Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea
by Barbara Demick
This book oh so totally fits my theme of different life perspectives. Honestly, I don't know much about North Korea, or even South Korea for that matter. In high school, it took me the longest time to remember which one was the "bad" Korea...propaganda, much? I guess it wasn't until Kim Jong-Il died that I became conscious of the plight of the North Korean citizens.
Anyway, the book started out slow, and I wasn't sure if I'd like it. Once Demick moved away from the history part, and more into the life stories of the individuals she interviewed, I started getting into the book. Toward the end, the only way I could put it down was due to my physical exhaustion from the last week of school. It's unfathomable to me how horrible the conditions are in North Korea, even today. You'd think that something would have gotten better by now. It's not my country to judge, though it makes me quite sad that much of the humanitarian aid sent over doesn't even reach the people in need.
I appreciate this book, and all of the insight it gave me into a different life. Coming up soon, I'm planning to read The Orphan Master's Son. Should be interesting...
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