Scan barcode
emdiddy01's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
avahlou's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
3.5
martaribeiro96's review against another edition
1.0
This book perfectly encapsules why I don't love autobiographies/biographies/memoirs/etc.
I read this book when I was 18 and I thought it was an amazing book, I felt so inspired, I considered it one of the best things I had read. Over the years I came to find out this author isn't trustworthy. She contradicts herself numerous times, many of her stories are greatly exaggerated or simply false and even people close to her have come out to say so, mentioning this book and many of the stories in it.
We have to remind ourselves whenever we read an autobiography of some sort that we're only reading one side of the story, one point of view. I give this book 1 star because I don't like being lied to. And I definitely don't like people using what could be important stories for attention, pity and money.
I read this book when I was 18 and I thought it was an amazing book, I felt so inspired, I considered it one of the best things I had read. Over the years I came to find out this author isn't trustworthy. She contradicts herself numerous times, many of her stories are greatly exaggerated or simply false and even people close to her have come out to say so, mentioning this book and many of the stories in it.
We have to remind ourselves whenever we read an autobiography of some sort that we're only reading one side of the story, one point of view. I give this book 1 star because I don't like being lied to. And I definitely don't like people using what could be important stories for attention, pity and money.
aditimahajan5693's review against another edition
4.0
really really sad and beautiful story. Her way of storytelling is so personal and it was so easy to fall into her world.
kayisolo's review against another edition
2.0
I'm conflicted on this because it's a very well-written book, but with the growing skepticism of its accuracy I'm no longer sure how to appropriately rate it. I can't say anything definitively, but I will say the possibility that so much could simply be false or made up is troubling. This might be a placeholder for a more proper review if/when more information comes out about this.
solistari's review against another edition
5.0
This book brought me to tears. I've spent the last couple of years researching the horrors of North Korea, and trying to find a way to help. It was so interesting to read about the experiences of Yeonmi and her mother, after they had left the North.
Yeonmi is a brave and courageous young women and I wish her the best for the future. Yeonmi, may you achieve everything you set out to achieve. And may you find happiness.
Yeonmi is a brave and courageous young women and I wish her the best for the future. Yeonmi, may you achieve everything you set out to achieve. And may you find happiness.
rachlynand's review against another edition
2.0
I don’t doubt that she encountered horrors, but based on researching the author, it’s hard to determine what is real and what is embellished. Guess no one will ever know.
kulbirkirkland13's review against another edition
4.0
This was a hard memoir to read and found it even harder to put a star rating on it. I really had no idea what was and is still happening in North Korea. As I read Yeonmi's story and what she went through at such a young age I was amazed at her strength and fight for survival and freedom. I would definitely recommend this to everyone.
brittnilurvesberks's review against another edition
5.0
An astonishing and earnest account of unimaginable hardship and circumstances. I couldn't put it down. The fact that this is an autobiography and not fiction is mind blowing and heart breaking and wildly inspiring. I wish this woman every happiness and success this life has to offer. It takes an immense amount of courage to share the darkest parts of your story in order to help others.
tenerifealicia's review against another edition
5.0
I saw an interview with her & found her story so fascinating. Then I found out there’s a book based on her life, so I just had to read it. I don't think any review I write for this book can do it & its importance justice, & you can't really rate it. In my opinion, it's impossible to write criticism about a book like this. It's a truly remarkable story, I'm genuinely speechless. This girl was only 21 years old when she wrote this & has lived a life that most of us could never fathom. At times, I thought to myself, "If that was me, could I survive?". Nobody in this world should ever experience the things she & her family had to go through to achieve their freedom. You forget that you're reading a non-fiction book cause it's just so fucked up & unimaginable. It's like an actual dystopia, so heartbreaking, but inspiring at the same time. It's a miracle that this woman can still smile, she deserves all the respect in the world. Wow. Just wow.