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A review by kalira
The Sister: North Korea's Kim Yo Jong, the Most Dangerous Woman in the World by Sung-Yoon Lee
dark
informative
tense
3.5
While delivering a sobering, horrifying (as one might expect), and precise account of wider events in recent history (and decades), when the view closes in on the woman who is the titular focus . . . the author often seems to step to suppositions and imaginings. Not entirely unexpected - certainly there's a very harsh limit on the up-close information and observation anyone might be capable of in this case - they are only rarely accompanied by the statements occasionally seen such as 'as if [...]' or followed by discussions of why the supposition was made, and more often treated as fact.
The impression frequently given is that the author is describing precisely the thoughts going through his focus' mind (occasionally literally, with italicised sentences supposing the precise words) - in a manner that would be entirely expected . . . in a fictional narrative.
Indeed, the author seems to make a number of these suppositions not exactly supported by the information he provides - including the many assertions as to Kim Yo Jong's rank, power, and even that she would naturally be her brother's choice of heir as well as his most trusted.
I don't doubt she is powerful (and orders terrible, terrible things), those facts are proven . . . but little more. (In fact she still, evidently, hasn't even been acknowledged officially as part of the ruling Kim family.) Again, speculation and inferences are to be expected, and some of the ones proposed do have support - but some seem to have been put out there to hang on their own.
In terms of an understandable narrative, I found it falling short occasionally - the author jumps around the timeline frequently, and while sometimes that is necessary, it is also necessary to be clear when one is jumping to (and when one is making such a jump). There were also some places where military or political acronyms were not defined even the first time they were used (though for the most part they were, at least the first time they appeared, which made it more surprising when left to confusion).
The author also at times swings into adulatory tones speaking about Kim Yo Jong, the most powerful princess, most dangerous woman (and some dubious tones of admiration for her being a woman who the author expects to take the position of supreme leader of the most thoroughly established dictatorship), the cleverest and most brilliant manipulator in a family bred and taught to be so. While certainly he never shies away from displaying the vicious, violent side of her.
While one could hardly argue the incredible horrors wrought by the family over the ruling generations since the split of Korea and their rise to power, the author also declares that every last member of the family is by nature cruel, selfish, manipulative, and violent . . . from birth. Generations of an entire family are not simply irredeemable from birth, not in the real world. (And some of the things he holds up to 'prove' this are . . . things that are not uncommon in the raising of royal or similar children around the world; not to say these practises might not be without issue, but it's not a unique sign of the family being evil from birth for example that the children are addressed by titles by adults, and address those same non-familial, lower-ranked adults by name or with less care.)
The impression frequently given is that the author is describing precisely the thoughts going through his focus' mind (occasionally literally, with italicised sentences supposing the precise words) - in a manner that would be entirely expected . . . in a fictional narrative.
Indeed, the author seems to make a number of these suppositions not exactly supported by the information he provides - including the many assertions as to Kim Yo Jong's rank, power, and even that she would naturally be her brother's choice of heir as well as his most trusted.
I don't doubt she is powerful (and orders terrible, terrible things), those facts are proven . . . but little more. (In fact she still, evidently, hasn't even been acknowledged officially as part of the ruling Kim family.) Again, speculation and inferences are to be expected, and some of the ones proposed do have support - but some seem to have been put out there to hang on their own.
In terms of an understandable narrative, I found it falling short occasionally - the author jumps around the timeline frequently, and while sometimes that is necessary, it is also necessary to be clear when one is jumping to (and when one is making such a jump). There were also some places where military or political acronyms were not defined even the first time they were used (though for the most part they were, at least the first time they appeared, which made it more surprising when left to confusion).
The author also at times swings into adulatory tones speaking about Kim Yo Jong, the most powerful princess, most dangerous woman (and some dubious tones of admiration for her being a woman who the author expects to take the position of supreme leader of the most thoroughly established dictatorship), the cleverest and most brilliant manipulator in a family bred and taught to be so. While certainly he never shies away from displaying the vicious, violent side of her.
While one could hardly argue the incredible horrors wrought by the family over the ruling generations since the split of Korea and their rise to power, the author also declares that every last member of the family is by nature cruel, selfish, manipulative, and violent . . . from birth. Generations of an entire family are not simply irredeemable from birth, not in the real world. (And some of the things he holds up to 'prove' this are . . . things that are not uncommon in the raising of royal or similar children around the world; not to say these practises might not be without issue, but it's not a unique sign of the family being evil from birth for example that the children are addressed by titles by adults, and address those same non-familial, lower-ranked adults by name or with less care.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia
Moderate: Death, Racism, Violence, Police brutality, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, War, Deportation
Minor: Genocide, Gun violence, Slavery, Torture, Alcohol, Pandemic/Epidemic