readingwithhippos's review against another edition
4.0
Spoiler alert: Things are really bad in North Korea, and have been for many years, thanks to a string of dictators who have cultivated a society previously familiar to me only from dystopian fiction. Demick points out early on that even though she was able to get clearance to visit Pyongyang, in order to get truthful answers about what life in North Korea is really like, she had to talk to people who had escaped the regime, not those currently living under its threatening shadow. Her narrative-style portraits of the defectors she interviewed are personal and powerful, never more so than at the end of the book, when she tells how each one got out of the country that had literally starved them into submission.
More book recommendations by me at www.readingwithhippos.com
More book recommendations by me at www.readingwithhippos.com
a9f's review against another edition
5.0
We've all heard about the atrocities of life in the DPRK. Hearing the (intensely) personal struggles of these post-defection DPRK citizens is at the same time incredibly interesting and paralyzingly heartbreaking.
Highly recommended, though not without a box or two of Kleenex at the ready.
Highly recommended, though not without a box or two of Kleenex at the ready.
jhalloran99's review against another edition
5.0
I highly recommend this book to any and everyone. Where I felt Katherine Boo missed the mark with [b:Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity |14885738|Behind the Beautiful Forevers Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity |Katherine Boo|/assets/nocover/60x80.png|16826575], Barbara Demick hit a home run with the narritive non-fiction style. I felt a deep connection with each of the 6 North Korean defectors that shared their stories. It was 1984, but scarier, because it was/is real. An eye opening and inspiring read.
oliviaja's review against another edition
Emotionally devastating and had to pause for myself
pranphetamine's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
This is the first non-fiction book that I could not put down. It had a good mix of personal recounts and history that intertwined into an entire story. The author’s storytelling skill of connecting these experiences together was just so good and emotionally gripping. I learned and felt a lot while reading this. Very simple and effective writing as well, so it was easy to get through albeit such a difficult topic to discuss. My one teeny gripe is that since the author is American, she makes a couple inaccurate Western-centric observations. Overall though, a must read.
albert_04's review against another edition
5.0
This book is astonishing and impressive in all aspects. Lively written and well-organized. It's full of emotions, a mixed of frustration to the NK's government and propagandas, and grief and sympathy to the situation of ordinary North Koreans is what I've felt every chapters.
Nothing to Envy provides a glimpse of what is inside of the isolated North Korea through the perspectives of ordinary citizen defactors. Barbara effectively utilized the narratives and stories of her interviewees, while at the same time providing a comprehensive background of North Korea regime's history, government, and propaganda machines and policies.
It is maddening how, up till now, the Kim's absolute authoritarian regime holds its power by distorting history and people's awareness in all aspects. The extensive propaganda machines, conspiracies, and fictional narratives drove their citizens away from reality and let them slip to the grim foolishness and myths of greatness and superiority of the Kims leadership. Their pride and nationalism became vices, still not admitting that they were a failed state and that self-sufficiency no longer works in the time of globalization. Thus, they are still behind and living to the greatness once they had during the 1960s.
The six lives of the defactors and their stories reflected the experiences of the ordinary North Koreans entirely. I couldn't grip my emotions and get teary-eyed as I read their tragic and depressing stories. The deprivations of food and basic necessities, malnourishment, oppression and violence, restrictions and death; they are really not living with their own lives because they were dictated from infancy to their grave on what should they acquire and believe.
But behind all those depressing state and frustration, there is hope. Love and intimacy still exists between ordinary citizens even the state forbids, like the story of Mi-Ran and Jun-Sang. There are also silent dissenters and individual freedom fighters that leapt beyond the NK-constructed borders and walls, making themselves free. Creative and business-minded individuals also strive to produce their own necessities and violating the principal ideal that the State should the ones to provide everything.
It is clear that we have nothing to envy to the situation of North Koreans. But, there is hope. Everything doesn't last and change is inevitable.
Nothing to Envy provides a glimpse of what is inside of the isolated North Korea through the perspectives of ordinary citizen defactors. Barbara effectively utilized the narratives and stories of her interviewees, while at the same time providing a comprehensive background of North Korea regime's history, government, and propaganda machines and policies.
It is maddening how, up till now, the Kim's absolute authoritarian regime holds its power by distorting history and people's awareness in all aspects. The extensive propaganda machines, conspiracies, and fictional narratives drove their citizens away from reality and let them slip to the grim foolishness and myths of greatness and superiority of the Kims leadership. Their pride and nationalism became vices, still not admitting that they were a failed state and that self-sufficiency no longer works in the time of globalization. Thus, they are still behind and living to the greatness once they had during the 1960s.
The six lives of the defactors and their stories reflected the experiences of the ordinary North Koreans entirely. I couldn't grip my emotions and get teary-eyed as I read their tragic and depressing stories. The deprivations of food and basic necessities, malnourishment, oppression and violence, restrictions and death; they are really not living with their own lives because they were dictated from infancy to their grave on what should they acquire and believe.
But behind all those depressing state and frustration, there is hope. Love and intimacy still exists between ordinary citizens even the state forbids, like the story of Mi-Ran and Jun-Sang. There are also silent dissenters and individual freedom fighters that leapt beyond the NK-constructed borders and walls, making themselves free. Creative and business-minded individuals also strive to produce their own necessities and violating the principal ideal that the State should the ones to provide everything.
It is clear that we have nothing to envy to the situation of North Koreans. But, there is hope. Everything doesn't last and change is inevitable.
saluki's review against another edition
5.0
I've watched many Korean Historical Dramas over the last few years after my first viewing of Jumong. Yet it is my admiration for King Sejong and his dedication to producing the modern Korean alphabet for the everyman so his working class people would be educated and could communicate with each other by reading and writing that I found an extraordinary accomplishment. He dedicated his life to the working man over his court ... hence my interest in Korean history and culture was cemented.
Now I actively seek news about Korean history, culture and current affairs.
This book underscored how desperately cut off North Koreans are from the world, living an isolated, misinformed, poverty stricken existence - and that applies to those within the 'more desirable' positions within North Korean society too. A satellite photograph of South Korea gleaming brightly with light is evident enough of their superior technological advancement of the last few decades, yet the black expanse of North Korea, save a tiny white dot at Pyongyang, put goosebumps on my arms.
Barbara Demick investigates differing viewpoints from those who have managed to escape their previous totalitarian existence.
It is understandable to see how some people are brainwashed by the North Korean propaganda and it takes a large learning curve for them to realise their misconceptions about the world. And, it is heartbreaking to understand how difficult it is for them to adapt to the modern world or South Korea. Yet, among this bleak existence, for one person, there was the wonderful first blossoming of love or at least first romance ... albeit in the dark ... a platonic love that took place over a large period of time with secret meetings and hushed talk that couldn't happen under normal circumstances.
Demick is painstakingly accurate about time, places and events. The interviews blew me away. To learn so much about an otherwise isolated part of our planet was an exercise in humility and one that makes this working class woman realise that compared to many on the planet she really lives like a queen!
A true eye-opener and the testimonies or interviews will stay with you ... never to be forgotten.
Now I actively seek news about Korean history, culture and current affairs.
This book underscored how desperately cut off North Koreans are from the world, living an isolated, misinformed, poverty stricken existence - and that applies to those within the 'more desirable' positions within North Korean society too. A satellite photograph of South Korea gleaming brightly with light is evident enough of their superior technological advancement of the last few decades, yet the black expanse of North Korea, save a tiny white dot at Pyongyang, put goosebumps on my arms.
Barbara Demick investigates differing viewpoints from those who have managed to escape their previous totalitarian existence.
It is understandable to see how some people are brainwashed by the North Korean propaganda and it takes a large learning curve for them to realise their misconceptions about the world. And, it is heartbreaking to understand how difficult it is for them to adapt to the modern world or South Korea. Yet, among this bleak existence, for one person, there was the wonderful first blossoming of love or at least first romance ... albeit in the dark ... a platonic love that took place over a large period of time with secret meetings and hushed talk that couldn't happen under normal circumstances.
Demick is painstakingly accurate about time, places and events. The interviews blew me away. To learn so much about an otherwise isolated part of our planet was an exercise in humility and one that makes this working class woman realise that compared to many on the planet she really lives like a queen!
A true eye-opener and the testimonies or interviews will stay with you ... never to be forgotten.