North Korea is one of the most repressive and secretive states on earth. Spying is encouraged, the media is government controlled, Gone with the Wind is a dangerous, banned book. In the 1990s, famine descended. Millions of people died, but the regime remained in power. Through extensive interviews, Barbara Demick has created the first portrait of like in this extraordinary county, weaving together the stories of six ordinary citizens in a gripping and vivid account of adversity and survival in the land of 'Our Dear leader'.
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This is the most terrifying book I have ever read. A truly shocking and unbelievable read. All I knew about North Korea before I read this book was the little I had seen on the news. I was aware that they are a communist state, were separated from South Korea due to warfare, disliked America and that they are armed with nuclear weapons. I picked this book up out of pure nosiness, I was intrigued of what life is really like in the secretive and insular country. After reading this book I have had my eyes opened to the true danger of corrupt governments and how if left unchecked they can do anything to the people they are meant to protect and lead.
The book follows the lives of six people who grew up within the country and later desserted into China and South Korea. The stories vary from those of deeply devoted individuals who later become disillussioned with the country and its direction; to people who from childhood didn't feel they fit within the strict confines, ideology and group mentality needed to survive within the regime. The Government runs the country with an iron fist, anyone who doesn't adhere to the rules is in danger of reprisals and being sent to prison. Neighbors spy on neighbors and even children on parents. Conviction is not simply punishment for the lone individual but also his/her family both immediate and extended. To make matters worse this punishment lasts for THREE generations!!! Therefore it is understandable that people work hard to appear the perfect citizen even if they have inner doubts.
What strikes me most about this book is the way it paints the Government and the Kim Jong-il as totally uncaring for the suffering of their citizens. For example, in North Korea people do not shop as we do in the western world for groceries. Instead, twice a month, they would go to a distribution center where bags of food are handed out by the Government. However when the country experienced a famine the Government simply ceased handing out food altogether. They appeared to have little thought that this would lead to starvation, especially when selling ones own produce grown in home gardens was illegal. In fact they refused aid from abroad and lied to visiting officials about the state of the country. I found this heartbreaking and shocking, people were left to cook grass and tree bark in order to survive, to the point that much of the countryside became bare. The saddest part being that the most devote follows of the regime were often the first to die, due to their reluctance to break the rules and use the black market food that was illegal but life saving.
During all of this suffering people were still expected to adore the 'Dear Leader' and work harder and longer than ever before, but now without pay or nourishment. They were constantly lied to and made to believe that China and South Korea were suffering worse when in reality they were thriving since embracing consumerism. A bowl of rice became a luxury with many people going years without it. This was made painfully clear when one person, after crossing the border into China, witnessed a dog being fed a meal of rice and vegetables. In North Korea such a meal was beyond the reach even for humans to eat, yet there was a dog being fed such a meal. Heartbreaking and shocking in every way. these things are made all the more shocking to me when I think they happened in the 1990s. I was teenager at the time and enjoying a life where I was well fed, listened to pop music, and did school work in a warm and safe home. The realization that during this time these people suffered at the hands of their own government really opened my eyes to a different kind of evil in the world.
I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars.
A life changing book. You cannot read it without being moved by the strength of human endurance during testing times and shocked by the brain washing and careless choices which negatively effected everyone within the country.
