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För att kunna leva: en nordkoreansk flickas resa till frihet by Maryanne Vollers, Yeonmi Park
marissa_atherton's review against another edition
5.0
A captivating book from start to finish.
As someone who loves reading and the power of connecting with books to grow, learn, and change, I loved the part of her journey in Seoul when she was devouring so many great books. I also liked how she put into words the way that language helps us understand and provide meaning—when you remove words you are also removing the ideas that go along with them, and that is dangerous.
She is thoughtful and recognizes the good acts of others for what they are even in the midst of some truly evil situations.
As someone who loves reading and the power of connecting with books to grow, learn, and change, I loved the part of her journey in Seoul when she was devouring so many great books. I also liked how she put into words the way that language helps us understand and provide meaning—when you remove words you are also removing the ideas that go along with them, and that is dangerous.
She is thoughtful and recognizes the good acts of others for what they are even in the midst of some truly evil situations.
audreyblair18's review against another edition
5.0
Yeah…I’m not going to stop thinking about this. This book is NOT for the faint of heart. It’s absolutely heart breaking is so many ways.
Freedom is priceless and so are the voices of those who represent the enslaved/oppressed/marginalized etc.
If you have any interest in North Korea - give her a try!!!!!!!!!
Freedom is priceless and so are the voices of those who represent the enslaved/oppressed/marginalized etc.
If you have any interest in North Korea - give her a try!!!!!!!!!
emily_jade_reads's review against another edition
5.0
I highly recommend this harrowing tale from Yeonmi Park who is a North Korean defector. The book was difficult to read in parts due to the terrible things described but it was definitely inspiring.
This is a memoir from Yeonmi telling her own story from birth up to present day. It describes the atrocities that are ongoing in North Korea as well as the difficulties faced by those who escape the country. Yeonmi escaped North Korea into China, only to be sold and exploited for money. She finally escaped to South Korea and was reunited with her mother and sister and went on to share her story with the world to raise awareness. If you do not have the time or inclination to read this book I highly recommend watching this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufhKWfPSQOw of her telling her story for the first time to a large audience in 2014 which bought me to tears as it was so emotional.
Yeonmi’s harrowing tale is unbelievable at times due to the number of atrocities her and her family had to suffer but it is an important story to read to better understand the situation in North Korea and its people’s struggles. I came away inspired that such a young woman can come out of experiences such as those described in the book still with such positivity and the desire to help others. I highly recommended all to read this important book to gain more awareness and understanding of North Korea.
This is a memoir from Yeonmi telling her own story from birth up to present day. It describes the atrocities that are ongoing in North Korea as well as the difficulties faced by those who escape the country. Yeonmi escaped North Korea into China, only to be sold and exploited for money. She finally escaped to South Korea and was reunited with her mother and sister and went on to share her story with the world to raise awareness. If you do not have the time or inclination to read this book I highly recommend watching this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufhKWfPSQOw of her telling her story for the first time to a large audience in 2014 which bought me to tears as it was so emotional.
Yeonmi’s harrowing tale is unbelievable at times due to the number of atrocities her and her family had to suffer but it is an important story to read to better understand the situation in North Korea and its people’s struggles. I came away inspired that such a young woman can come out of experiences such as those described in the book still with such positivity and the desire to help others. I highly recommended all to read this important book to gain more awareness and understanding of North Korea.
lighthousebooks's review against another edition
5.0
“North Koreans have two stories running in their heads at all times, like trains on parallel tracks. One is what you are taught to believe, the other is what you see with your own eyes.”
Yeonmi Park endured living with a lack of resources that we cannot even begin to fathom in our country, and did so with little thought that things could be different elsewhere beyond a greater abundance of food. In fact, she revered the supreme leader of her country despite the contradictions between what she was taught and what she witnessed in a practice called doublethink.
When she escaped to China with her mother, she found food, but little else to comfort her. In North Korea, she had witnessed and experienced terrible things that no child should ever see or endure, but she had a strong family bond that was a great comfort. In China, she lost what remained of her childhood.
“I was beginning to realize that all the food in the world, and all the running shoes, could not make me happy. The material things were worthless. I had lost my family. I wasn’t loved, I wasn’t free, I wasn’t safe. I was alive, but everything that made life worth living was gone.”
The truth about North Korea is revealed in this stunning memoir. If you want to understand what life is like in a socialist government where all religious beliefs are expunged, then you should read this book.
Yeonmi Park endured living with a lack of resources that we cannot even begin to fathom in our country, and did so with little thought that things could be different elsewhere beyond a greater abundance of food. In fact, she revered the supreme leader of her country despite the contradictions between what she was taught and what she witnessed in a practice called doublethink.
When she escaped to China with her mother, she found food, but little else to comfort her. In North Korea, she had witnessed and experienced terrible things that no child should ever see or endure, but she had a strong family bond that was a great comfort. In China, she lost what remained of her childhood.
“I was beginning to realize that all the food in the world, and all the running shoes, could not make me happy. The material things were worthless. I had lost my family. I wasn’t loved, I wasn’t free, I wasn’t safe. I was alive, but everything that made life worth living was gone.”
The truth about North Korea is revealed in this stunning memoir. If you want to understand what life is like in a socialist government where all religious beliefs are expunged, then you should read this book.
timpurches's review against another edition
3.0
Difficult to know how to rate this one. Without knowing of the subsequent controversies and Park's move into American conservatism, I found her story engrossing, enlightening and horrifying in equal measures. I would certainly have given it a higher rating than three stars. But now having read what has transpired in recent years it’s no longer clear how much of the detail of her story is true. Certainly she’s come a remarkably long way, whatever the actual truth is, and there can be no doubting her path must have been very difficult.
allisonarthur12's review against another edition
5.0
This book was incredible. So moving and inspiring.
throneofsnark's review against another edition
5.0
I've always been fascinated by North Koreans and the defectors that make it across their borders. I didn't realize the obstacles China that so many have to face, especially women. I can see why Yeonmi left out certain details when she was doing interviews in the past because SK and NK are quite conservative. Disappointed to kind of hear her current political views, but again I understand considering where she came from.
I love that this memoir also took accounts from adults and other people in her life, it was nice to hear things through other people's eyes that she knows.
Overall, a great memoir by someone with more than half her life still left to live!
I love that this memoir also took accounts from adults and other people in her life, it was nice to hear things through other people's eyes that she knows.
Overall, a great memoir by someone with more than half her life still left to live!
seahorsefoxglove's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
joanacoelhojc's review against another edition
5.0
“And I particularly loved biographies because they were about people who had to overcome obstacles or prejudices to get ahead. They made me think I could make it when nobody else believed in me, when even I didn’t believe in myself.”