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carojust's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
The protagonist is Jun Do, who's immediately misidentified as an orphan. This theme of identity is beautifully expanded upon by Adam Johnson, in a place where citizens have no sense of self, other than their service to their leader. Jun Do lives many lives this way, as he serves competently as a tunnel leader, kidnapper, spy, sailor, translator and eventually commander. Through him, we see brutality, loneliness, fear, and loyalty in different forms. There are small moments of compassion that are enough to help him survive, and understand love and family; he's a child, a blank slate in this way. Johnson uses darkness and blindness as a constant reminder of how the country's people are unknowing, kept in a state of confusion, helpless, and denied the outside world or notions of it.
It's a lot to get through emotionally, and I had to take my time with this one. I recommend it for perspective on a society so alien to us, and us to them, that unsettles you to your core.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
palaris's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
It was a great read. Really glad I stuck with it, because it's slow to start, but by the end, especially once you get to the second half, it picks up steam and the pieces start coming together.
It definitely felt like a drama book, I feel like some of the aspects of North Korean culture were dramatized for the book, based on my reading of non-fiction accounts, but I think that's fair.
Graphic: Death and Torture
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Violence, Murder, and War
Minor: Homophobia, Rape, and Sexual assault
wifeslife's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Dementia, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Death of parent, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
cilie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Bogen består af to dele.
Første del er et realistisk protræt af Nordkorea i starten af det 21'ende århundrede. Her følger vi Jun Do, fra en barndom i et børnehjem under den store hungersnød i 90'erne, gennem forskellige opgaver i militæret. Gennem Jun Do's historie får vi et indblik i hvordan det er at leve i norkorea. Jeg bliver mindet om dystopier som '1984' og 'favre nye verden', men den er god nok. Alle nordkoreanere skal have (eller skulle indtil 2012, idag ved jeg ikke hvad reglerne er) have et billede af Kim Jong Il og Kim Il-Sumg i hvert rum og alle hjem arbejdspladser mm skulle have instaleret en højtaler der kun spillede den statelige radiokanal og ikke kunne slukkes. Disse to ting er gennemgående, men der er mange andre ufattelige detaljer i første del.
Anden del er mere fiktionel. Tilgengæld er den bedre sammensat ud fra et litterært synspunkt. Mange detaljer og episoder der virker meningsløse i del et bliver spundet sammen til at hele. I anden del bliver tidslinjen også brudt op, mens man følger kommisær Ga. Hans sidste dage inden sin anholdelse, hans forhør i en underjordisk bunker i Pyingyang, samt forhørslederens liv i de dage forhøret står på.
Anden del fangede mig mere, men første del vækker mere eftertanke, nu jeg er færdig. Især kan jeg ikke lade være at spekulerer over hvor meget Nordkorea mon har ændret sig siden Kin Jong Ils død i 2012?
Graphic: Kidnapping
Moderate: Confinement, Homophobia, Torture, Medical content, and Murder
Minor: Animal cruelty, Child death, Sexual assault, and Suicide