A River in Darkness: One Man's Escape from North Korea in Around the Year in 52 Books

Dec 11, 2019 Tania rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: prev-2019-atw, prev-2019-ps

Heartbreaking

This story is all the more horrifying because it is true. As a boy Masaji Ishikawa, born in Japan, migrates to North Korea with his family in searchnof the promised land. Instead they find oppression, poverty, and despair. Masaji lives more than 30 years in these conditions before he attempts an escape. His rock bottom is so much more desperate than anything we (or at least I) can imagine. He describes one horror after another in his daily life, living conditions no one should have Heartbreaking

This story is all the more horrifying because it is true. As a boy Masaji Ishikawa, born in Japan, migrates to North Korea with his family in searchnof the promised land. Instead they find oppression, poverty, and despair. Masaji lives more than 30 years in these conditions before he attempts an escape. His rock bottom is so much more desperate than anything we (or at least I) can imagine. He describes one horror after another in his daily life, living conditions no one should have to endure, and a caste system that leaves no hope for ever finding a better, or at least more tolerable, life.

Mr. Ishikawa suffered in ways I can't imagine. By sharing his story, he brings awareness to the world of a place that is historically shrouded in secrecy. It's easy to see why this would be concealed. At times the writing is choppy, but that could very well be due to the translation. It doesn't take away from the impact of his story. There are some instances where the time line doesn't match, but this is a story told by a man whose chief concerns were surviving the day and feeding his family, so its not like he could keep an accurate record for all those years. Again nothing was so glaring that is detracted from his message.

This book is a real eye opener. I had no idea of the history behind the movement of people back and forth between Japan and North Korea before and after WWII. I was certainly ignorant of the living conditions and caste system that NK subjected a large part of its population to over such an extended period of time. The author digs into not only the what and the how, but searches for the why as well. He not only depicts his own experiences but also describes his surroundings, the local and national politics, and the culture. Its a very thorough look at the regime and the plight ofnthe average person living in it. I can't imagine how much damage was done to him mind, body and soul, and yet still be a functioning member of society. I applaud him for being strong enough to share his story with the world. ...more

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Apr 24, 2019 Kavitha Sivakumar rated it it was amazing

Shelves: ir-armchair-2019

5 stars is for well-written true story of Masaji Ishikawa.

The book talks about horrific life in North Korea during the era of Kim Il-Sung. I am choked with grief, not sure that same living conditions are still not continuing.....

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Feb 07, 2018 Charlie rated it really liked it

Shelves: audiobook, 2018, nonfiction

Honest, raw and devastating. I had no idea how truly horrible the every day life of a North Korean can be.
If you're at all interested in this book and it's subject matter, I highly recommend you pick it up. ...more

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