The grumpus23 (23-word commentary) A bit repetitive. Nice overview of history of North Korea and how this despot came to power and maintains it while bThe grumpus23 (23-word commentary) A bit repetitive. Nice overview of history of North Korea and how this despot came to power and maintains it while being isolated.
Note: This was an advanced copy supplied by the publisher for an honest review....more
The grumpus23 (23-word commentary) Unique insight into the North Korean Kim family of dictators with a focus on the life of and brutal ascension of KimThe grumpus23 (23-word commentary) Unique insight into the North Korean Kim family of dictators with a focus on the life of and brutal ascension of Kim Jung-Un. ...more
Amazing, amazing story. The trials and tribulations of this girl are mind boggling. Sure, she didn't always make the best decisions but who would whenAmazing, amazing story. The trials and tribulations of this girl are mind boggling. Sure, she didn't always make the best decisions but who would when one knows little of the outside world? This is among the most inspirational stories I've read. ...more
This is too unbelievable to be true . . . yet it is.
I never knew that Kim Jong-Il was the leading film maker in North Korea. He was a movie fanatic whThis is too unbelievable to be true . . . yet it is.
I never knew that Kim Jong-Il was the leading film maker in North Korea. He was a movie fanatic who wanted international recognition for North Korean films so much that he had his henchmen abduct the leading South Korean actress of her time and a little later, the leading South Korean filmmaker, her husband.
The story of their lives before meeting and marrying in South Korea along with their careers are wonderfully detailed. The book takes on a James Bond feel as the stories of their abductions are described—all cloak and daggery. The hardships experienced during their captivity until they agreed to make films for Kim Jong-Il are harrowing, especially for the husband. Until they agreed to play by Jong-Il's rules and make films (they had the freedom to do much of what they wanted), neither knew of the other’s existence in North Korea.
How both were able to fool Jong-Il by making films and acting as party members all the while looking for an opportunity to make their escape to the West, is stressful to read. The consequences for getting caught is beyond savage as described in a particularly gruesome incident involving the former leading actress from the North. I cannot imagine having to live daily life on the edge like these people did along with the rest of the North Korean population. No one is to be trusted even family.
In the end, (view spoiler)[I cheered their eventual escape. It read like a chase scene from The Da Vinci Code. Freedom and a happy ending. Not quite. Readjusting to life in the West was not the fairy tale ending you would think. They could not return to South Korea as they were viewed as traitors. Instead, they tried to make a go of it in the US and found it was not an easy life. After all their suffering, I wished better for them. I’m sure they agee with me in that it was still better than living under the Kim Jong-Il regime. (hide spoiler)] ...more
I won this through Goodreads first-read in exchange for an honest review.
North Korea has been intriguing me for about 3 years now. So much so that I'vI won this through Goodreads first-read in exchange for an honest review.
North Korea has been intriguing me for about 3 years now. So much so that I've created a "north-korea" folder because I've been reading so much about it. There are some interesting reads in that folder but none in which I learned as much as I did in this book.
It's sorta like The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America in that it alternates between two stories. The first is the history of how the North Korea we know today came into existence through the rise of Kim Il Sung. He was an incompetent fool yet amazingly was able to get everything he wanted and needed from China and the USSR. The curious turn of events make it seem it was almost his destiny to rise to power.
Simultaneously, we follow the life story of No Kum Sok. No (I know its confusing reading No as a name...I struggled with it too) was a North Korean trapped in his country who longed to go to America. In order to survive, he "played the communist game", joining the air force, and biding his time until he could defect.
Both stories are amazing and unbelievable and kept me thoroughly engaged. Given what's going in North Korea today, it is also a timely read....more
Powerful story about the life of a North Korean boy who ends up in in the Gulag with his family, their release back to North Korean society, eventual Powerful story about the life of a North Korean boy who ends up in in the Gulag with his family, their release back to North Korean society, eventual escape from the country and life in the free world. Reading these stories from these "renegades" should be required reading so that everyone else can be made aware of how lucky they are to live in a free society. ...more
To be honest, I did not understand the portion of the title, "The Cleanest Race" and was disturbed to learn that they view themselves as the ethnicallTo be honest, I did not understand the portion of the title, "The Cleanest Race" and was disturbed to learn that they view themselves as the ethnically purest (cleanest) race. It smacked eerily Hitler-esque.
It was interesting to learn all the propaganda and how all events are portrayed to the populace of the DPRK. If this one-sidedness is all you've known, I can understand why they believe what they believe concerning their "Dear Leader" and their position in the world.
I walk away from reading this very impressed that they can remain so isolated in an ever-shrinking world but at the same time agree with the author's conclusion that behind the scenes they probably DO want better relations with the US despite all the public rhetoric.
That fact, coupled with a transition of power in the near future for them should result in an interesting time in DPRK/US/world relations....more
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