Summary of the Summary of the Summary:
North Korea is a terrible place to live.
Summary of the Summary:
Through interviews with North Korean defectors, Barbara Demick paints a horrifying picture of life within the reclusive state. From famines and black markets, to forbidden loves and abandoned children, the stories the once loyal citizens tell are absurd and stranger than fiction, yet heart-breaking and eye-opening. The events discussed follow 15 years, including the famine in the 90's, the death of the country's founder, Kim Il-sung, and the rise of his son, Kim Jong-il. Written in a journalistic style,
it is fascinating to hear the stories from people who once believed in their country and leader whole-heartedly, and honestly believed they had it better than anywhere else. Through the author's telling, the citizens' slow disillusionment comes from various events and situations in their lives, leading to their harrowing escapes.
Summary:
Barbara Demick's true stories of people living unextraordinary lives in North Korea are both terrifying to read and enthralling. As things get worse and worse for these people who have put their entire faith in a totalitarian government that is willing to sacrifice its citizens rather than admit they need help, is disheartening. The tales told range from a young couple with different statuses in society (as pre-determined by the government) who embark on a decade's long secret love, to the housewife trying to keep her family fed, to the loyal doctor improvising her job without medical supplies, and more. Demick does a wonderful job weaving the stories within each other, creating a narrative with characters we are invested in, who we care about and want more for.
The writing is really secondary to the stories themselves, as the people need no exaggeration to be compelling. Demick uses a journalistic style to tell the facts with little flourish, yet the reader is still drawn in by the beliefs, choices, hardships, and disillusionment of the characters we are introduced to. The author interviewed hundreds of defectors, but the people she focuses on are all from the northern city of Chongjin, a harsh place, far away both geographically and existentially from the showpiece of Pyongyang. The book talks some about daily life: work, school, family, but mostly tracks the journey of each person as they realize their country isn't all its cracked up to be, in fact, it's stealing their lives.
Reading Nothing to Envy is like reading an Orwellian novel set in a dystopian future where the government has decided to control every aspect of their lives, except I had to keep reminding myself that all this actually happened, that these people are real and this place actually exists. Just like in 1984, there are those who believe in the system, who help it; those who benefit from the system and therefore have no motivation to destroy it; those who quietly question the system; and then those who openly disavow it, try to fight against it, but ultimately fail. The book emphasizes that the reason the North Korean government has not been overthrown is because they have made it a soul-crushing and life-destroying venture to do so. They not only retaliate against you, but also every generation of your family. They'll go after your grandparents, their parents, your children, their children, your spouse's family, and anyone else you may care about. They make it a careless thing to try and revolt, as you are taking not only your life in your hands, but also everyone's around you.
The most horrifying aspect to reading the book is when your realize that this country has truly stolen these lives away from their rightful owners. Even those who succeed in making the harrowing journey to escape rarely live fulfilled lives. Although offered citizenship and a small pension for defecting to South Korea, most lack the skills to hold a normal job, even the doctor's schooling was considered inadequate to practice medicine in the South. Their stories are followed as they make their brand new lives in a foreign country and culture, and while they have regained their freedom and sense of self, many have yet to gain assimilation and happiness.
If twisty thrillers and jumpy horror stories aren't your thing but you still like a good scare, pick up this foreboding tale of how one man can ruin millions of lives. An informative read to stay aware of the world and your surroundings, truly important to prevent more isolated countries from popping up.
Interested? Get it here.
Happy reading!
Disclosure: The Amazon links in this post are affiliate links, which means that if you click through and make a purchase, Amazon sends a couple coins my way. It won't pay the bills, but it may help me purchase my next book to review. Thank you for your support!
The writing is really secondary to the stories themselves, as the people need no exaggeration to be compelling. Demick uses a journalistic style to tell the facts with little flourish, yet the reader is still drawn in by the beliefs, choices, hardships, and disillusionment of the characters we are introduced to. The author interviewed hundreds of defectors, but the people she focuses on are all from the northern city of Chongjin, a harsh place, far away both geographically and existentially from the showpiece of Pyongyang. The book talks some about daily life: work, school, family, but mostly tracks the journey of each person as they realize their country isn't all its cracked up to be, in fact, it's stealing their lives.
Reading Nothing to Envy is like reading an Orwellian novel set in a dystopian future where the government has decided to control every aspect of their lives, except I had to keep reminding myself that all this actually happened, that these people are real and this place actually exists. Just like in 1984, there are those who believe in the system, who help it; those who benefit from the system and therefore have no motivation to destroy it; those who quietly question the system; and then those who openly disavow it, try to fight against it, but ultimately fail. The book emphasizes that the reason the North Korean government has not been overthrown is because they have made it a soul-crushing and life-destroying venture to do so. They not only retaliate against you, but also every generation of your family. They'll go after your grandparents, their parents, your children, their children, your spouse's family, and anyone else you may care about. They make it a careless thing to try and revolt, as you are taking not only your life in your hands, but also everyone's around you.
The most horrifying aspect to reading the book is when your realize that this country has truly stolen these lives away from their rightful owners. Even those who succeed in making the harrowing journey to escape rarely live fulfilled lives. Although offered citizenship and a small pension for defecting to South Korea, most lack the skills to hold a normal job, even the doctor's schooling was considered inadequate to practice medicine in the South. Their stories are followed as they make their brand new lives in a foreign country and culture, and while they have regained their freedom and sense of self, many have yet to gain assimilation and happiness.
If twisty thrillers and jumpy horror stories aren't your thing but you still like a good scare, pick up this foreboding tale of how one man can ruin millions of lives. An informative read to stay aware of the world and your surroundings, truly important to prevent more isolated countries from popping up.
Interested? Get it here.
Happy reading!
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