A review by my_rse
The Hard Road Out by Jihyun Park, Seh-Lynn Chai

dark informative sad fast-paced

5.0

No matter what your thoughts are after reading it...everyone NEEDS to read this book because it's impossible not to takeaway something from it —whether that be becoming better informed on life in NK or just coming to appreciate the privileges we have in the Western world. I for one couldn't put it down.... and I have never appreciated a single grain of rice more than I have since reading this.

The endless struggles this woman has gone through, the sacrifices she's made, and the way she persevered through so much suffering at the hands of people in positions of power, middle men helping her to escape, and her own family are all things people need to read. Sure you see it on TV... the struggles of people in third world countries, children who are starving, endless wars - but reading this gives you a new perspective of the day to day life of those who are suffering. It makes you come to appreciate every gram of food we have access to and every product we buy to make our lives easier - not to mention it really teaches you what life is like in NK. To think that her children — especially Chul — are close to my age and have endured so much struggle has made me reflect on my own life and the things I take for granted. 

Reading this has not only helped me to learn, but it has made me feel so immensely lucky to live the life I live in a way I never have felt before. It's stories like these that every privileged person NEEDS to read.