Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by sisa_moyo
Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West by Blaine Harden
informative
This book follows the story of the first known person born within a North Korean labour camp to escape North Korea from his youth to adult life in the West.
It was thorough and interesting in how detailed and vivid it was in its exploration of life within Camp 14 for Shin, from life at school, his familial relations, his relations with other labourers and with the guards. It was also interesting to read the cost of his journey from first hearing and understanding about life outside Camp 14 until his eventual escape and life in China. The detail and perspective especially in the beginning was very new and interesting as Shin has no understanding of life outside Camp 14 even within his own motherland.
However, I think for me the writing fell quite flat for such a new, unique perspective of a Korean escapee. While I understand that this is a piece by a journalist and therefore would be a sort of journalistic piece, I think if you're well read in North Korea the added contextual paragraphs take one out of and away from Shin's life. I understand the need for context; however, I feel that some of it ought to have been cut back a little to allow more detail of Shin's story and Shin's understanding of that context and time even if in hindsight.
Additionally, I believe that for me personally, having read quite a few pieces from escapees and defectors, that this would have benefitted from being in a different perspective - that is Shin's himself. A lot of the escape feels told to me a middleman and therefore dilutes the impact a story like this has the potential and ought to have.
Overall, it was really interesting for all it said about especially about Shin's youth within Camp 14 and his life in China.
It was thorough and interesting in how detailed and vivid it was in its exploration of life within Camp 14 for Shin, from life at school, his familial relations, his relations with other labourers and with the guards. It was also interesting to read the cost of his journey from first hearing and understanding about life outside Camp 14 until his eventual escape and life in China. The detail and perspective especially in the beginning was very new and interesting as Shin has no understanding of life outside Camp 14 even within his own motherland.
However, I think for me the writing fell quite flat for such a new, unique perspective of a Korean escapee. While I understand that this is a piece by a journalist and therefore would be a sort of journalistic piece, I think if you're well read in North Korea the added contextual paragraphs take one out of and away from Shin's life. I understand the need for context; however, I feel that some of it ought to have been cut back a little to allow more detail of Shin's story and Shin's understanding of that context and time even if in hindsight.
Additionally, I believe that for me personally, having read quite a few pieces from escapees and defectors, that this would have benefitted from being in a different perspective - that is Shin's himself. A lot of the escape feels told to me a middleman and therefore dilutes the impact a story like this has the potential and ought to have.
Overall, it was really interesting for all it said about especially about Shin's youth within Camp 14 and his life in China.