Notes/Feedback: A true story written by Masaji Ishikawa about his life. He is born in Japan to a North Korean father and Japanese mother. When he was a young boy, and after the Korean war in the mid 1950s, North Korea started recruiting ex-pats and spreading propaganda of a better life and education. His father ends up moving his family to North Korea, with a helpful nudge by the Japanese government. However, when they get to North Korea things are much worse than was promised. The author outlines his life of hardship from his school days all the way until adulthood and eventual escape out. I read the entire book in two sittings. It was the first book in a long time that I found myself immersed in and could not shake the emotional toll it had on me for at least two weeks after I read it.
Recommendation: Definitely would recommend this book. Just keep in mind that the author is not a professional author so there were some areas of the story that could've been painted with a little more detail. But overall, still a great book.
Notes/Feedback:
A true story written by Masaji Ishikawa about his life. He is born in Japan to a North Korean father and Japanese mother. When he was a young boy, and after the Korean war in the mid 1950s, North Korea started recruiting ex-pats and spreading propaganda of a better life and education. His father ends up moving his family to North Korea, with a helpful nudge by the Japanese government. However, when they get to North Korea things are much worse than was promised. The author outlines his life of hardship from his school days all the way until adulthood and eventual escape out. I read the entire book in two sittings. It was the first book in a long time that I found myself immersed in and could not shake the emotional toll it had on me for at least two weeks after I read it.
Recommendation:
Definitely would recommend this book. Just keep in mind that the author is not a professional author so there were some areas of the story that could've been painted with a little more detail. But overall, still a great book.