Scan barcode
A review by d_night
Without You, There Is No Us: Undercover Among the Sons of North Korea's Elite by Suki Kim
1.0
Honestly, I have been trying to read this book for years and have never been able to finish. I had some ethical issues with the book. Some may say a journalist will keep certain personal information private to do their job... yeah, let’s not make this sound like she is working as a waitress or some prison guard in the USA. This is hostel North Korea under a totalitarian Communist/Socialist government that is used to creating play villages for tourists to enjoy, it is USSR level. The author has an animus to Christians and even suggest at times that they are cultish because they felt honored to be where the 1st Korean church might have been. That is like stating that anyone feeling an auspiciousness for visiting a historical site and being where their forefathers or ancestors once were are a part of some freaky cult. Which, of course, is not true.
I have read a lot of books from many sides, even those that do not agree with my beliefs. This is probably the worst book I have ever read on North Korea and sounds, unfortunately, like it was written by someone who wants to feel special, wants to be a victim like the real victims of the North Korean government who she wrote about once upon a time. I imagine that wasn't good enough as she had to attempt to become one herself.
I would not recommend this book. I frankly don't understand why it is as popular as it is or why it was published in the first place. It also does seem oddly like a memoir, though the author does not agree with this, as it deals much with her personal problems, her boyfriend, and her family life. It is an unfortunate grab for fame that just makes the whole things sad.
This is very upsetting to me as the book was recommended to me and I was very much looking forward to reading it. One day I might finish it, and if I do, I will update. For now, though I am more than done. I really didn’t want to write this review and frankly, I have been avoiding writing it. I only wrote this because I didn’t want this to be the idea of what North Korea is, and no you do not have to go there to understand if you do your research.
I have read a lot of books from many sides, even those that do not agree with my beliefs. This is probably the worst book I have ever read on North Korea and sounds, unfortunately, like it was written by someone who wants to feel special, wants to be a victim like the real victims of the North Korean government who she wrote about once upon a time. I imagine that wasn't good enough as she had to attempt to become one herself.
I would not recommend this book. I frankly don't understand why it is as popular as it is or why it was published in the first place. It also does seem oddly like a memoir, though the author does not agree with this, as it deals much with her personal problems, her boyfriend, and her family life. It is an unfortunate grab for fame that just makes the whole things sad.
This is very upsetting to me as the book was recommended to me and I was very much looking forward to reading it. One day I might finish it, and if I do, I will update. For now, though I am more than done. I really didn’t want to write this review and frankly, I have been avoiding writing it. I only wrote this because I didn’t want this to be the idea of what North Korea is, and no you do not have to go there to understand if you do your research.