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A review by melloyellobooks
The Last Exiles by Ann Shin
4.0
The Last Exiles is about two characters, Jin and Suja, who have very different upbringings and privileges in North Korea during the time of great political upheaval. They fall in love at the University of Pyongyang- Jin is a brilliant scholarship student, and Suja is a young journalist from a prominent family. Their futures are bright and full of promise, even for Jin who comes from a family in extreme poverty.
When Jin impulsively commits a crime against the government, he is sent to a North Korean labor camp, which who one ever returns from. He manages a harrowing escape, and this action inspires Suja to defect, leave her privileged lifestyle and look for him in China. While Jin is relegated to working in underground markets, Suja, being a woman, suffers much more dire consequences.
This story is very well-written and was a page turner. Shin does a great job of describing the genuine love and respect these two have for each other, as well as the bleak situations that North Koreans are living under. The propaganda presented in the book was both frightening and disturbing-- I appreciated the character's grappling with it as they slowly discovered the truth. There are a lot of twists and turns in this book, and although the end doesn't seem very plausible, it is based on a true story and events.
When Jin impulsively commits a crime against the government, he is sent to a North Korean labor camp, which who one ever returns from. He manages a harrowing escape, and this action inspires Suja to defect, leave her privileged lifestyle and look for him in China. While Jin is relegated to working in underground markets, Suja, being a woman, suffers much more dire consequences.
This story is very well-written and was a page turner. Shin does a great job of describing the genuine love and respect these two have for each other, as well as the bleak situations that North Koreans are living under. The propaganda presented in the book was both frightening and disturbing-- I appreciated the character's grappling with it as they slowly discovered the truth. There are a lot of twists and turns in this book, and although the end doesn't seem very plausible, it is based on a true story and events.