cataa_sousa's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.75


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

multitalented_egg's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional informative reflective sad slow-paced

4.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

gracie_reads_everything's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

A very powerful and moving story about a North Korean defector turned human rights advocate. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

mmontemurro's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

This was a gripping memoir of Yeonmi Park's harrowing journey out of North Korea. She describes her childhood in a country where having no food for days on end was commonplace, and how they would eat dragonflies for protein when they had nothing else. She describes seeing dead bodies on the side of the road - people who had died of starvation. Her father was taken to a hard labor camp after being caught selling "illegal" goods which in any other place would be considered legal. Her mother left to attempt to retrieve her father from prison, and she was left to care for herself and her sister. While others tried to help them, it sounded as though most people had little to give for food. I was shocked to hear about the government radios which had to be on at all times - it reminded me of 1984 where they were constantly watched and listened to. No one could be trusted but yourself. Her sister left for China, and eventually Yeonmi leaves with her mother too, to hopefully find a better life in China, and get her father out of North Korea. Yeonmi and her mother were trafficked for many years in China, and forced into marriages by Chinese brokers. They were considered second-class citizens - or really not citizens at all in China. Yeonmi secured a deal for herself as a young girl in order to get her mother and father, and hopefully her sister, who was missing, in exchange for becoming a mistress to one broker. She describes painful, terrible rape and having to endure that for her family. Eventually they leave with a Christian missionary group for South Korea. However dangerous, they do eventually make it to South Korea, and are able to become citizens there. Due to a lack in eduation in North Korea, Yeonmi is told that she will never amount to anything, never catch up to other classmates, and never go to university. She surpasses every goal by working extremely hard. Her story is incredible, and she has everlasting hope through all the bleak moments of her life. I hope that this story reaches many, and that her story can inspire others to understand the tragedy of North Korea and understand that anything is achieveable in this life. 
 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

kaigeg's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional informative medium-paced

3.5


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

bethantg's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional informative inspiring fast-paced

5.0

Such a worthwhile read. Difficult all the way through, but with a strong current of hope. Grants a lot of insight into what life really is, and what it should never be. I can’t imagine how difficult it must be to tell this story over and over, but here it is clear and engaging throughout. Will definitely stick with me.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

averagemugglereader's review against another edition

Go to review page

I was really enjoying this book, but unfortunately half way through I did some digging and found that the author is not 100% trust worthy. She’s been “caught” lying about several things in the book. I say “caught” because some people take it as she is definitely lying and others see it as her not wanting to relive certain trauma’s so she didn’t divulge everything at first and that why her story has slightly changed. But because of all that,  I just don’t feel right finishing the book. Maybe I’ll get back to him some day in the future. But for now I’m going to research a few other NK defectors.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

captain_tiz's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional informative fast-paced

5.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

laedyred's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional inspiring sad fast-paced

4.0

Many of us are aware of the horrors of North Korea, but this memoir also describes the challenges faced after leaving the country. The horrors escapees endure are hard to read. In my situation, this book did not change my life, but it was educational and inspiring. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

baimengshan's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring sad fast-paced

3.5

What a ride! I flew through this book. I learned so much from her story. It’s unimaginable to think that the things she went through are still happening nowadays.

The writing isn’t the best in the world but then again, I didn’t start this book for her writing skills. I read this book to get to know her message and her story, and to educate myself on a different reality than mine.

Some people criticise her for changing the story between interviews. Some things she must have adapted along the way as a coping mechanism to deal with all of the pain. I don’t know if all of the things she shared are exactly accurate but I imagine that after all she went through, reliving those memories must have been painful. What she wrote made sense to me and it was really easy to follow along.

Park Yeonmi, thank you for this book! Thank you for allowing me to learn more about a reality so different than mine.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings