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4.47 AVERAGE
4.47 AVERAGE
What a page turner this was. Yeonmi’s story is very well written, with a clear beginning, middle, and end. The pace of each chapter was perfect, it never felt too long or too short. It touches on so many important themes related to loss, trauma, , identity, hope, and resiliency. It’s hard to comprehend the atrocities that her and her family had to endure. And to think that this is simply one story of so many other defectors who have had similar or worst experiences. When I was finished reading, I made some efforts to read up a bit more on North Korea’s history. It really helps to bring a lot of context on how things developed to be the way that they are. Highly recommend this read.
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Before I start, I need to make a list of things I am grateful for:
I'm grateful I can drink coffee every morning.
I'm grateful I can wear whatever I want.
I'm grateful I can binge-watch whatever TV show I want.
I'm grateful I can read any book ever published.
I'm grateful I can think for myself.
I'm grateful I can go to the store round the corner and buy as much candy as my sweet tooth desires.
I heard stories about North Korea. I knew it was bad, I knew people there lived in another world, but I never thought her story would impact me so much. There were moments when I felt that us, in our freedom, in our information free world, should stop turning our backs to these people. I felt so helpless and the same time happy to have been born in a communist free country.
I was born in Romania 3 years after the communist party fell, so I do not know what life was like back then. My parents and grandmother rarely talk about it, but seeing the dictatorship in North Korea made me realize what power does to one person, particularly to one family.
This is a book I devoured. I could not stop reading it. With every page I hoped, I prayed she would be fine, that she would find the freedom she had be searching for so desperately. After reading this, my interest in autobiographies went through the roof. I feel that it is our duty to know more about what happens in this country forgotten by many, to understand those who run away and help them feel what freedom really is
I'm grateful I can drink coffee every morning.
I'm grateful I can wear whatever I want.
I'm grateful I can binge-watch whatever TV show I want.
I'm grateful I can read any book ever published.
I'm grateful I can think for myself.
I'm grateful I can go to the store round the corner and buy as much candy as my sweet tooth desires.
I heard stories about North Korea. I knew it was bad, I knew people there lived in another world, but I never thought her story would impact me so much. There were moments when I felt that us, in our freedom, in our information free world, should stop turning our backs to these people. I felt so helpless and the same time happy to have been born in a communist free country.
I was born in Romania 3 years after the communist party fell, so I do not know what life was like back then. My parents and grandmother rarely talk about it, but seeing the dictatorship in North Korea made me realize what power does to one person, particularly to one family.
This is a book I devoured. I could not stop reading it. With every page I hoped, I prayed she would be fine, that she would find the freedom she had be searching for so desperately. After reading this, my interest in autobiographies went through the roof. I feel that it is our duty to know more about what happens in this country forgotten by many, to understand those who run away and help them feel what freedom really is
One of my books of the year. What an emotional and harrowing read that is so well written from start to finish. I found myself reading this at points with my mouth open in disbelief that people could experience such moments in their lives.
“I learned something else that day: we all have our own deserts. They may not be the same deserts, but we all have to cross them to find a purpose in life and be free”
Inspiring and emotive.
“I learned something else that day: we all have our own deserts. They may not be the same deserts, but we all have to cross them to find a purpose in life and be free”
Inspiring and emotive.
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
slow-paced
While this wasn't the most enjoyable book I've read, I think it's one of the most important.
What a strong girl. I would not have survived what she did.
Another memoir that I couldn't put down. There is just so much to unpack with this one. Her story is really remarkable. Yeonmi is so strong to tell her story and keep living her best life after all she endured. Nothing I say can do it justice, it teaches so much about the world we live in and it is inspiring. There are some truly remarkable people out there and Yeonmi Park is one of them.
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
I wasn't a big fan of the writing and/or narrating of this anyway but feel justified after finding out that the author has become a conservative mouthpiece in American media spouting transphobic, racist, anti-Palestian garbage.
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
“We all have our own deserts; they made not be the same as my desert, but we all have to cross them to find a purpose in life and be free.”