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autumndream's review against another edition
4.0
Memorable Quote:
"The only thing I thought was that I had to prey on others for my survival." -Shin Dong-hyuk
"The only thing I thought was that I had to prey on others for my survival." -Shin Dong-hyuk
molb8's review against another edition
5.0
An amazingly informative book, a must read if you're interested in North Korea and what it's like there.
princzukos's review against another edition
4.0
This book really opened up my mind and educated me on what’s really happening in North Korea. The story is very touching, and the author did a good job explaining the economic/political/social issues going on outside of the labor/prison camps in North Korea (though is can get annoying sometimes).
frankiekingston's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
reflective
tense
3.25
achillesheeled's review against another edition
3.0
'I am evolving from being an animal,' he said. 'But it is going very, very slowly. Sometime I try to cry and laugh like other people, just to see if it feels like anything. Yet tears don't come. Laughter doesn't come.'
didnt really like the writing style
didnt really like the writing style
jcaballero0725's review against another edition
3.0
If there was 2 1/2 stars, I would have given that. I liked learning about North Korea but wish it would have been more emotionally connecting. The only time I truly felt an emotional tug was towards the end when reading about his birthday. I'm not cold hearted and normally am a teary mess in historical biographies but the way this book was written, by the authors standpoint and not by the person living in it so much, it made it easy to stay very unconnected. I wish there was more about his life/ life in North Korea because I am super interested.
sandiet's review against another edition
1.0
What the North Korean regime does to their people in the "non-existent" labour camps defies understanding. I did not enjoy this book, it was a very difficult and at times horrific read. I already know the atrocities committed by man against man, it's all over the media EVERY day and I don't want it creeping in on my reading time. I only read this for bookclub...not light reading and despite the hardships faced by Shin Donghyuk (the person whose story this is) I didn't connect at all with his story. Could be that I resented reading this around the holidays...wasn't my cup of tea.