Reviews tagging 'Death'

För att kunna leva: en nordkoreansk flickas resa till frihet by Maryanne Vollers, Yeonmi Park

66 reviews

cataa_sousa's review against another edition

emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Trafficking, and Classism

Moderate: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Torture

Minor: Child death and Suicide

marinarose3's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad fast-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Terminal illness, and Death of parent

multitalented_egg's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective sad slow-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Sexual harassment, and Classism

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Xenophobia, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Cancer and Sexism

ella777's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional informative inspiring sad fast-paced

4.5

jõhker, aga metsikult huvitav ja inspireeriv. palju teadmisi põhja-korea igapäevaelust, sellest, kui raske sealt põgeneda on, hiiglaslikust inimkaubanduse turust hiinas ja sellest, kui raske on lõuna-koreas põhjakorealasena kohaneda. 

insane kogemus. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Physical abuse, Rape, Violence, Trafficking, and Kidnapping

dollyshouse97's review against another edition

inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Rape, and Trafficking

gracie_reads_everything's review against another edition

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. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Police brutality, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexism, Slavery, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Classism

Minor: Gore, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Torture, Religious bigotry, Stalking, and Fire/Fire injury

Biography, autobiography, memoir, North Korea, human rights, powerful

mmontemurro's review against another edition

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. 

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Genocide, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, and Deportation

Moderate: Abortion and Pregnancy

This book really captivated me from start to finish. I had heard of Yeonmi's story before from the numerous interviews she does, but I had not heard of some specific details about her family and her survival throughout her teenage years. It humbles me and I am grateful to live in a country where freedom is a right and I am able to achieve my goals without significant hardship or sacrifice. I am glad that after all the hardship Yeonmi endured, she was able to gain freedom and is now able to spread awareness and information to others.

bethantg's review against another edition

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.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Kidnapping, and Death of parent

Moderate: Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Torture, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, and Gaslighting

Minor: Excrement, Alcohol, and War

livay's review against another edition

dark emotional informative sad fast-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Cancer, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Trafficking, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Classism, and Deportation

jbry44's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicide, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and War