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reka111's reviews
270 reviews
In Order to Live: A North Korean Girl's Journey to Freedom by Maryanne Vollers, Yeonmi Park
I've read or heard about a relatively large number of people who escaped from North Korea, but maybe this was the one that broke me so far.
Yeonmi's story was full of suffering, pain, and endless despair, but at the same time – especially after they managed to reach Mongolia – hope, peace and light appeared in his life. I loved this raw honesty, all the brutality and horror came to life on the pages, I suffered with it. I didn't read it in the original (English/Korean) language, but in my native language, and I think the translation was extremely good, although many people complain that it is not the best wording.
And I don't think she lied, not quite. She may have twisted some of the stories a bit, but she didn't lie. You can't lie about that, nobody would lie about this, not like that. People just forget that when you go through a lot of trauma — an inhuman amount of trauma - it's natural for your mind to forget or change certain things in order to protect itself, but that doesn't mean it didn't happen.
It was fascinating to read about her, truly inspiring. She was, and is, an infinitely strong spirit just like her family. It's incredible what a survivor they are. Normal people — or those living in the outside world — cannot fully understand or feel what perseverance they needed.
I sincerely hope she finds the peace she needs, as do her sister and mother. They have all been through many things, they deserve peace and tranquility.
I hold onto the hope that one day she will be able to bring her father home and lay him to rest in the soil of their homeland.
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.5
Without the whole truth, my life would have no power – no real meaning
I've read or heard about a relatively large number of people who escaped from North Korea, but maybe this was the one that broke me so far.
Yeonmi's story was full of suffering, pain, and endless despair, but at the same time – especially after they managed to reach Mongolia – hope, peace and light appeared in his life. I loved this raw honesty, all the brutality and horror came to life on the pages, I suffered with it. I didn't read it in the original (English/Korean) language, but in my native language, and I think the translation was extremely good, although many people complain that it is not the best wording.
And I don't think she lied, not quite. She may have twisted some of the stories a bit, but she didn't lie. You can't lie about that, nobody would lie about this, not like that. People just forget that when you go through a lot of trauma — an inhuman amount of trauma - it's natural for your mind to forget or change certain things in order to protect itself, but that doesn't mean it didn't happen.
It was fascinating to read about her, truly inspiring. She was, and is, an infinitely strong spirit just like her family. It's incredible what a survivor they are. Normal people — or those living in the outside world — cannot fully understand or feel what perseverance they needed.
I sincerely hope she finds the peace she needs, as do her sister and mother. They have all been through many things, they deserve peace and tranquility.
I hold onto the hope that one day she will be able to bring her father home and lay him to rest in the soil of their homeland.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, and Trafficking
Moderate: Cancer, Medical content, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Torture, and Blood
Crescence - Széchenyi menyasszonya by Sára Bakóczy
Did not finish book. Stopped at 8%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 8%.
Érdekesen indult, de valahogy nem fogott meg úgy
Folyó a sötétben – A férfi, aki megszökött Észak-Koreából by Masaji Ishikawa
I have read about North-Korea before. I'm not new to it, so I thought I knew what to expect. I thought it would be no different. But I was wrong. Of course I was. Here faith was too little.
This memoir might be the one that has best captured life there so far. A life that, for me — for us — remains truly incomprehensible.
My words don't mean much, they would never be enough to express how terribly sorry I am. But I am. Sincerely. And I also know that my sorry, just as little as these letters, will not help them. If I had the power, I would help them - people who don't even know what the outside world is like. They are born into this, this is normal for them, because what they do not know they cannot really desire.
But this was not the case for the author. For another survivor.
He went through hell, fighting with every step and breath, every inch of him. In fact, pages could be written about how brave, resourceful, and strong he was. And there was no one left for him. He lost everything. Absolutely everything.
What was left for him were his memories. And he gave them to us. I don't know him and he doesn't know me either, but I sincerely hope that he has found some peace in this life. That not everything was in vain. I hope he stays strong. I hope he stays brave. He deserves every good thing in this world.
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.25
I want to give this food to my family in North Korea. But I can’t. So I entrust it to the seagulls. And in my heart, they carry it off to my family. And I weep.
I have read about North-Korea before. I'm not new to it, so I thought I knew what to expect. I thought it would be no different. But I was wrong. Of course I was. Here faith was too little.
This memoir might be the one that has best captured life there so far. A life that, for me — for us — remains truly incomprehensible.
My words don't mean much, they would never be enough to express how terribly sorry I am. But I am. Sincerely. And I also know that my sorry, just as little as these letters, will not help them. If I had the power, I would help them - people who don't even know what the outside world is like. They are born into this, this is normal for them, because what they do not know they cannot really desire.
But this was not the case for the author. For another survivor.
He went through hell, fighting with every step and breath, every inch of him. In fact, pages could be written about how brave, resourceful, and strong he was. And there was no one left for him. He lost everything. Absolutely everything.
What was left for him were his memories. And he gave them to us. I don't know him and he doesn't know me either, but I sincerely hope that he has found some peace in this life. That not everything was in vain. I hope he stays strong. I hope he stays brave. He deserves every good thing in this world.
Nyugaton a helyzet változatlan by Erich Maria Remarque
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
This book is to be neither an accusation nor a confession, and least of all an adventure, for death is not an adventure to those who stand face to face with it.
Everyone says there is nothing worse than war, but they say this only because they don't know that life after war is just another battlefield. For those who have experienced it, there is no peace, no absolution, only the weight of survival.
This book masterfully brings the front line to life, unflinchingly depicting its horrors and challanges. Yet, its most powerful message lies beyond the trenches: in war, there are no winners, only survivors.
The author himself must have drawn inspiration from his life, since he himself fought (and was wounded) on the Western Front. Either way, it was really eye-opening. In school, we all learn about the Western Front, but never about what it was like.
Paul, my dear Paul, lost everything in the end. He deserved so much better (and the millions of young people who lost their lives in the war).I hoped, believed he would survive, but he didn't.
I will definitely watch the film in the future, everyone should read it at least once in their life and learn from it.
The author himself must have drawn inspiration from his life, since he himself fought (and was wounded) on the Western Front. Either way, it was really eye-opening. In school, we all learn about the Western Front, but never about what it was like.
Paul, my dear Paul, lost everything in the end. He deserved so much better (and the millions of young people who lost their lives in the war).
I will definitely watch the film in the future, everyone should read it at least once in their life and learn from it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cancer and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Animal death, Sexual content, and Vomit
A Forest, or a Tree by Tegan Moore
This was interesting, a bit funny, but not really scary (even despite the horror genre)
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Whose story would this be, May thought: hers, or Piper’s, or Ailey’s, or Elizabeth’s?
This was interesting, a bit funny, but not really scary (even despite the horror genre)
Persephone by Lev Grossman
Well this one was…confusing? It was messy a bit, but it went for one.
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
I still didn’t know if it was a gift or a curse, I didn’t choose it, but it was mine, it was who I was. No returns. No going back.
Well this one was…confusing? It was messy a bit, but it went for one.
Murder At The Royal Ruby by Nita Prose
It was interesting and quick, I would have liked to have read a longer book about it.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
Murder is my secret, Grace. It can be yours too.
It was interesting and quick, I would have liked to have read a longer book about it.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death and Murder
The Orphan Master's Son – Az ellopott élet by Adam Johnson
Did not finish book. Stopped at 4%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 4%.
Too dark and deep for me right now, but I'll continue in the future.
Morning Star by Pierce Brown
The previous book left me there broken and lost. I knew he was going to betray them over time, it was predictable, and maybe even a little bit pathetic on his part, but I didn't think everyone would pay such a high price for it.
Darrow is a veritable phoenix, an infinite and unstoppable creature, he himself has risen from the ashes to take off one last time. He doesn't know when to give up, even though he's broken, so terribly broken, that I thought he might never be the same (and in some way he wasn't). My sweet boy survived, fought, and never for a moment did his faith shake. He incredibly deserves peace (which never comes) after so much suffering and loss.
Mustang, my wildly running mustang. Not only in others, but also in me, she kept the soul alive, shining in the sky when I felt all was lost. She had flaws, she had incomprehensible decisions, but in the end of the day, she was just a human, not a god, not a saint, and I will not judge her for them.
Victra. With her, I never know where I stand, many hate her, many love her, and I belong to the latter group. She had the most reasons — after Darrow — to give it all up, to get out, to break honestly. But she didn't. She could never do it. And I love her so endlessly for it. I'm glad she got her revenge.
Sevro really grew into the role of his father, and at first he may not have wanted to bow to Darrow because of this, but eventually he surrendered. He didn't try to fight him but rather for and with him. I don't blame him, they had to get to know each other again after all this time. Their friendship survived everything, maybe even more. Either way, I'm glad he got the happy ending too.
Cassius. It's always a Cassius. I don't know how I feel about him, I can't tell you where he stands, only time can tell.Ragnar's death broke me, I cried and bargained with the gods for him, but nothing brought him back. He deserved so much better. I hated the jackal (well Adrius) so terribly that I can't tell you that I desperately needed someone to cut out that liar's tongue. Kavax is a symbol of loyalty, and he has held on to Darrow (not only he, but his family) for so long and so steadfastly that it's remarkable in itself. Holiday is an amazing soldier. It's not because she's evil or good, it's just her nature. Octavia deserved to die, that's what I should say, that's really what I should. But I feel like hrr death was in vain in the end because it only delayed the inevitable. Over time, everything will collapse on its own, whether she is in it or not. Sefi was lovable and honestly opened up to the new world, which is huge thing. They not believe that gods rule over them, they are the gods themselves.
This book tossed me back and forth on the scale of emotions. Sometimes I felt this, sometimes I felt that. This book was full of doubt, pain, and anger, with everything that could ruin you in an instant. But then there was hope, peace, that little moment at the end that brought me back to the living. I loved it. The plot was understandable, but not only Darrow, but we also had to catch up after so many absences. I liked that Norse mythology was mixed in (when they visited Ragnar's home) and we got to know a lot of new creatures and a whole new culture. The phrasing, as always, was excellent. The end. THE END. In all capital letters, it brought me to the surface and showed us that no matter how big the darkness, no matter how many struggles we get in the way, there is always light at the end of the tunnel.
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
The Reaper has come. And he’s brought hell with him.
The previous book left me there broken and lost. I knew he was going to betray them over time, it was predictable, and maybe even a little bit pathetic on his part, but I didn't think everyone would pay such a high price for it.
Darrow is a veritable phoenix, an infinite and unstoppable creature, he himself has risen from the ashes to take off one last time. He doesn't know when to give up, even though he's broken, so terribly broken, that I thought he might never be the same (and in some way he wasn't). My sweet boy survived, fought, and never for a moment did his faith shake. He incredibly deserves peace (which never comes) after so much suffering and loss.
Mustang, my wildly running mustang. Not only in others, but also in me, she kept the soul alive, shining in the sky when I felt all was lost. She had flaws, she had incomprehensible decisions, but in the end of the day, she was just a human, not a god, not a saint, and I will not judge her for them.
Victra. With her, I never know where I stand, many hate her, many love her, and I belong to the latter group. She had the most reasons — after Darrow — to give it all up, to get out, to break honestly. But she didn't. She could never do it. And I love her so endlessly for it. I'm glad she got her revenge.
Sevro really grew into the role of his father, and at first he may not have wanted to bow to Darrow because of this, but eventually he surrendered. He didn't try to fight him but rather for and with him. I don't blame him, they had to get to know each other again after all this time. Their friendship survived everything, maybe even more. Either way, I'm glad he got the happy ending too.
Cassius. It's always a Cassius. I don't know how I feel about him, I can't tell you where he stands, only time can tell.
This book tossed me back and forth on the scale of emotions. Sometimes I felt this, sometimes I felt that. This book was full of doubt, pain, and anger, with everything that could ruin you in an instant. But then there was hope, peace, that little moment at the end that brought me back to the living. I loved it. The plot was understandable, but not only Darrow, but we also had to catch up after so many absences. I liked that Norse mythology was mixed in (when they visited Ragnar's home) and we got to know a lot of new creatures and a whole new culture. The phrasing, as always, was excellent. The end. THE END. In all capital letters, it brought me to the surface and showed us that no matter how big the darkness, no matter how many struggles we get in the way, there is always light at the end of the tunnel.
Iron Gold by Pierce Brown
Did not finish book. Stopped at 7%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 7%.
I swear to the gods that I will continue this miracle, but I simply desire something lighter to read right now.