Book Recommendation Title: Nothing to Envy; ordinary lives in North Korea Author: Barbara Demick Commentary: This book was a National Book Award finalist. It documents the lives of six North Korean citizens over fifteen years. In this period of time, the populace saw the death of the ‘Great Leader’ Kim Il-sung, and his son, Kim Jong-Il’s succession of the ‘throne’. There was also a devastating famine which killed one-fifth of the population; it was so severe that people even resorted to cannibalism. However, although the country was starving right outside his mansion in Pyongyang, the god-like leader of this communist country and his cronies remained in the lap of luxury. How is that Communism? The communist system is when everyone is equal and has the same share of everything; everyone is rationed the same amount of food, wears the same style of clothes etc. This is far from what we are seeing in North Korea. People are starving in the streets while government officials are hosting lavish parties. And… no one is able to complain or utter a single word, because apart from a completely wrong communist system, North Korea also has a dictatorship rule where the crown is passed from father to son. Anyone who complains about the state of things will be immediately captured and sent to one of the country’s many infamous gulags for political prisoners. This book really sheds new light on this extremely shady country. Compared to what South Korea has achieved, the North is really in the dust. It’s a real eye-opener for whoever is interested in this country…or tyranny. But pushing aside the politics, it’s still an excellent read and definitely recommendable.
Posted on: Wed, 12 Mar 2014 11:54:20 +0000
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