I picked this book up, because I've not read any books about the experiences of North Korea. What I have seen of the country is what people who have travelled there have covered. A very unrealistic view. The one the government would like you to see.
I picked Masaji Ishikawa's book, because it's a true story about a man who escapes the country. It's not focused on the escape though, it's focused on his stay in the country.
Ishikawa moves to North Korea as a young boy. He is born in Japan to a Korean father and Japanese mother. His father yearns to return to Korea. However, when they do they discover it's not as they had hoped.
Food rations are incredibly low in the country and foreigners (even ones that were born in Korea) are despised and the last ones to receive jobs. Needless to say, Ishikawa's family suffers.
It's a heart-wrenching read. I wished good things would happen to him, unfortunately this book is mainly regarding the heartbreak.
“There’s a saying, “Sadness and gladness follow each other.” As I see it, people who experience equal amounts of sadness and happiness in their lives must be incredibly blessed.”(Ishikawa)
4 stars
Statistics:
Date read: May 30, 2020
Date published: 2000
Publisher: Amazon
Format: Audiobook
Pages: 159
Genre: Non-fiction
My Number of Books Read by this Author: 1
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