. Bless her forever.
Absolutely phenomenal. One the best - albeit heart-wrenching - books I've ever read.
Hauntingly beautiful. I am unsure how I feel, other then to feel truly saddened by the atrocities that those in North Korea face, and the hope that one day something will change for those who are oppressed to be free.
I haven’t completed reading a book in 2 days in a long time!!! This book is a page turner. So well written, you feel like you are sitting next to Yeonmi as she’s telling you her life story. This book is an eye opener. These women are so inspiring! I highly recommend reading it!
Compelling story - it was definitely a difficult book to read because it's her very dark memoire, from her time growing up in North Korea with little to no food and political brainwashing, to human trafficking and rape in China. It should be noted that she is a non-native English speaker, which is apparent, as her style is childish and underwhelming. However, it's easy to look beyond that, especially when you learn that she had to drop out of middle school in North Korea for lack of money and only learned to speak English a few years before writing the book.
I picked up this book just out of curiosity for knowing about North korea.
It made me clear that heaven ,hell and everything are in earth only.
This little girl's definition of survival started from getting something to eat went through acquiring freedom and finally a burning thirst to get educated.
Because of her grueling experiences in life she not only gained knowledge but also wisdom.
This girl as she describes herself is definitely lucky than many others who are stuck in Hermit Kingdom and China as defectors.
Praying for Welfare of that country.
It made me clear that heaven ,hell and everything are in earth only.
This little girl's definition of survival started from getting something to eat went through acquiring freedom and finally a burning thirst to get educated.
Because of her grueling experiences in life she not only gained knowledge but also wisdom.
This girl as she describes herself is definitely lucky than many others who are stuck in Hermit Kingdom and China as defectors.
Praying for Welfare of that country.
Read in one sitting, easy to read not so easy to absorb. The difficulties faced by individuals under a totalitarian regime are not easy to take in but on this occasion the insight of the author helps to provide a background, historical and social to so much of what happens.
Her description of learning to use language, critical thinking, learning to think for yourself, learning to think in complex ways while all the time the stuff of survival is ever present provided a window of knowledge for me as the reader into a very personal part of what one persons traumatic journey was like.
Her description of learning to use language, critical thinking, learning to think for yourself, learning to think in complex ways while all the time the stuff of survival is ever present provided a window of knowledge for me as the reader into a very personal part of what one persons traumatic journey was like.
dark
sad
medium-paced
Lowered score because apparently some of her story has been proven exaggerated or false.