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4.47 AVERAGE
4.47 AVERAGE
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Violence
Yup, I added this book to my list after seeing Yeonmi Park on the Joe Rogan podcast. I delayed reading her book for fear of it being devastating and horrific. The experiences described were horrific although the book was balanced in that it was a timeline of her life. I do acknowledge there is some debate about certain details being sensational or exaggerated. Despite the authenticity of her entire story, the fact remains North Korea is a hell on Earth, a dystopia on Earth, a real life 'Hunger Games'. I was struck by her feelings of discouragement in the face of fully thinking for herself. Yeonmi's life story is one to share, despite it's validity she has been through more survival, life experiences than most Americans. She clearly experienced severe trauma, sexual assault, neglect, and self-reports episodes of disassociation. These things might contribute to the certainty of her story. Nonetheless, it's amazing she survived and continues persist.
It seems modern North Koreans are born into an imprisoned state. I would not be surprised to learn American prisoners enjoy a better life than many of the free North Koreans. American prisoner's receive three meals a day, fresh water, showers, consistent electricity, the freedom to read, write, and get a higher education. Sounds like this is more than most modern North Koreans. There is also the saying 'strict parents make sneaky kids'...
It seems modern North Koreans are born into an imprisoned state. I would not be surprised to learn American prisoners enjoy a better life than many of the free North Koreans. American prisoner's receive three meals a day, fresh water, showers, consistent electricity, the freedom to read, write, and get a higher education. Sounds like this is more than most modern North Koreans. There is also the saying 'strict parents make sneaky kids'...
Picked up this book the moment rumours about Kim Jong-Un's possible death started circulating.
I listened to the audio version and must say the narration is slightly stiff.
The story will be familiar to anyone who has read about North Korean defectors before. Very similar to The Girl With Seven Names.
This book is probably not a bad introduction to the topic of North Korea as your first (but not last) read as Park's story ends on a more positive note than many others I have read.
I listened to the audio version and must say the narration is slightly stiff.
The story will be familiar to anyone who has read about North Korean defectors before. Very similar to The Girl With Seven Names.
This book is probably not a bad introduction to the topic of North Korea as your first (but not last) read as Park's story ends on a more positive note than many others I have read.
It describes awful things but... she has a light view of them. It is hard to describe. The book confirmed the things I knew about dictatorship
challenging
dark
sad
fast-paced
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
informative
sad
medium-paced
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Thanks to an unexpected long travel day, I was pretty much able to finish this book in a day.
Yeonmi is one year younger than me and I cannot even imagine the strength to survive her childhood and the bravery to take on her journey to freedom. She is a brave woman who had to endure so much struggle and darkness as a child in North Korea and then had to find a way out the only way she could. I’m so glad she fought for her freedom, found her voice and shared her story with us.
It truly opens your eyes to the dark side of the world.
It breaks my heart to think about what she was going through as a child at the same time as myself was growing up. No child or human should be treated like this or experience this but it happens way more than we know. Thank you Yeonmi for being strong and fighting for yourself. You’re an inspiration! Keep sharing your story and exposing the evil that exists.
Yeonmi is one year younger than me and I cannot even imagine the strength to survive her childhood and the bravery to take on her journey to freedom. She is a brave woman who had to endure so much struggle and darkness as a child in North Korea and then had to find a way out the only way she could. I’m so glad she fought for her freedom, found her voice and shared her story with us.
It truly opens your eyes to the dark side of the world.
It breaks my heart to think about what she was going through as a child at the same time as myself was growing up. No child or human should be treated like this or experience this but it happens way more than we know. Thank you Yeonmi for being strong and fighting for yourself. You’re an inspiration! Keep sharing your story and exposing the evil that exists.
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
tense
fast-paced