North Korea is a country that many consider to be a huge prison in itself. Inside that country are closely guarded detention centres housing hundreds of thousands of prisoners. And inside those camps are underground prisons... American journalist Blaine Harden has written the unlikely story of Shin Dong-hyuk's escape from Camp 14, which eventually took him all the way to South Korea and the United States.
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ShareBeing born in a prison camp
This is not only a story about Shin, but also about what grotesque conditions do to people and about the totalitarian state of North Korea. If a person is perceived to be unfavourably disposed towards the regime, it is not only he who will be punished, but his family and relatives for three generations.
Born in the prison camp, Shin learns how to survive by giving up his family and friends. He doesn't know that the world is round or what lies beyond the electric fences. It's only when he meets a well-travelled fellow prisoner that he begins to make plans to get out ...
North Korea denies
North Korea denies the existence of the prison camps, but they are visible on satellite photos and confirmed by defecting prison guards. The book contains a lot of facts and references, but that doesn't make it a heavy read. On the contrary, it felt like it ended in an instant. The worst thing is not Shin's story, but that these cruel prison camps can continue to exist decade after decade.
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Ditte says:
Thanks for the great book tips! Will be a trip to pocketshop today.
02 November 2013 - 12:40
BP says:
Walked past the bookshop yesterday looking for reading material for the upcoming holiday. I saw the book you mention and wondered if I wanted to read it.
Oh after your review I will buy it. Thanks for the help along the way!
02 November 2013 - 13:34
The travel dream says:
Agreed. A very interesting and worth reading book!
02 November 2013 - 14:33
annelias says:
I read a book about a prisoner from Guantánamo, this sounds similar. Good book, but terrible, terrible, terrible.
02 November 2013 - 18:22
My says:
North Korea is a dictatorship and arguably one of the worst in the world...
02 November 2013 - 21:14
Marina says:
A book that is already on my to-read list, and I will definitely read it!
03 November 2013 - 3:44
Katta's Considerations says:
Oh, I'd like to read that book too... I'll check if it's available at the Aralnds shop... I'm off to Asia soon.
03 November 2013 - 21:12