I didn’t know what to expect going in, but soon found this hard to put down. These stories were masterfully told. Much of the content on North Korea I’ve seen focuses on ideology and propaganda, but this makes one really appreciate how that translates to the deeply embedded fear in people as they go about their lives. The idea of a nation where an inappropriate drunken remark or an unshed tear can land you in prison is fascinating, but seeing the events unfold through the lens of people you have come to care about strikes an entirely different chord.
In all 6 stories we get an elaborate depiction of the famine years (90s-). After reading this, be prepared to feel a new sense of appreciation and perhaps even a pang of guilt the next time you stand in the middle of the supermarket. In the last third of the book we get a play by play of each person’s defection, really incredible stuff.
“One death is a tragedy, a thousand deaths is a statistic”. With all the crude memes out there about North Korean dictatorship, these stories refocus us on people. The sheer tragedy of what happened, and the fact that it continues well into the 21st century. These stories amplify the millions of voices that have been stamped out by the regime, and shed light on survival instincts most of us are fortunate enough to no longer have to rely on.