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I thought I knew a little about North Korea before I started this book. I was wrong. I knew nothing.
My eyes are opened.
North Korea is not a happy place. People died there of malnutrition and starvation. In the 90's. The people of North Korea believe all sorts of strange propaganda put out by the government, including the widespread belief that America is determined to destroy their country and that their country is a paradise and their leader is a deeply benevolent and generous man. Industry i ...more
My eyes are opened.
North Korea is not a happy place. People died there of malnutrition and starvation. In the 90's. The people of North Korea believe all sorts of strange propaganda put out by the government, including the widespread belief that America is determined to destroy their country and that their country is a paradise and their leader is a deeply benevolent and generous man. Industry i ...more
While I don't believe Demick to be a good writer (ideas were scattered all over the place), I was fascinated learning about what life was like in North Korea.
Here are some of the facts I learned:
~WHY North Korea's economy failed — mostly due to the Soviet Union's collapse in the early 1990's, and their losing interest in supporting communistic North Korea (especially when North Korea failed to pay their debts to Russia).
~How North Korea actually had a higher standard of living than South Korea h ...more
Here are some of the facts I learned:
~WHY North Korea's economy failed — mostly due to the Soviet Union's collapse in the early 1990's, and their losing interest in supporting communistic North Korea (especially when North Korea failed to pay their debts to Russia).
~How North Korea actually had a higher standard of living than South Korea h ...more
Amazingly terrifying account
This account of the true experiences within N Korea is written in such a way it can be easy to forget it is non-fiction. In fact at times the horrors described made me wish it was fiction. I knew on a high level the atrocious lives much of the residents of N Korea live but this details it in the stories of those who lives it. The defectors came from various walks of life within the same region and their stories are amazing.
This account of the true experiences within N Korea is written in such a way it can be easy to forget it is non-fiction. In fact at times the horrors described made me wish it was fiction. I knew on a high level the atrocious lives much of the residents of N Korea live but this details it in the stories of those who lives it. The defectors came from various walks of life within the same region and their stories are amazing.
May 05, 2016
Sarah
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
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Dec 06, 2017
Stacy
marked it as to-read
Mar 10, 2018
Teale
marked it as to-read
Mar 09, 2020
Keeley
marked it as to-read
Aug 06, 2021
Edel
marked it as to-read
