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patchworkbunny's review against another edition
2.0
Kang Chol-Hwan was 9 years old when he and his family were taken to Yodok, one of North Korea’s gulags. The whole family sent away for one person’s political views. He grew up in the camp, imprisoned by cruel guard and the very geography of the site, hills that he once thought beautiful. Toiling through forced labour and balancing on the brink of starvation, The Aquariums of Pyongyang is the first account of its kind to come out of the country.
I’m afraid this was a bit of a disappointment. I’ve just finished typing up the notes from our book group discussion thinking we sound like a heartless bunch but the book just didn’t live up to its promise. I probably knew enough about North Korea that the events weren’t surprising but I do think it would serve as a general introduction to the political climate of the country (at least 13 years ago, although I’m not sure much has changed expect more people have got out and a famine has ravaged the population further).
First off, I’ll give you a bit of background on the birth of this book. Kang, a translator and Pierre Rigoulot sat down in a room in South Korea. Kang told his story in Korean and it was translated verbally into French and Pierre wrote it down (also in French). It was published in France and then picked up in America to be translated into English from the French. It’s been through the ringer. I’m not even sure the end translation is to blame as it feels like the story is pretty much the original transcripts. No dramatic tension or narrative flare has been added. This makes it factual but not gripping.
So we were all left with a slight feeling of guilt for being bored by Kang’s terrible story. Although, I think he had it easy compared to others. They managed to mostly keep out of trouble within the camp and some of the family ended up with what were considered the cushy jobs. This is all relative though; Yodok itself was one of the camps for less criminal prisoners. Kang’s crime was merely to be related to someone who spoke out untowardly towards the regime. The whole thing is horrific, but the telling of it is just so unemotional, I just didn’t feel anything. And you know me, I cry at books all the time. I finished this completely dry eyed. I only bothered to read to the end because it was 1) for book group, 2) short and 3) fairly easy, if uninspiring, prose.
There were lots of bits and pieces I wanted to know more about. Wikipedia managed to engage me more on the subject of pellagra for instance (and how it was prevalent in the early days of American colonisation). So much had potential to be expanded up but it was just glossed over. Perhaps Kang’s desire to get the truth out meant that he stuck to the bare facts that he could remember, not allowing any embellishment whatsoever. That is understandable, really, but it doesn’t make for an engaging read or emotional connection. It doesn’t inspire any passion or outrage in the reader. Kang’s goal has succeeded in that we know what’s going on; did he not want us to be egged into action too?
I’m afraid this was a bit of a disappointment. I’ve just finished typing up the notes from our book group discussion thinking we sound like a heartless bunch but the book just didn’t live up to its promise. I probably knew enough about North Korea that the events weren’t surprising but I do think it would serve as a general introduction to the political climate of the country (at least 13 years ago, although I’m not sure much has changed expect more people have got out and a famine has ravaged the population further).
First off, I’ll give you a bit of background on the birth of this book. Kang, a translator and Pierre Rigoulot sat down in a room in South Korea. Kang told his story in Korean and it was translated verbally into French and Pierre wrote it down (also in French). It was published in France and then picked up in America to be translated into English from the French. It’s been through the ringer. I’m not even sure the end translation is to blame as it feels like the story is pretty much the original transcripts. No dramatic tension or narrative flare has been added. This makes it factual but not gripping.
So we were all left with a slight feeling of guilt for being bored by Kang’s terrible story. Although, I think he had it easy compared to others. They managed to mostly keep out of trouble within the camp and some of the family ended up with what were considered the cushy jobs. This is all relative though; Yodok itself was one of the camps for less criminal prisoners. Kang’s crime was merely to be related to someone who spoke out untowardly towards the regime. The whole thing is horrific, but the telling of it is just so unemotional, I just didn’t feel anything. And you know me, I cry at books all the time. I finished this completely dry eyed. I only bothered to read to the end because it was 1) for book group, 2) short and 3) fairly easy, if uninspiring, prose.
There were lots of bits and pieces I wanted to know more about. Wikipedia managed to engage me more on the subject of pellagra for instance (and how it was prevalent in the early days of American colonisation). So much had potential to be expanded up but it was just glossed over. Perhaps Kang’s desire to get the truth out meant that he stuck to the bare facts that he could remember, not allowing any embellishment whatsoever. That is understandable, really, but it doesn’t make for an engaging read or emotional connection. It doesn’t inspire any passion or outrage in the reader. Kang’s goal has succeeded in that we know what’s going on; did he not want us to be egged into action too?
boundlesspagesgabby's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
4.0
piedwarbler's review against another edition
5.0
A triumph against silence, indeed, and also “the only lesson I got pounded into me was about man’s limitless capacity for vice”.
An important book.
“I beseech you to read this account” - Christopher Hitchens
An important book.
“I beseech you to read this account” - Christopher Hitchens
meganc30's review against another edition
3.0
Not as well written as "Nothing to Envy" by Barbara Demick, but a chilling first-person account of life in a North Korean prison camp, where concentration camps are alive and well in the 21st century.
clarks_dad's review against another edition
3.0
Riveting more so because of the light that it sheds on perhaps the most secretive society in the world than its compelling narrative, The Aquariums of Pyongyang presents a view of North Korea's gulag society that is a chilling study of brutality, greed and survivalism on par with some of the greatest stories of despotism to come to us out of Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia. I think the language barrier prevents some of the direct communication that would have given the narrative a more personal touch. In fact, the formalized ideological speech patterns of his youth probably impose a lasting cadence to Kang Chol-Hwan's voice that often seems remote and observational at moments the reader feels should be incredibly moving. Perhaps it's a coping mechanism as well.
The most painful part of the narrative is the descent of the family from plush prosperity in Japan to imprisonment as political prisoners in the North - commitment to the cause of communism and the Kim dictatorship unjustly rewarded with the denial of life and liberty for no other reason than petty greed. Most surprising to me is Kang's portrayal of North Korean society as disorganized and rampantly corrupt. The outward image projected by the Hermit Kingdom is one of absolute control and order, with the threat of severe punishment so real and close that in an Orwellian sense, to even think disobedience could mean life in the camps or death. Instead, Kang tells of thriving black market sales and the relative ease with which people can travel and acquire needed items or services if you have the ability to grease the wheels. Its a nakedly capitalistic system covered by a thin veneer of communistic ideology, where the threats to your person come not from breaking with the party line necessarily, but from drawing too much unwanted attention to yourself from greedy people with power who use their positions to enrich themselves at your expense. North Korea is full of petty tyrants and people trying more desperately to secure status and a decent standard of living than in the most capitalist of countries (ironic).
There are areas that I felt were lacking. I just had so many questions, that went unanswered - none of which is Kang's fault. Access to information is severely restricted and most people in the North only know what they see directly, which is surprisingly little if you're trying to keep your head down and avoid getting into trouble with the authorities. Believe me, there's plenty in here to get your blood riled up and its day to day accounting of gulag life is thorough. I think what I wanted, and perhaps what I'll look for next, is more of a political study of the country. As horrible a place as North Korea is, it's a fascinating psychosocial experiment. How in the world a regime as brutally repressive as the Kim regime is can exist without suffering from a revolution or large-scale rebellion is beyond me. It certainly took far less oppression in places like France or even Russia for the people to decide to risk life and limb. Why not Korea? Or have the people tried and we just haven't heard? There's so much to learn and so much to hope for for the Korean people in the coming century. I seriously hope I live long enough to see the people parade Kim Jong Un's ridiculously round, absurdly childlike head through the middle of Pyongyang as they march toward unification with their family to the South and a better future. He and his family have to be some of the most evil people to have ever walked the Earth.
The most painful part of the narrative is the descent of the family from plush prosperity in Japan to imprisonment as political prisoners in the North - commitment to the cause of communism and the Kim dictatorship unjustly rewarded with the denial of life and liberty for no other reason than petty greed. Most surprising to me is Kang's portrayal of North Korean society as disorganized and rampantly corrupt. The outward image projected by the Hermit Kingdom is one of absolute control and order, with the threat of severe punishment so real and close that in an Orwellian sense, to even think disobedience could mean life in the camps or death. Instead, Kang tells of thriving black market sales and the relative ease with which people can travel and acquire needed items or services if you have the ability to grease the wheels. Its a nakedly capitalistic system covered by a thin veneer of communistic ideology, where the threats to your person come not from breaking with the party line necessarily, but from drawing too much unwanted attention to yourself from greedy people with power who use their positions to enrich themselves at your expense. North Korea is full of petty tyrants and people trying more desperately to secure status and a decent standard of living than in the most capitalist of countries (ironic).
There are areas that I felt were lacking. I just had so many questions, that went unanswered - none of which is Kang's fault. Access to information is severely restricted and most people in the North only know what they see directly, which is surprisingly little if you're trying to keep your head down and avoid getting into trouble with the authorities. Believe me, there's plenty in here to get your blood riled up and its day to day accounting of gulag life is thorough. I think what I wanted, and perhaps what I'll look for next, is more of a political study of the country. As horrible a place as North Korea is, it's a fascinating psychosocial experiment. How in the world a regime as brutally repressive as the Kim regime is can exist without suffering from a revolution or large-scale rebellion is beyond me. It certainly took far less oppression in places like France or even Russia for the people to decide to risk life and limb. Why not Korea? Or have the people tried and we just haven't heard? There's so much to learn and so much to hope for for the Korean people in the coming century. I seriously hope I live long enough to see the people parade Kim Jong Un's ridiculously round, absurdly childlike head through the middle of Pyongyang as they march toward unification with their family to the South and a better future. He and his family have to be some of the most evil people to have ever walked the Earth.
helpfulsnowman's review against another edition
2.0
Okay, this is overall a pretty amazing story.
Basically this dude spent his whole childhood in a prison camp for a decade for no real reason. The story takes a while to get started, but if you make it about halfway through you're bound to finish.
At one point the story takes us out of the prison camp, and this part was probably the most hair-raising.
The real strength of this book is the fact that the prison camp in which the author was held STILL EXISTS and there are people being held there this very second. I'm not a big humanitarian or anything, but the fact that these horrible things are still happening is pretty hard to dismiss.
The low rating is pretty much because the book is a little tough to read. Tough to get into, and maybe it's the double translation, but it's a little awkward in places. But if you're able to look past that, I say Go for it.
Basically this dude spent his whole childhood in a prison camp for a decade for no real reason. The story takes a while to get started, but if you make it about halfway through you're bound to finish.
At one point the story takes us out of the prison camp, and this part was probably the most hair-raising.
The real strength of this book is the fact that the prison camp in which the author was held STILL EXISTS and there are people being held there this very second. I'm not a big humanitarian or anything, but the fact that these horrible things are still happening is pretty hard to dismiss.
The low rating is pretty much because the book is a little tough to read. Tough to get into, and maybe it's the double translation, but it's a little awkward in places. But if you're able to look past that, I say Go for it.
johnnyseesyou's review against another edition
3.0
The author lived in a North Korean work camp from age 9 to 19. Despite the horrors of the account, he assures the reader that much worse camps exist there, after all, his family was considered redeemable of their political guilt by association. Mr. Kang tells his story with force and clarity, but without the polish of a professional storyteller. His message is clear though, North Korea represents a humanitarian crisis of historic proportions.
sammilittlejohns's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.0