Amazon.com: Customer Reviews: Dear Leader: My Escape from North Korea
Dear Leader: My Escape from North Korea
byJang Jin-sung
Format: Paperback|Change
Price:$9.60+ Free shipping with Amazon Prime
---------
Top positive review
See all 267 positive reviews›
99 people found this helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Must-read Transformational Book
ByPhillipon May 12, 2014
This book is the sort that can save lives – hopefully even 25 million of them. It is the most absorbing read that this reader has had in many years. Why is it better than the many noteworthy books on North Korea that have been published before? Because it was written by a high level insider - one of the country’s chief propagandists - who also happens to be an articulate and sensitive writer, with a vastly different perspective from that of a Westerner or a "common" (if there can be such a characterization) North Korean escapee.
It's not just a searing indictment of the Kim dynasty or a political dissertation that details the organization and functioning of a Stalinist dictatorship. It's not just an intimate account of unimaginable human suffering that has been inflicted on a nation’s population over the past few decades by an evil regime. It's not just a thrill-a-minute international espionage story that follows two high-value defectors as they flee, starving and penniless, across the winter landscape of Korea and Northern China, hunted by security forces from both countries. In fact, it is all of these story lines, plus more. The range of its setting stretches from privilege to privation. It is a depiction of a place that seems surreal and hallucinogenic, though it is only too real. It is a story of a man’s awakening from a blinkered life to a wide world beyond his imagining – both its horrors and beauty. It is about his coming to terms with terrible truths and the equally terrible lies that he had helped to perpetrate. It is a buddy story about two young men on the run who share every human emotion possible – from valor to shame to frailty to brotherly love.
ByPhillipon May 12, 2014
This book is the sort that can save lives – hopefully even 25 million of them. It is the most absorbing read that this reader has had in many years. Why is it better than the many noteworthy books on North Korea that have been published before? Because it was written by a high level insider - one of the country’s chief propagandists - who also happens to be an articulate and sensitive writer, with a vastly different perspective from that of a Westerner or a "common" (if there can be such a characterization) North Korean escapee.
It's not just a searing indictment of the Kim dynasty or a political dissertation that details the organization and functioning of a Stalinist dictatorship. It's not just an intimate account of unimaginable human suffering that has been inflicted on a nation’s population over the past few decades by an evil regime. It's not just a thrill-a-minute international espionage story that follows two high-value defectors as they flee, starving and penniless, across the winter landscape of Korea and Northern China, hunted by security forces from both countries. In fact, it is all of these story lines, plus more. The range of its setting stretches from privilege to privation. It is a depiction of a place that seems surreal and hallucinogenic, though it is only too real. It is a story of a man’s awakening from a blinkered life to a wide world beyond his imagining – both its horrors and beauty. It is about his coming to terms with terrible truths and the equally terrible lies that he had helped to perpetrate. It is a buddy story about two young men on the run who share every human emotion possible – from valor to shame to frailty to brotherly love.
And perhaps most importantly, it is an epic poem, written by a talented story teller. As such, the book touches the reader in ways that no other account of North Korea has done before. By interweaving original poetry and lyrical descriptions of artistic expression into a John le Carre thriller, there is something for everyone. It runs both wide and deep. As such, it has the potential to reach an audience that is broader than any book on the subject. One can only hope that it does, and that by burrowing deeply into millions of readers, it changes the perspective and energy of the global dialogue on North Korea.
------------
------------
Top critical review
See all 18 critical reviews›
One person found this helpful
3.0 out of 5 starsMisery from North Korea ...is no surprise
ByBruce Altshuleron May 12, 2017
There are many books from escapees over the past several years. This one is credible. Trouble is, life in North Korea is so awful that complacency and helplessness set in and we tend to take these tales for granted. Still, an absorbing account by an astute observer who managed to get out.
-----------------------
Filter by:Verified purchase onlyAll starsAll formats
Search
Showing 1-10 of 228 reviews(Verified Purchases). See all 285 reviews
-----
4.0 out of 5 stars
4.0 out of 5 stars
At times, North Korea seems like an indecipherable enigma, impervious to attempts by outsiders to understand or to find rationales for its actions. At other times, the Kim family state seems straightforward: a land ruled by a gang of thugs who regard the state’s resources (including its people) as its personal possession and plaything, and who cynically deploy crude and simplistic anti-colonial and anti-Western ideological slogans as a substitute for policy. Jang Jin-Sung’s book tends to support the latter view, depicting a regime run by a paranoid and power-hungry leader who cares little for what happens to anyone but himself.
Jang’s book is part memoir, part exposé. The core of the book is an account of Jang’s decision to escape North Korea, along with a friend. Jang, a poet personally honored by “Dear Leader” Kim Jong-il, had been working in a department of the Workers’ Party responsible for relations between the two Koreas—which really meant anti-South Korean espionage and propaganda. Part of his job was to write poems in a South Korean “voice” praising North Korea and the leadership of Kim Jong-il. In order to do his job, he was part of a select group of Party members allowed access to South Korean newspapers, books, and magazines, as well as Western consumer products sent in as foreign aid. Though he was not part of the true power elite, he was in many ways a regime insider. His observations, therefore, have an aura of both credibility and disillusionment.
Beyond the dramatic story of Jang’s escape, survival in China, and eventual relocation in South Korea, the book contains valuable and damning observations on North Korean history and politics. Jang had access to party insiders, as well as to historical documents unavailable to most people.
So while his account is that of a very young man, it carries the conviction of the disillusioned and recently-enlightened, which one can see in his wide-eyed outrage when the shackles fall from his eyes and he sees the Kim regime for what it is. Jang offers valuable insights on a variety of topics, including Kim Jong-il’s rise to power and the ruthless competition with his father and the elder Kim’s allies that accompanied it, leading in turn to further ruthlessness and the rise to dominance of the Organization and Guidance Department within the Korean Workers’ Party. Jang also discusses the kidnapping of Japanese citizens to train North Korean spies, and the North Korean view of diplomacy as essentially a counterintelligence operation, which partly explains why Western governments find diplomacy with North Korea such a frustrating undertaking.
Jang is a romantic, and naïve in many ways. He says that reading a book of poetry by Lord Byron was one of the key factors in his disillusionment/enlightenment, as Byron’s openness in expressing emotions stood in stark contrast to the bottled-up North Korean society in which the only acceptable object of devotion was the state as embodied in the person of the leader.
Jang is a romantic, and naïve in many ways. He says that reading a book of poetry by Lord Byron was one of the key factors in his disillusionment/enlightenment, as Byron’s openness in expressing emotions stood in stark contrast to the bottled-up North Korean society in which the only acceptable object of devotion was the state as embodied in the person of the leader.
The heart of the book is Jang’s account of his decision to leave North Korea after some contraband materials to which he had access but which he allowed to pass out of his hands were discovered. He had to leave quickly, without much preparation, accompanied by the friend to whom he had loaned the materials. They carried little with them other than the clothes they were wearing, a notebook full of Jang’s poems, and some cash, which would come in handy later. They were lucky to escape the scrutiny, and the guns, of North Korean border guards, but their story of escape and survival is not simply a tale of crossing the Tumen River that forms North Korea’s northeastern border with China. Jang chronicles just how difficult it can be for an escapee even after crossing the river. The South Korean consulate in the Chinese city of Shenyang and many Korean churches were no help. Jang spent a month on the run, during which time he had to rely on luck and the kindness of individuals to survive and eventually make his way to freedom. That he did make it is a testament to how deeply motivating the desire for freedom can be. This is perhaps a useful reminder for any of us who accept our liberties too casually. Jang’s epilogue is both a moving conclusion to the story and a sober reflection on what the presence of thousands of North Korean escapees means.
On occasion the book reads a bit too much like a translation, or maybe the translator is just rendering too literally in English Jang’s way of expressing things in Korean. But that’s a small thing. This book is well worth reading for anyone interested in the inner workings of North Korea, and how one North Korean of a sensitive frame of mind found the desire, then the need, and ultimately the courage to leave in the hope of liberating body, mind, and heart. In addition to Jang’s own story, the book reinforces the conclusion that North Korea is not just a failed state, but what might be called a diminished state. The friend who urged me to read this book said that it convinced him of what he already thought—that North Korea is really run by just a very small number of people. It’s hard to argue with that. For Kim Jong-il, as for his son after him (the current ruler), it appears that being “leader” is an ego trip for which his whole country of roughly 25 million people pays a horrible price.
---
5.0 out of 5 stars
On occasion the book reads a bit too much like a translation, or maybe the translator is just rendering too literally in English Jang’s way of expressing things in Korean. But that’s a small thing. This book is well worth reading for anyone interested in the inner workings of North Korea, and how one North Korean of a sensitive frame of mind found the desire, then the need, and ultimately the courage to leave in the hope of liberating body, mind, and heart. In addition to Jang’s own story, the book reinforces the conclusion that North Korea is not just a failed state, but what might be called a diminished state. The friend who urged me to read this book said that it convinced him of what he already thought—that North Korea is really run by just a very small number of people. It’s hard to argue with that. For Kim Jong-il, as for his son after him (the current ruler), it appears that being “leader” is an ego trip for which his whole country of roughly 25 million people pays a horrible price.
---
5.0 out of 5 stars
A 21st Century Masterpiece
ByJenniferon October 5, 2014
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
If you are a fiction-only reader, I assure you that, even though Dear Leader is a true story, it is indistinguishable from a great novel. The story has the pacing and revelations of The De Vinci Code. It depicts two dystopian societies that are, dare I say, more intriguing than those in 1984 and Brave New World. As with the Hunger Games or Divergent, you will quickly find yourself emotionally invested in Jang’s fate and that of his friends. This is the best narrative I have read in years, and the fact that it is a memoir makes it all the more heart-wrenching and profound.
Jang allows readers to live in his head and see through his eyes in a way few memoir writers do. For example, Twelve Years a Slave, Man's Search for Meaning, Angela’s Ashes, and The Diary of Ann Frank are indisputably great and intimate memoirs, but they do not involve an awakening that one's dearly held articles of faith---beliefs around which everyone one knows has been required to organize their lives-- are an elaborate deception.
ByJenniferon October 5, 2014
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
If you are a fiction-only reader, I assure you that, even though Dear Leader is a true story, it is indistinguishable from a great novel. The story has the pacing and revelations of The De Vinci Code. It depicts two dystopian societies that are, dare I say, more intriguing than those in 1984 and Brave New World. As with the Hunger Games or Divergent, you will quickly find yourself emotionally invested in Jang’s fate and that of his friends. This is the best narrative I have read in years, and the fact that it is a memoir makes it all the more heart-wrenching and profound.
Jang allows readers to live in his head and see through his eyes in a way few memoir writers do. For example, Twelve Years a Slave, Man's Search for Meaning, Angela’s Ashes, and The Diary of Ann Frank are indisputably great and intimate memoirs, but they do not involve an awakening that one's dearly held articles of faith---beliefs around which everyone one knows has been required to organize their lives-- are an elaborate deception.
Another unique difference is that Jang makes a decision to pursue truth despite the risk to himself and those he loves. Under North Korean law, it is a capital offense to seek information about the outside world. After the offender is executed, his family and closest friends are imprisoned indefinitely unless they prove they had no knowledge of the crime.
Lastly, Jang has the soul of a poet and understands the value of words. Even though this book was written in Korean, Jang writes beautifully and chooses his words thoughtfully. His memoir is not merely a call to action or a tribute to the innate curiosity and courage at the core of all people. Jang writes with his reader in mind, and he wants to give a small gift to each reader who joins him on his journey.
Having read Dear Leader three times in six weeks, I now feel fascinated by Asian culture and guilty that I have misunderstood one third of the world's people for my entire life. Jang Jin-sung is responsible for my awakening. To help correct my deficiency, I am listening to Great Courses lectures on The Great Minds of the Eastern Intellectual Tradition and on The Foundations of Eastern Civilization. I hope other readers will be similarly inspired to explore East Asian culture.
----
5.0 out of 5 stars
Having read Dear Leader three times in six weeks, I now feel fascinated by Asian culture and guilty that I have misunderstood one third of the world's people for my entire life. Jang Jin-sung is responsible for my awakening. To help correct my deficiency, I am listening to Great Courses lectures on The Great Minds of the Eastern Intellectual Tradition and on The Foundations of Eastern Civilization. I hope other readers will be similarly inspired to explore East Asian culture.
----
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mr. Jang scoops you up and takes you on his journey to freedom. A most beautifully written book.
ByReadingAfireon October 24, 2014
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
This was the most beautifully written and moving account I've ever read of an escape from N. Korea. It is an incredible story from a man who enjoyed a life of privilege compared to the privation that the majority of NK is suffering. One can see why Mr. Jang was such a well respected poet laureate (and at such a young age) from his home country. He is an incredible writer. This book moved me to tears so many times. So often, I visualized his pain and despair, his courage, and his indescribabe exhilaration when he finally succeeded in his hard fought quest for freedom.
All Americans should read books about this country because while we complain about our own petty suffering, most of us have really no idea what true human suffering is all about. It's interesting because I was in the midst of a deep depression when I picked up another book (Nothing to Envy by Barbara Denick) about regular North Koreans and that book--plus the subsequent (perhaps 20) others I read, lifted me complete out of my depression.
This is a fascinating read. Most people in his position would have never dreamed of escaping such a privileged existence--if only for the sake of loved ones.
<SPOILER ALERT>
It was only *after* he had given a forbidden book to a trusted friend who had subsequently lost it, did he and his friend realize they had no other solution but to escape. For them to stay would have certainly meant their detention at one of the famous 'gulag' prisons of NK but it would have likely meant the persecution of his loved ones. I believe his primary motive for leaving NK was to spare his family--although I cannot imagine how he must suffer to this day wondering about their health and safety.
The book really does read like a thriller--I couldn't put it down. My tears at the end of this book were for Mr. Jang's final successful escape into the South Korean embassy in Beijing, as well as the tears I shed for his friend who wasn't able to successfully complete the journey with him. My heart broke for his friend, while it rejoiced for Mr. Jang. Never has an account of escape, determination, a will to survive, and gratitude moved me to such an extent. I also can't stop wondering what might have happened to the lovely Cho-rin, who helped him in a way that all of us should help a fellow human being. I admired her so much from Mr. Jang's account of their fateful meeting.
All of us have a duty to stop ignoring the suffering of so many. I want to do more--in what shape or form that comes, I am not yet certain but I believe in fighting for wonderful causes and I can't think of a cause more worthy than helping these oppressed and suffering people.
Mr. Jang, congratulations on your wonderful, well-received book that deserves every accolade it has gotten. Congratulations on the personal happiness you have found with your wife and a new baby. I am so happy you made it to freedom so you could share your incredible, heroic story. Moreover, thank you for spreading the word of the plight of so many North Koreans. We in the west tend to forget how truly lucky we are. I am a better person for having read this book. Amazing.
---
4.0 out of 5 stars
ByReadingAfireon October 24, 2014
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
This was the most beautifully written and moving account I've ever read of an escape from N. Korea. It is an incredible story from a man who enjoyed a life of privilege compared to the privation that the majority of NK is suffering. One can see why Mr. Jang was such a well respected poet laureate (and at such a young age) from his home country. He is an incredible writer. This book moved me to tears so many times. So often, I visualized his pain and despair, his courage, and his indescribabe exhilaration when he finally succeeded in his hard fought quest for freedom.
All Americans should read books about this country because while we complain about our own petty suffering, most of us have really no idea what true human suffering is all about. It's interesting because I was in the midst of a deep depression when I picked up another book (Nothing to Envy by Barbara Denick) about regular North Koreans and that book--plus the subsequent (perhaps 20) others I read, lifted me complete out of my depression.
This is a fascinating read. Most people in his position would have never dreamed of escaping such a privileged existence--if only for the sake of loved ones.
<SPOILER ALERT>
It was only *after* he had given a forbidden book to a trusted friend who had subsequently lost it, did he and his friend realize they had no other solution but to escape. For them to stay would have certainly meant their detention at one of the famous 'gulag' prisons of NK but it would have likely meant the persecution of his loved ones. I believe his primary motive for leaving NK was to spare his family--although I cannot imagine how he must suffer to this day wondering about their health and safety.
The book really does read like a thriller--I couldn't put it down. My tears at the end of this book were for Mr. Jang's final successful escape into the South Korean embassy in Beijing, as well as the tears I shed for his friend who wasn't able to successfully complete the journey with him. My heart broke for his friend, while it rejoiced for Mr. Jang. Never has an account of escape, determination, a will to survive, and gratitude moved me to such an extent. I also can't stop wondering what might have happened to the lovely Cho-rin, who helped him in a way that all of us should help a fellow human being. I admired her so much from Mr. Jang's account of their fateful meeting.
All of us have a duty to stop ignoring the suffering of so many. I want to do more--in what shape or form that comes, I am not yet certain but I believe in fighting for wonderful causes and I can't think of a cause more worthy than helping these oppressed and suffering people.
Mr. Jang, congratulations on your wonderful, well-received book that deserves every accolade it has gotten. Congratulations on the personal happiness you have found with your wife and a new baby. I am so happy you made it to freedom so you could share your incredible, heroic story. Moreover, thank you for spreading the word of the plight of so many North Koreans. We in the west tend to forget how truly lucky we are. I am a better person for having read this book. Amazing.
---
4.0 out of 5 stars
Leaving North Korea is Hard To Do.
ByRonald E. Parsonson June 27, 2015
Format: Paperback|Verified Purchase
<Dear Leader> leads off with a map followed by prologue, body, epilogue, afterword, translator's note, glossary and index, all packed into 342 pgs. The author and translator have produced a compelling product for its readership to enjoy. At least one reviewer complained of multiple typos. Philistine that I am I barely noticed any, and they didn't get in the way of my enjoyment.
We who are octogenarians and have kept up with the world, are not surprised by the descriptions of North Korea's dictatorships that require cult worship. But for the young who aren't so familiar with things in that hellish state, <Dear Leader> is a good source of that information. However it is not a history of Korea nor does it contain anything much about the Korean War, 1950-53. For those who seek such history plenty of books exist and are readily available, some better than others.
Those readers who are familiar with Korea's history, but less so with the dire straits under which post-1945 N. Koreans have existed, will find <Dear Leader> informative -- especially regarding the trials endured by the ones who seek escape, some of whom have been successful and others not. Also the reader will gain some knowledge of the attitude of China towards the N. Korean escapees who use China as their route.
This reader had never previously given thought to the fact that China north of the Koreas is home to many Chinese of Korean extraction. That population has its own feelings towards the escape-attempters they encounter.
The entire book is framed around the experiences of a young, high-profile defector who suddenly had to make a run for it because of his own carelessness and stupidity. Would he have otherwise found good reason to defect? That is for the reader to decide. He was personally recognized as loyal and productive by his dictator; and unlike most other people in N. Korea he led a comfortable life.
Over all, the general readership should find <Dear Leader> to be easy and interesting.
---
5.0 out of 5 stars
ByRonald E. Parsonson June 27, 2015
Format: Paperback|Verified Purchase
<Dear Leader> leads off with a map followed by prologue, body, epilogue, afterword, translator's note, glossary and index, all packed into 342 pgs. The author and translator have produced a compelling product for its readership to enjoy. At least one reviewer complained of multiple typos. Philistine that I am I barely noticed any, and they didn't get in the way of my enjoyment.
We who are octogenarians and have kept up with the world, are not surprised by the descriptions of North Korea's dictatorships that require cult worship. But for the young who aren't so familiar with things in that hellish state, <Dear Leader> is a good source of that information. However it is not a history of Korea nor does it contain anything much about the Korean War, 1950-53. For those who seek such history plenty of books exist and are readily available, some better than others.
Those readers who are familiar with Korea's history, but less so with the dire straits under which post-1945 N. Koreans have existed, will find <Dear Leader> informative -- especially regarding the trials endured by the ones who seek escape, some of whom have been successful and others not. Also the reader will gain some knowledge of the attitude of China towards the N. Korean escapees who use China as their route.
This reader had never previously given thought to the fact that China north of the Koreas is home to many Chinese of Korean extraction. That population has its own feelings towards the escape-attempters they encounter.
The entire book is framed around the experiences of a young, high-profile defector who suddenly had to make a run for it because of his own carelessness and stupidity. Would he have otherwise found good reason to defect? That is for the reader to decide. He was personally recognized as loyal and productive by his dictator; and unlike most other people in N. Korea he led a comfortable life.
Over all, the general readership should find <Dear Leader> to be easy and interesting.
---
5.0 out of 5 stars
This book is a must read.
ByGlenn Archeron October 1, 2014
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
Just amazing. I served as a young infantry lieutenant on the Korean DMZ in the mid 80s. I thought I had an understanding of the tyrants ruling the north. I didn't understand anything. It was and is so much worse than anyone can comprehend. The nightmare the masses must endure trying to survive in N. Korea is horrific. The ruling Kim dynasty is in many ways more evil than Stalin or Hitler. They have no aspirations for their country or people. They could not care less how many millions of their countrymen starve to death, as long as the ruling elite stay in power.
ByGlenn Archeron October 1, 2014
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
Just amazing. I served as a young infantry lieutenant on the Korean DMZ in the mid 80s. I thought I had an understanding of the tyrants ruling the north. I didn't understand anything. It was and is so much worse than anyone can comprehend. The nightmare the masses must endure trying to survive in N. Korea is horrific. The ruling Kim dynasty is in many ways more evil than Stalin or Hitler. They have no aspirations for their country or people. They could not care less how many millions of their countrymen starve to death, as long as the ruling elite stay in power.
This book describes in detail the many techniques the Kims use to keep their people isolated from the rest of the world, keep their people subservient, and maintain power. One can assume similar methods are used by other totalitarian regimes like those in Cuba, Iran, Syria, China, and maybe Russia. This is a great book. Some chapters during Mr Jang's month long escape through China get a little slow, but push through it. He mixes some of the best stories and lessons of N. Korea in with the experience of his escape. It's truly fascinating. This book will make you smarter, understand how those on the other side of democracy operate.
----
4.0 out of 5 stars
----
4.0 out of 5 stars
A must read about North Korea.
ByChocolateblueon December 8, 2014
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
The book 1984 by George Orwell is alive and well in North Korea.
The author does a wonderful job telling us what ego-centric, cruel, domineering, selfish, horrific maniacs the leaders of North Korea have been since the war ended in in 1952. From purposely starving the people to denying the population of basic human rights, the reader is hit constantly with one unbelievable and disgusting event after another.
When the author crosses the river that separates China from North Korea, he notices that the leaves on the trees on the North Korea side are non-existent. Why are there no plants or leaves on the trees on the North Korea side? Possible because that is the only "food" that the people can find to eat!
I do recommend this book. The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 stars is that at times the author dwells too much on minute details of historical events. I would have preferred to just read the main ideas instead of small, details of what each dictator did.
Finally, I hope no one trusts or believes anything that this inhumane government says. Their entire government is based on lies which have been fabricated by the leaders. I wish the people in North Korea could be liberated and the unjust regime would end.
This book is a definite read!
----
3.0 out of 5 stars
ByChocolateblueon December 8, 2014
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
The book 1984 by George Orwell is alive and well in North Korea.
The author does a wonderful job telling us what ego-centric, cruel, domineering, selfish, horrific maniacs the leaders of North Korea have been since the war ended in in 1952. From purposely starving the people to denying the population of basic human rights, the reader is hit constantly with one unbelievable and disgusting event after another.
When the author crosses the river that separates China from North Korea, he notices that the leaves on the trees on the North Korea side are non-existent. Why are there no plants or leaves on the trees on the North Korea side? Possible because that is the only "food" that the people can find to eat!
I do recommend this book. The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 stars is that at times the author dwells too much on minute details of historical events. I would have preferred to just read the main ideas instead of small, details of what each dictator did.
Finally, I hope no one trusts or believes anything that this inhumane government says. Their entire government is based on lies which have been fabricated by the leaders. I wish the people in North Korea could be liberated and the unjust regime would end.
This book is a definite read!
----
3.0 out of 5 stars
Misery from North Korea ...is no surprise
ByBruce Altshuleron May 12, 2017
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
There are many books from escapees over the past several years. This one is credible. Trouble is,
life in North Korea is so awful that complacency and helplessness set in and we tend to take these
tales for granted. Still, an absorbing account by an astute observer who managed to get out.
-----
4.0 out of 5 stars
ByBruce Altshuleron May 12, 2017
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
There are many books from escapees over the past several years. This one is credible. Trouble is,
life in North Korea is so awful that complacency and helplessness set in and we tend to take these
tales for granted. Still, an absorbing account by an astute observer who managed to get out.
-----
4.0 out of 5 stars
One man's escape from hell
ByNancy Sanchezon August 30, 2014
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
A compelling account of one man's escape from the hell in North Korea. Recommended reading for anyone interested in that strange and mysterious tyranny. The author had been poet laureate for Kim Jong-il, which gave him the status of "Admitted," one of the very few people with the despot's blessing. In North Korea, no one is allowed to write anything, including poetry, unless officially directed to do so, and the only permissible poetry is praise of the Dear Leader. Jang was assigned to write an epic poem about Kim's glory, and at some point he and a friend had enough of the lies. They attempted a dangerous escape into China.
---
5.0 out of 5 stars
ByNancy Sanchezon August 30, 2014
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
A compelling account of one man's escape from the hell in North Korea. Recommended reading for anyone interested in that strange and mysterious tyranny. The author had been poet laureate for Kim Jong-il, which gave him the status of "Admitted," one of the very few people with the despot's blessing. In North Korea, no one is allowed to write anything, including poetry, unless officially directed to do so, and the only permissible poetry is praise of the Dear Leader. Jang was assigned to write an epic poem about Kim's glory, and at some point he and a friend had enough of the lies. They attempted a dangerous escape into China.
---
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing, just amazing
ByA. Chaeon May 23, 2014
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
I have read several books about North Korea and of the many stories of North Korean defectors. All carry fascinating stories that make me cry for the unbelievable journey they had to go through and at the same time make me smile for the freedom they have earned through the journey. They are probably the very lucky ones who has survived to tell their stories and each one is so unique.
This story was unique in the sense that it revealed so much of the deep secret that underlies the Kim cult and the world it has created. I loved both the emotional and factual details the author has put in to his stories. I loved how he was ever so grateful towards the people who has helped him and how much he appreciates the freedom he has found - making those who were lucky to be born in a free land realize the priceless luck they have as a citizen of a free state.
A true page turner. Loved it.
----
4.0 out of 5 stars
ByA. Chaeon May 23, 2014
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
I have read several books about North Korea and of the many stories of North Korean defectors. All carry fascinating stories that make me cry for the unbelievable journey they had to go through and at the same time make me smile for the freedom they have earned through the journey. They are probably the very lucky ones who has survived to tell their stories and each one is so unique.
This story was unique in the sense that it revealed so much of the deep secret that underlies the Kim cult and the world it has created. I loved both the emotional and factual details the author has put in to his stories. I loved how he was ever so grateful towards the people who has helped him and how much he appreciates the freedom he has found - making those who were lucky to be born in a free land realize the priceless luck they have as a citizen of a free state.
A true page turner. Loved it.
----
4.0 out of 5 stars
A human story providing interesting insights into a super oppressive regime
ByYolon January 25, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
ByYolon January 25, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
Chilling. In one word, chilling.
Seeing that North Korea has stringent media restrictions in place and very little freedom of speech is allowed, the outside world may rarely get an opportunity to hear the unfiltered truth about what it's like to live in North Korea. The author of Dear Leader has succeeded in painting a word picture of what everyday-life is like in North Korea for the different sections of society. Who would have known that there is almost constant famine for a certain section of the population? Or that USD is a sought after black market currency in North Korea?
The author's account of his escape is gripping most of the time. Here and there he goes into ideological monologues, but for the most part the story of his escape reads like a thriller.
The book is interesting, provides historical insight, gives great background to current events in North Korea - and is at the same time a very human story about one man's struggle against a terribly oppressive and dishonest system.
No comments:
Post a Comment