brennakaye's review against another edition
5.0
This book is incredible. I have read several books about escapes from North Korea, and this one is one of the most emotional and raw stories I have heard. It is so well written and I couldn't put it down, even though I obviously knew she would make it to safety.
momofwestnpop's review against another edition
5.0
This book is incredible. What a story. Yeonmi is a woman who truly encompasses courage, resilience, intelligence, forgiveness, and ambition. The hardest day in my life doesn't even compare to the hardest of hers. I think this woman is articulate and the book was well written as well. I am SO curious about North Korea. I want to read he next book because I'd like to read he thoughts about America. She must think we are entitled and gross!
nataliegriffin's review against another edition
5.0
Everyone needs to read this book. It's inspiring and gives hope for our own (now seemingly small) battles we have in life. More importantly, it shows us what is really going on in North Korea. I'm so glad Yeonmi got the courage to write this book, and I pray it continues to help spread the word!
purrplenerd's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
3.75
laviskrg's review against another edition
5.0
This is a book I cannot review because this is the heartbreaking reality of so many people, a detailed description of unimaginable crimes and violations of all basic human rights. This book is a manifest, a horror story, a survival story and a warning.
camihawk's review against another edition
In some ways this was one a very difficult book to read because it was so hard to hear about the horrors that she lived through, in her words, in order to live. This book was a reminder that refusing to let refugees in doesn’t prevent them from coming but rather puts their well being further at risk and often creates dehumanizing or lethal situations for the refugees. This is interesting timing as while I was reading it the bodies of a drowned father and daughter were discovered trying near the border.
gabrielledd's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.5
In Order to Live straddles the line of heartbreaking and hopeful leaving readers like me unsure of exactly why they're crying. Yeonmi's story is hard to get through but deserves to be known.
leonnie13's review against another edition
5.0
I had to take a break in the middle of this book. It was a lot to take in and it was hard to read some of Park's experiences. In her path to freedom, every step seemed to bring a new little hell to endure. The trafficking of men, women and children is a vile, awful practice that we must eradicate from the earth. And we must shine a light on it so that it cannot be hidden and allowed to thrive in the dark places that can be found in every city across the world. Yes. It is in your city. It is happening right now to victims that cannot live free!
But I digress. This is supposed to be a book review.
Eye-witness history is one of the most valuable historical resources we have to truly learn about our culture, about our past, and how to shape our future. I believe that Yeonmi Park's work and experiences adds to the precious works of so many who have endured inhuman trials and have overcome them to speak out.
What I really appreciate about her story is that she does her best to convey the shape of her thoughts and beliefs as her circumstances changed around her. I particularly valued her honesty about the difficult acts and decisions she made as a matter of survival. Her experiences in China, while considered controversial to some, were understandable, especially in light of her age and previous experiences. I found myself rooting for her. Hoping that she and her family would find each other and have peace.
Overall, this was a great read. It would be the type of book I would recommend to a mature high schooler, if I were back in my book-selling days at Barnes & Noble.
But I digress. This is supposed to be a book review.
Eye-witness history is one of the most valuable historical resources we have to truly learn about our culture, about our past, and how to shape our future. I believe that Yeonmi Park's work and experiences adds to the precious works of so many who have endured inhuman trials and have overcome them to speak out.
What I really appreciate about her story is that she does her best to convey the shape of her thoughts and beliefs as her circumstances changed around her. I particularly valued her honesty about the difficult acts and decisions she made as a matter of survival. Her experiences in China, while considered controversial to some, were understandable, especially in light of her age and previous experiences. I found myself rooting for her. Hoping that she and her family would find each other and have peace.
Overall, this was a great read. It would be the type of book I would recommend to a mature high schooler, if I were back in my book-selling days at Barnes & Noble.
ashleyeila's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.75
tilda_bernhardt's review against another edition
4.0
det går inte att förstå att det har hänt. de förfärliga saker som hon var med om. den plåga många nordkoreaner tvingas leva igenom. jag kan inte fatta allt lidande som finns i världen.
när jag läser böcker som denna, böcker om den mörka sidan av verkligheten, tvingas jag alltid ifrågasätta min världsuppfattning igen.
när kontrasterna blir så stora, känns det omöjligt att få dem att samexistera i en och samma bild. hur kan något vara så fasansfullt och något annat så kärleksfullt på samma jord? hur kan jag sitta tryggt på mitt rum medans någon annan flyr för sitt liv?
och så inser man ännu en gång att man var ämnad att misslyckas från början, när man försökte tilldela saker dåligt och bra. att våga se grått istället för svart eller vitt är kanske en av mänsklighetens stora inre konflikter.
när jag läser böcker som denna, böcker om den mörka sidan av verkligheten, tvingas jag alltid ifrågasätta min världsuppfattning igen.
när kontrasterna blir så stora, känns det omöjligt att få dem att samexistera i en och samma bild. hur kan något vara så fasansfullt och något annat så kärleksfullt på samma jord? hur kan jag sitta tryggt på mitt rum medans någon annan flyr för sitt liv?
och så inser man ännu en gång att man var ämnad att misslyckas från början, när man försökte tilldela saker dåligt och bra. att våga se grått istället för svart eller vitt är kanske en av mänsklighetens stora inre konflikter.